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LIBRARY 

OF    THE 

U  N  IVtRSlTY 
or    ILLINOIS 

K4-5t> 


mm  MiuKicAL  liMki 


} 


p;\sr  AM)  PKr:sr:nT 


OF 


IROQUOIS  COLIXnX  ILLINOLS 


Bv  J.  W.   KERN.  M.  A. 


TOGETHKK    WITH 


f^lOr.KAPIIICAL    5KI:TCHE5 


OF  MANY  OF  ITS  PROMINENT  AM)  LEADING  CITIZENS 
AND  ILLLSTRIOUS  DEAlJ. 


ILLUSTRATED 


t'HI(A(;<): 

THE  .S.  J.  CLAHKK  FIBLISHING  CO. 

1'JOJ 


"H>e^icatc^  to  tbe 
IPlonccvs 
ox  llroquoii?  (loimtB 


'  'L 


UNIVEKiiliy  u^  ILLINOIS 


q; 


RIOCPwAPIIIC/AL. 


iiox.  ADDisux  guodi:ll. 

Hon.  Addison  Goodell  was  for  many  years 
]-oda's  foremost  citizen.  Almost  countless  are 
llic  individuals  who  unite  in  expressions  of  praise, 
gratitude  and  honor  in  speaking  of  him.  and  his 
memory  is  today  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  all 
who  knew  him.  Althou.nh  his  success  was  great 
it  was  his  strong  and  sterling  traits  of  character 
which  gained  for  him  the  place  that  he  occupied 
in  the  affections  of  his  fellowmen.  Said  one  who 
knew  him  well,  "He  was  cast  in  the  same  mold 
of  nohle  manhood,  physically,  mentally,  morally 
and  intellectually,  as  was  .\braham  Lincoln." 
He  possessed  too  that  entire  freedom  from  osten- 
tation which  characterized  tlie  martyred  presi- 
dent, and  it  is  improbable  that  he  ever  weighed 
an  act  of  his  life  in  the  scale  of  policy.  The 
course  which  he  followed  in  all  of  his  relations 
with  his  fellowmen  was  ])rompte(l  by  a  spirit 
"i  kindly  consideration  for  others  and  a  desire 
to  do  the  right  as  he  saw  and  understood  it. 

Addison  (loodell  was  born  near  Mentor  in 
Lake  county,  Ohio,  on  the  i6th  of  July.  182J. 
and  was  a  representative  in  both  the  pateriril 
and  maternal  lines  of  old  Xew  England  families. 
His  parents,  Xathan  P.  and  Hannah  M.  (Ciris- 
wold)  Goodell.  were  natives  of  Windham  county. 
Connecticut,  and  further  mention  is  made  of  the 
ancestral  history  of  the  family  in  connection  with 
the  sketch  of  Warren  S.  Goodell  on  another  i)a.t;e 
of  this  work.  But  in  this  writing  we  are  more 
closely  concerned  with  the  life  record  of  .\ddison 
GiTodell,  who  left  such  an  indelible  imjiression 
upon    the    roniniiri-i.il    niid    financial    historv    of 


Iroquois  ct)unty  and  e.xerted  so  strong  and  bene- 
ficial an  inlluence  over  the  lives  of  those  with 
whom  he  came  in  contact.  On  leaving  Xcw  Eng- 
land his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  becoming  pio- 
neer residents  of  that  section  of  the  Western  Re- 
serve which  is  now  included  within  the  borders 
of  Lake  county.  The  father  was  a  woolen  manu- 
facturer and  in  coimection  with  business  inter- 
ests of  that  character  was  identified  with  farm- 
ing and  milling.  Public  spirited  and  energetic, 
he  t<jok  a  prominent  and  active  part  in  all  that 
pertained  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  in 
which  he  made  his  home.  His  political  alle- 
giance was  given  to  the  whig  party,  subsefjuently 
to  the  free  soil  party  and  later  to  the  republican 
party.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Christian  church  and  in  the  early  days  of  Mor- 
mon influence  Sidney  Rigdon,  then  pastor  of 
the  church  to  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodell  be- 
longeil.  succeeded  in  carrying  off  all  of  the  mem- 
bers of  his  flock  to  the  new  religion  save  Xathan 
P.  and  Hannah  Goodell.  Arousing  the  ire  of  the 
Mormon  leaders  by  his  expose  of  some  of  their 
deceitful  practices,  Joseph  Smith,  their  leader, 
claimed  to  have  received  the  revelation  "that  the 
earth  woidd  drink  Mr.  Goodell's  blood  within 
a  year."  His  life  thus  threatened  Mr.  Goodell 
disposed  of  his  interests  and  removed  to  Paines- 
ville,  Ohio,  where  he  operated  the  city  flouring 
mills  until  his  demise,  which  occurred  when  he 
was  seventy-six  years  of  age,  while  his  wife  was 
seventy  years  at  the  time  of  her  death. 

Farm  life  early  became  familiar  to  Addison 
Goodell  and  while  spending  his  boyhood  days 
under  the  parental  roof  he  aided  in  the  work  of 


I  109479 


8 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


he  died,  and  feel  yet,  a  sense  of  personal  be- 
reavement and  loss  that  makes  it  seem  an  im- 
possibility to  say  why  I  loved  him  so.  I  never 
knew  of  his  doing  a  littje  or  mean  thing.  The 
mould  in  which  he  was  rim  was  too  large  for 
small  things  or  mean  things.  If  courage  in 
convictions  of  right,  if  nobleness  of  character,  if 
kindness  of  heart,  if  goodness  of  intention,  and 
success  in  putting  an  abstract  intention  into  con- 
crete definite  and  kindly  action,  if  all  the  charac- 
teristics that  make  people  lovable,  so  richly 
possessed  by  him,  are  assets  for  this  life  and  of 
value  in  the  life  he  has  now  entered,  then  he 
was  a  rich  man  in  the  esteem,  affection  and  love 
of  his  fellowmen  here,  and  now  enjoying  the 
enduring  riches  and  fellowship  of  that  life  that 
shall  never  know  a  close." 

From  Hon.  Horace  Russell,  member  of  the 
forty-third  general  assembly,  came  the  following: 
"I  have  appreciated  the  honor  he  conferred  on 
me  by  being  friendly  to  me  always,  for  back  in 
the  past  when  he  was  a  younger  man  I  became 
acquainted  with  him.  He  was  always  kind  to 
me  and  while  he  was  aware  of  my  many  failings 
and  shortcomings  he  always  passed  them  by  and 
encouraged  me  to  do  better.  He  has  left  to  you 
boys  a  name  that  few  can  have.  It  was  not  local 
by  any  means,  but  was  linked  with  all  of  eastern 
Illinois  and  especially  of  our  county.  There  is 
no  one  man  in  our  county  who  was  so  well  and 
favorably  known  as  was  Mr.  Goodcll.  His  name 
meant  all  that  was  honorable  and  good." 

Writing  of  their  father  to  the  sons.  W.  R. 
Jewell  said :  "Through  a  period  of  a  generation 
I  have  known  .\ddison  Goodell  as  one  of  the  best 
men  with  whom  I  have  ever  associated.  He  had 
all  the  elements  of  one  of  the  Lord's  noblemen. 
As  a  citizen  he  was  a  devoted  patriot.  In  the 
day  of  his  country's  deepest  need  he  was  on  the 
side  of  the  Union  and  for  freedom.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  supporters  of  the  martyred  presi- 
dent. .\braham  LincDhi.  and  was  cast  in  tlic  same 
mold  of  noble  manhood  physically,  mentally, 
morally  and  intellectually,  as  was  Mr.  Lincoln. 
He  was  a  man  of  the  common  ])e(>ple,  above  llie 
small  tricks  of  small  men.  .\s  a  husband  and 
father  he  filled  to  fullness  the  siiirit  of  IIolv 
Writ  and  the  laws  of  the  land.  His  children  will 
cherish  his  memory  while  their  lives  shall  last. 
The  older  they  grow,  and  the  more  thev  recede 


by  lapse  of  time  from  the  days  when  they  were- 
in  their  childhood,  in  their  good  old  home,  the 
more  will  the  noble  fatherhood  of  their  father 
shine  upon  them,  full  of  all  precious  memories- 
of  simple  going,  coming,  working,  providing,, 
thinking  and  planning  for  them,  for  their  future- 
happiness  and  well-being.  I  saw  him  often 
about  this  fatherly  duty,  and  even  to  me  the 
memory  is  now  a  sacred  possession.  He  was  re- 
ligiously devoted  to  home — to  making  it  happy ,. 
to  filling  it  with  peace,  unpretentious  but  solid 
love,  and  all  physical  comforts.  He  was  public- 
spirited  and  worked  and  planned  for  the  prog- 
ress of  his  town,  his  community.  We  believe  that 
all  the  people  of  Loda  will  join  me  in  saying  that 
he  was  the  father  of  your  beautiful  place.  That 
he  was  one  of  the  foremost  of  its  citizens  in  build- 
ing up  the  churches,  your  library,  your  school 
houses,  parks,  and  that  all  good  and  useful  move- 
ments found  in  him  a  ready,  cheerful  helper. 
Soon  after  I  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
he  became  a  member  of  the  constitutional 
convention  which  framed  the  present  constitu- 
tion of  this  state.  I  was  told  by  Governor  Bev- 
eridge  and  others  that  he  was  one  of  the  most 
useful  members  of  that  body  of  distinguished 
men  on  account  of  his  great  common  sense  and 
business  ability.  He  had  the  elements  of  practical 
statesnianship  and  had  he  devoted  himself  to 
statecraft  instead  of  to  business  he  would  have 
made  an  able  constructive  statesman.  While  in 
the  constitutional  convention  he  did  service  for 
the  people  which  has  lasted  and  served  to  this 
day  and  will  last  and  serve  for  many  years  to 
come.  Mr.  Goodell  was  really  a  professional 
business  man ;  the  soul  of  honor,  an  example  of 
industry,  exactness  and  thrift.  He  belonged  to 
that  nvighty  host  of  business  nien  who  have 
pushed  this  country  along  for  almost  three 
quarters  of  a  ccntm-y.  until  it  has  become  the 
greatest  in  the  world.  His  word  was  as  good 
as  his  bond,  liis  name  was  a  synonym  of  honor 
and  confidence,  .\ddison  Goodcll  is  a  household 
word  for  miles  and  miles  around  Loda,  and  the 
circles  of  business  men  in  Chicago.  New  York 
and  other  centers.  It  is  a  great  triumph  to  gain 
a  fair  competency  by  sobriety,  inilustry.  honesty, 
persistence,  and  Mr.  Goodell  achieved  that  vic- 
tory. Besides  all  this  he  was  a  liberal,  charitable 
Christian  gentleman.     On  that  side  of  his  life  I 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


owe  him  iiuicli,  tor  lie  did  imicli  to  leach  me, 
when  I  was  a  young  man  and  somewhat  arrufjant 
and  dogmatic  in  botli  pohtics  and  religion,  how 
to  be  tolerant  to  other  men's  views  while  firmly 
holding  my  own.  He  seems  to  me  as  an  older 
brother,  and  I  sincerely  mourn  his  loss.  IJut  I 
believe  in  the  future  life  most  fully  and  stead- 
fastly. I  believe  that  He  who  brought  us  here 
has  made  the  noble  service  of  this  life  to  fit  us 
for  the  future  life  in  the  highest  degree.  In 
this  service  Mr.  Goodell  had  a  long  and  noble 
discipline,  and  he  has  gone  onward  and  upward 
with  all  the  beauty,  the  sweetness,  the  nobleness, 
the  love  and  service  through  which  he  has 
passed  in  this  life,  gathered  into  his  great  heart, 
as  a  store  of  joy  in  the  other  life.  He  has  not 
left  this  world  empty  or  naked,  but  there  is  a 
house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens,  into  which  he  passes,  clothed  in  the 
righteousness  of  a  noble  life.  His  soul  has  be- 
come as  vast  as  a  world,  and  into  it  is  gathered 
all  things  that  are  holy  and  true.  His  soul  lives 
in  God's  heavens :  his  deeds  of  goodness  live  in 
this  life." 


HON.  A.   M.   jnXES. 


Hon.  .\.  M.  Tones  has  left  and  is  leaving  the 
impress  of  his  individuality  njjon  public  life  in 
Iroquois  county.  He  is  distinctively  a  nian  of 
affairs  and  one  who  has  wielded  a  wide  influence, 
and  while  he  is  known  in  political  circles  he  is 
equally  respected  and  honored  as  an  enterprising 
and  reliable  business  man,  successfully  controlling 
important  and  growing  business  interests  in  Mil- 
ford,  where  for  over  a  (juarter  of  a  century  he  has 
dealt  in  hardware,  lumber  and  farm  implements. 
His  life  record  is  in  contradistinction  to  the  old 
adage  that  a  "prophet  is  never  without  honor 
save  in  his  own  countrv,"  for  Mr.  Jones  is  a  na- 
tive son  of  the  coui.cy  in  which  he  has  so  directed 
his  lalx)rs  as  to  gain  more  than  local  distinction 
and  honor. 

He  was  Iwrn  in  .'^tockland  townshij).  .May  15. 
1857,  and  is  a  son  of  the  Hon.  John  H.  and  Han- 
nah (  Pugh )  Jones,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Oliio.  The  father  was  born  in  Miami  county, 
October   30.    1823.    but    was    reared    in    Warren 


count\,  Indiana,  and  it  was  there  that  he  wedded 
Miss  I'ugh.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1850,  set- 
tling on  a  farm  in  Stockland  township,  Iroquois 
county,  where  he  ])urchase(l  a  tract  of  raw  land. 
It  was  entirely  destitute  of  improvements  and  not 
a  furrow  had  been  turned,  but  with  characteristic 
energy  he  began  the  arduous  task  of  develo])ing 
a  new  farm  and  brought  the  place  under  a  h  ^h 
state  of  cultivation.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
prosperous  agriculturists  of  this  portion  of  the 
state  and  to  his  ])ossessions  added  from  time  to 
time  until  his  holdings  aggregated  sixteen  hun- 
dred acres  of  well  improved  and  valuable  land. 
He  was  indeed  one  of  the  ]>rominent  and  success- 
ful agriculturists  of  Iroquois  county,  and  in  his 
business  life  manifested  a  s|>irit  of  energy  and  bus- 
iness integrity  that  commended  him  to  the  confi- 
dence and  won  for  him  the  admiration  of  all  who 
knew  aught  of  his  industry.  He  exerted,  too.  a 
wide  influence  in  public  aflairs  and  was  well  fitted 
for  leadership  because  of  his  known  ability,  his 
thorough  understanding  of  the  jiroblems  relative 
to  the  general  good  and  his  marked  rievotion  to 
the  interests  of  the  people  at  large  without  the 
display  of  class  distinction.  Again  an<l  again 
he  was  called  to  positions  of  public  honor  and 
trust.  He  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  super- 
visor, was  township  school  trustee  and  township 
treasurer  for  several  years,  filling  the  office  at  the 
time  of  his  demise.  In  1883  he  was  elected  to 
the  general  assembly,  where  he  represented  his 
district  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to 
his  constituents,  being  appointed  on  a  number  of 
im[)ortant  committees  and  doing  valuable  work  in 
connection  with  instructive  legislature.  He  was 
faultless  in  honor,  fearless  in  conduct  and  stainless 
in  rcinitation,  and  his  life  of  business  activity  and 
public  service  well  entitled  him  to  mcnt'un  with 
the  foremost  men  that  Iro{|uois  county  has  pro- 
duced. He  died  at  his  old  home,  OctolxT  27, 
1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  and  for  about 
three  years  was  survived  by  his  wife,  who  passed 
away  in  December,  i8ty>-  The  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  numbered  six  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, and  in  that  number  no  death  has  yet  oc- 
curred. 

•  .\.  M.  Jones  was  reared  upon  the  old  home- 
stead. The  usual  experiences  of  the  l)oy  upon 
the  farm  were  his.  .\s  age  and  strength  jiermit- 
teil  he  worked  in  the  fields  from  the  time  of  earlv 


10 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


s]jring  planting  until  crops  were  harvested  in 
the  late  autumn  but  he  was  also  given  opportu- 
nity to  attend  school  and  mastered  the  element- 
ary branches  of  English  learning  in  the  district 
school  near  his  father's  home.  He  completed  his 
studies  at  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College, 
at  X'afparaiso,  and  thus  well  equijjped  for  the 
respons'fole  duties  of  life  he  entered  the  field  ol 
business  activity  as  an  employe  in  a  hardware 
store  in  A\'atseka,  where  he  received  ])ractical 
training  in  mercantile  life.  He  was  ambitious 
for  advancement  and  success,  and  eagerly  im- 
proved every  opportunity  toward  that  end.  In 
1879,  in  connection  with  his  twin  brother,  E.  S. 
Jones,  he  embarked  in  the  hardware  and  imple- 
ment business  at  Milford.  The  firm  of  Jones 
Brothers  carry  a  large  and  well  selected  stock  of 
hardware  and  farm  implements,  valued  at  twenty- 
five  thousand  dollars,  and  have  built  up  an  exten- 
sive trade.  They  are  recognized  as  leading  busi- 
ness men  of  broad  capability,  keen  insight  and  un- 
faltering determination,  ant!  in  connection  with  the 
hardware  and  implement  business  they  also  have 
a  lumberyard  and  carry  a  large  stock  of  lumber 
and  building  materials,  for  which  they  find  a 
ready  sale. 

.'\.  M.  Jones  has  gained  equal  prominence  in 
political  circles,  in  which  connect'on  he  has 
wielded  a  wide  influence,  having  made  a  close 
study  of  all  those  problems  which  divide  the  two 
great  political  organizations.  His  position  has 
never  been  an  equivocal  one.  for  he  has  always 
been  known  as  a  stalwart  republican.  He  was 
elected  and  served  for  eight  consecutive  years  as 
supervisor,  being  chosen  to  that  office  when  he 
had  scarcely  attained  his  majority,  so  that  he  was 
known  as  the  ''boy  supervisor."  While  a  member 
of  the  honorary  county  board  he  served  for  two 
years  as  its  cha'Tman.  When  choice  was  made 
for  a  candidate  for  the  thirty-eighth  general  as- 
sembly the  delegates  to  the  cnnvenlion  agreed 
upon  Mr.  Jones  and  he  was  elected.  He  gave 
such  uniform  satisfaction  in  discharging  the  du- 
ties of  the  office  that  he  was  re-elected  and  thus 
served  for  four  consecutive  years,  giving  to  each 
question  which  cune  up  for  settlement  "n  the 
Igislatnre  his  careful  and  thoughtful  considera- 
tion, lie  has  filled  numerous  official  ])ositions 
and  has  always  been  deeply  interested  in  the 
cause  of  ])ublic  instruction,  serving  as  a  member 


of  the  school  board  of  Milford  for  a  long  period 
and  as  :ts  president  for  twelve  years.  He  also 
.served  on  the  town  board  as  trustee,  was  president 
of  the  board,  has  been  township  treasurer  for  sev- 
eral years  and  in  all  these  offices  has  rendered  effi- 
cient aid  and  made  an  untarnished  record. 

In  1881,  in  Milford,  occurred  the  marriage  of 
A.  M.  Jones  and  Miss  Frances  Monett,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Ohio,  and  is  an  accomplished 
and  cultured  lady,  a  daughter  of  John  Monett. 
She  is  one  of  the  acti've  members  of  the  Methodist 
church  at  Milford  and  has  done  much  to  advance 
its  growth  and  extend  its  influence.  Mr.  Jones  is 
an  exemplary  representative  of  the  Masonic  lodge 
at  Milford.  and  he  and  his  wife  are  connected  with 
the  Eastern  Star.  He  has  also  taken  the  degrees 
of  capitular  and  chivalric  Masonry  in  the  com- 
mandery  and  chapter  at  Watseka.  As  an  Odd 
Fellow  he  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  local 
lodge  and  is  a  past  grand  at  Milford.  He  has 
likewise  been  district  deputy  and  a  representative 
to  the  Grand  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  in  the  state. 
He  and  his  brother  have  contributed  in  substan- 
tial measure  to  the  development  of  the  town  in 
which  they  reside  and  have  here  erected  a  two- 
story  business  block,  while  each  has  built  an  at- 
tractive modern  home.  They  are  among  Mil- 
ford's  most  prominent  and  public-spirited  men. 
To  evei\v  enterprise  calculated  to  advance  the 
prosperity  of  Milford,  A.  M.  Jones  is  a  contribu- 
tor and  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  prominent 
and  pojnilar  citizens. 


IIOX.  MATTHi:\\'  HEXRY  PETERS. 

Among  tlie  residents  of  Iroquois  county  the 
public  service  of  few  have  extended  over  so  long 
a  period  as  that  of  ^Matthew  Henry  Peters  and 
none  have  been  more  faultless  in  honor,  more 
fearless  in  conduct  or  more  stainless  in  reputa- 
tion. As  mayor  and  legislator  he  has  rendered 
far-reaching  and  eft'ective  service  to  the  city  of 
Watseka  and  the  district  at  large  and  as  a  busi- 
ness man  his  efforts  have  been  a  factor  in  pro- 
moting commercial  progress  and  prosperity, 
while  viewed  in  any  light  he  is  a  strong  man — 
strong  in  his  honor  and  his  good  name,  while 
his  life  record  should  .serve  as  a  source  of  inspi- 


u 


f:^cLlI^f^     ^in^'^i^ 


7 


7^.0. 


£^U  U> 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLIMOIS 


IROQUOIS  COrXTV.   1 1. 1. 1. Vol. s. 


1.^ 


ration  and  cnciiiira,ij^cnii.'iU  to  others,  sliouinj^j 
that  without  tlic  advantages  of  family,  wt-altli  or 
position  at  tliu  outset  of  one"s  career  an  individual 
may  rise  to  prominence  and  success,  winning  the 
esteem  :uul  resjiect  of  all  with  wlioni  he  is  asso- 
ciated. 

A  native  of  (iermany,  .Major  I'elers  was  horn 
in  Rhenish  ISavaria,  June  (>,  1843.  and  his  par- 
ents, (.ieorse  and  Mary  (Moock)  I'eters,  were 
also  natives  of  that  country.  'I'hc  father  in  tlie 
year  1843  brought  his  family  to  America,  land- 
ing at  New  Orleans,  but  tlie  climatic  conditions 
of  the  city  were  detriment.al  to  the  health  of  the 
family  and  within  a  few  years  the  mother  and 
two  sisters  of  Major  I'eters  died,  leaving  two 
small  hoys  to  the  care  of  the  father,  who  was 
unfamiliar  with  the  language  and  customs  of  the 
people  among  whom  he  had  come  to  dwell.  His 
limited  financial  resources  were  .soon  com])letely 
exhausted  through  the  expenses  occasioned  by 
sickness  and  death  and  a  short  time  afterward 
he  suffered  an  attack  of  yellow  fever  which  ter- 
minated his  life,  .so  that  the  two  little  liovs  were 
left  or])hans.  Samuel,  the  younger  brother,  was 
cared  for  in  an  oriiiian  asylum. 

.\  conteni]>orary  biograi)her  in  a  hisiory  of 
Major  I'eters  said,  concerning  his  early  life,  "Mat- 
thew, then  but  ten  years  of  age,  was  taken  by 
an  acquaintance  to  bring  up.  Instead  of  finding 
the  comforts  of  a  good  home  and  the  tender 
care  of  a  humane  and  worthy  guardian,  the  lit- 
tle orphan  fell  a  victim  to  the  grasjiing  cupidity 
of  a  cruel  and  heartless  monster.  He  was  poorly 
clad,  nearly  starved,  beaten.  ;inil  instructed  in 
criminal  processes  that  would  have  done  credit 
to  the  Jew  I'agan,  made  famous  by  the  pen  of 
Dickens  as  the  tutor  of  little  (  )livcr  Twist.  This 
man  kept  a  small  tailoring  shoji,  where  the  boy 
was  compelled  to  work  from  early  morn  until  ten 
or  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  A  small  slice  of  bread 
three  times  a  day  constituted  bis  entire  rations, 
so  that  be  never  knew  while  there  what  it  was 
not  to  be  hungry.  Ilccoming  desperate,  be  re- 
solved to  make  bis  escape,  feeling  that  any 
change  must  be  an  improvement;  so  early  one 
morning  in  the  winter  of  1854-55  he,  without  the 
trailitional  bundle  that  the  small  aiiprentice  is 
supposed  to  carry  when  he  runs  away,  made  a 
start  for  liberty  and  fortune.  The  rags  on  bis 
back  and  the  welts  and  bruises  under  them  were 


all  he  had  to  take  exce|)t  a  b,'ih'-iloli,'ir  that  had 
been  entrusted  to  bis  care  overnight  for  market 
purposes,  b'eeling  that  be  could  justly  appropri- 
ate that  amount  of  capital  in  consideration  of  his 
um-e(|uitted  service  and  privation,  he  niaile  the 
most  of  it  by  soon  getting  sonielbing  substan- 
tial with  which  to  satisfy  a  mucb-.abuseil  stom- 
ach. \\  ith  fear  ami  trembling,  be  sought  safety 
in  a  distant  |>art  of  the  city.  His  nights  were 
spent  sleeping  among  the  cotton  bales  and  sacks 
of  coffee,  or  in  other  places  where  rest  could  be 
.secured.  In  the  daytime  he  ran  the  streets,  mak- 
ing a  meal  from  anything  he  could  find  that  was 
edible,  the  waste  from  partially  decayed  fruit 
and  the  refuse  from  hotel  tables  being  his  prin- 
cipal  fare. 

"In  the  succeeding  March,  by  good  lortinic,  the 
little  lad  secured  empKniuent  on  a  Mississippi 
river  steamboat  as  assistant  cook,  and  for  once 
in  many  years  he  was  well  fed.  This  change 
marked  an  era  of  improvement  in  bis  fortune, 
for  shortly  afterward  a  traveling  gentleman, 
Henry  S.  Roberts,  attracted  by  the  intelligent 
face  of  the  boy  and  learning  his  sad  story,  took 
a  fancy  to  bini  and  offered  him  a  home.  This 
kind  off'er  was  gladly  accepted,  ancl  in  company 
with  his  new-ft)und  friend,  Matthew  went  to 
( )hio.  For  a  time  everything  went  well ;  he 
made  himself  u.sefnl  to  bis  benefactor  and  was 
given  sdmol  advantages;  but  misfortune  again 
befell  him  with  the  death  of  Mr.  Roberts,  which 
happened  only  a  few  weeks  after  young  I'eters 
had  found  a  bonx'  with  him.  He  left  the  boy 
with  his  widowed  mother,  whose  kindness  and 
motherly  love  have  found  a  full  recompense  in  a 
lifelong  devotion  and  care  on  the  part  of  the 
befriended  boy.  Since  he  has  grown  to  manhood. 
Major  Peters  has  given  her  a  home  in  bis  f,im- 
ilv.  where  she  was  loved  and  revered  as  though 
indeed  his  real  mother.  Mrs.  Roberts  attained 
the  remarkable  age  of  one  hundred  and  three 
vears."  Her  death  occurred  at  Maior  I'eters' 
home  January  6,  1894. 

.\fter  Itecoming  a  rcsi<lent  of  (  )hio  Major 
I'eters  devoted  his  time  and  energies  at  different 
periods  to  farm  labor  and  the  trade  of  brick- 
making  an<l  bis  leisure  hours  were  largely  de- 
voted to  rea<ling  aiul  study.  His  school  privi- 
leges had  been  very  limited  but  with  laud.iblc 
ambition  he  desired  an  education  and  improved 


I-t 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


everv  oppormmtN  mr  liroaiknmy  li:s  knowlcilyc 
and  promuting  his  mental  culture.  Oftentimes 
he  studied  by  the  light  of  the  burning  kiln  that 
he  was  watching  while  wt)rking  in  the  brickyards. 
In  this  way  he  gained  sufticienl  knowledge  to 
enable  him  to  successfully  pass  a  teachers  e.xam- 
ination  and  entered  actively  upon  the  work  of 
the  profession,  at  the  same  time  pursuing  his  in- 
dividual studies.  It  was  in  i860  that  he  became 
a  rejiresentative  of  the  work  of  public  instruc- 
tion, in  which  he  continued  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war. 

In  the  meantime  Mr.  I'eters  had  watched  with 
interest  the  trend  of  modern  thought,  noting  the 
events  which  were  shaping  the  history  of  the 
country.  He  saw  the  threatening  attitude  of  the 
south  and  resolved  that  if  a  blow  was  struck  to 
overthrow  the  Union  he  would  .stand  loyally  in 
its  defense.  Accordingly  on  the  2^<\  of  .\pril, 
1861,  he  joined  the  Jefferson  Guards  of  Spring- 
field. Ohio,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  E, 
Sixteenth  Ohio  Infantry,  for  three  months'  serv- 
ice. The  regiment  was  assigned  to  duty  in  \'ir- 
ginia  and  with  his  command  he  took  part  in  the 
engagements  at  Philippi,  Laurel  Hill  and  Car- 
rick's  Ford,  at  which  place  the  first  Confederate 
general,  Garnett,  was  killed.  Having  served 
out  the  term  of  his  first  enlistment  Mr.  Peters 
re-enlisted  in  November  of  the  same  year  at 
Nenia,  Ohio,  as  a  private  of  Company  F,  Sev- 
enty-fourth Regiment,  under  Colonel  Granville 
Moody,  the  fighting  parson ;  Walter  Crook, 
brother  of  General  George  Crook,  of  Indian  no- 
toriety, being  his  captain.  .\t  this  time,  Mr. 
I'eters  was  made  sergeant,  soon  afterward  was 
chosen  lieutenant  by  the  company  and  was  com- 
missioned by  Governor  Todd  of  C)hio  on  the 
7th  of  January,  ii^>2.  During  that  year,  he  was 
in  active  service  and  j)articipated  in  all  the  bat- 
tles and  engagements  in  which  his  regiment  took 
part. 

.\t  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  Tennessee,  De- 
cember 31,  \SC>2.  our  subject  was  severely 
wounded  and  was  thought  to  have  been  killed  ; 
indeed,  was  so  reported,  his  comrades  being 
ol)liged  to  desert  him  on  the  field.  However,  he 
received  attention  in  time  and  was  eventually 
able  to  rcsmne  his  post  of  duty.  lie  particijjated 
in  the  battles  of  a  hundred  d;iys'  <hir.iti(in  before 
.\tlanla.     On  the  «jth  of  Ma\,   iSiq.  l.itiiteii.int 


Peters,  who  had  been  made  adjutant  of  the 
Seventy -fourth  by  his  colonel  on  the  reorganiza- 
tion of  the  regiment  as  veterans,  was  again 
wounded,  while  charging  a  rebel  battery  on  Buz- 
zard Roost  Mountain,  being  struck  by  a  frag- 
ment of  a  shrapnel  shot  in  the  right  leg.  He 
was  left  lying  on  the  field  two  days.  On  the 
13th  of  July  following,  by  the  recommendation 
of  his  colonel,  he  was  commissioned  captain  for 
"gallant  and  meritorious  services."  During  the 
greater  part  of  that  summer,  he  was  confined 
to  his  hospital  cot  by  the  serious  nature  of  his 
wound,  but  as  soon  as  convalescent  he  rejoined 
his  regiment  in  Savannah.  Georgia,  though  very 
feeble.  During  the  remainder  of  the  campaign, 
he  was  on  active  duty  and  participated  in  the 
closing  battles  of  the  war  in  the  Carolinas  under 
Sherman.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Ben- 
tonville.  Averysboro  and  Greenville,  North  Car- 
olina, and  the  surrender  of  General  Joseph  E. 
Johnston,  April  26,  1865.  The  proudest  day  of 
his  military  career  was  enjoyed  at  the  Grand 
Review  of  the  armies  at  Washington,  May  24 
and  25.  1863.  when  he  was  detailed  by  General 
George  I'.  lUiell.  commanding  the  brigade  on 
his  staff,  as  assistant  inspector-general.  Captain 
Peters  was  retained  on  General  Buell's  staff  un- 
til notified  that  his  regiment  was  about  to  be 
mustered  out.  when  he  asked  to  be  relieved,  re- 
joining his  comrades  in  their  march  homeward, 
and  was  mustered  out  July  12.  1865.  But  just 
prior  to  that  happy  event  he  was  complimented 
l)y  being  conimissioned  major  of  his  regiment, 
the  regiment  in  which  he  had  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate in  the  first  year  of  the  war.  The  compli- 
ment was  the  more  gratefully  received  as  it  was 
unsought  and  came  as  an  appropriate  recognition: 
of  merit  and  faithful  and  gallant  service  in  the 
field. 

Major  I'eters"  identification  with  the  interests, 
upbuilding  and  progress  of  Watseka  dates  from 
.\|)ri].  18U1,  at  which  time  he  became  interested 
in  the  hardware  tr.'ide  in  this  city  in  partnership 
with  Alexander  .\rchibald.  but  he  did  not  find 
the  business  congenial  and  in  the  course  of  a 
year  dis|)osed  of  his  interest  to  his  partner.  In 
the  spring  of  18(17  he  opened  the  first  book  and 
stationery  sture  in  Watseka  and  from  the  be- 
ginning success  attende<l  the  new  venture.  I  le 
condncteil    the    business    until    November.     iSr*), 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


when  lie  suld  out  to  Henry  11.  Alter,  wliu  liml 
been  in  his  employ  as  a  salesman  for  more  th.m 
a  decade.  Major  Peters  had  met  with  a  jjoodly 
measure  of  success  while  conductintj  his  mer- 
cantile interests  and  in  the  meantime  he  extended 
his  operations  into  the  field  of  journalism,  as- 
suming control  of  the  Iroriuois  Times  in  De- 
cember, 1872.  lie  remained  in  charge  of  the 
paper  for  eighteen  months  and  then  sold  out, 
but  again  became  owner  in  June.  1878.  conduct- 
ing it  ably  and  successfully  until  January  i, 
1891,  when  he  again  disposed  of  his  interest.  He 
gained  for  the  Times  a  widespread  and  envialile 
reputation,  making  it  one  of  the  leading  papers 
of  this  part  of  the  state,  and  its  editorials  were 
ever  read  with  interest  and  did  nnich  toward 
molding  public  thought  and  action.  He  has  ever 
been  recognized  as  a  fearless  champion  of  what- 
ever he  has  believed  to  be  right  and  moreover  has 
ever  stood  for  reform,  progress  and  improve- 
ment, while  community  interests  have  found  in 
him  a  stalwart  champion.  His  has  been  a  potent 
influence  in  political  circles  and  tiie  «talwart  hon- 
esty of  his  character  has  been  found  in  his  flexi- 
ble adherence  to  principles  in  which  he  has  be- 
lieved, even  though  greater  personal  honors  and 
popularity  could  have  been  gained  in  other  ways. 
When  the  republican  party  was  formed  to  pre- 
vent the  further  extension  of  slavery  and  became 
the  champion  of  the  Union  cause,  he  advocated 
its  purposes  and  its  principles  and  supported  it 
by  his  ballot.  At  the  time  of  the  liberal  move- 
ment of  1872  he  followed  the  lead  of  Horace 
Greeley  and  other  eminent  republicans  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  leaders  of  the  old  party  and  in  that 
year  was  nominated  for  clerk  of  the  circuit  court 
of  Iroquois  county  and  received  the  endorse- 
ment of  the  democrats,  .\lthough  defeated  it 
was  a  defeat  which  amounted  almost  to  a  vic- 
tory because  of  the  largely  reduced  rcpublicni 
majority.  In  1875  he  was  called  by  the  vote  of 
his  fellow  citizens  to  the  office  of  mayor  of  Wat- 
seka  and  gave  such  a  practical,  businesslike  and 
public-spirited  administration  that  in  October. 
1877,  he  was  re-elected  to  fill  out  the  imexpired 
term  of  the  Hon.  Franklin  Blades,  who  had  re- 
signed to  accept  elevation  to  the  circuit  bench. 
In  .\ugiist,  1878,  Major  Peters  was  made  the 
nominee  of  the  national  party  for  the  office  of 
representative  to  the  Illinois  legislature  and  in 


November  Iniluwrng  was  elected  by  a  very  flat- 
tering majority.  .\s  a  meml>er  of  the  house  he 
gave  thiiughtful  and  earnest  consideration  to 
every  question  which  came  up  for  settlement  and 
was  connected  with  considerable  imiK>rtant  con- 
structive legislation.  In  1884  he  was  the  demo- 
cratic candid.ite  for  state  senator  and  in  1886 
was  that  i>arl\s  candidate  for  congress,  but  his 
district  is  strongly  republican  and  although  he 
received  a  com])liment:iry  vote  was  nt)t  elected. 
He  has  never  ceased,  however,  to  exert  a  strong 
and  widely  felt  influence  in  political  affairs  and 
was  chairman  of  the  Iroquois  county  democratic 
central  committee  in  the  campaign  of  1884,  which 
resulted  in  the  election  of  Cirovcr  Cleveland. 

Major  Peters  has  never  ceased  to  feel  a  great 
interest  in  military  aflfairs  and  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  organizing  the  first  militia  com- 
pany of  Inxjuois  county  in  May,  187.4.  He  was 
honored  with  election  to  the  captaincy  and  when 
under  the  military  code  of  the  state  the  various 
companies  were  organized  into  regiments  and 
battalions,  the  Watseka  Rifles  were  designated 
as  Company  A,  Ninth  Itattalion,  Illinois  National 
Guards,  and  Captain  Peters  was  elected  to  com- 
mand the  battalion  by  the  line  officers  who  met 
at  Champaign,  October  10,  1877,  for  that  pur- 
pose, thus  gaining  the  later  title  of  colonel,  by 
which  he  is  often  called. 

Of  various  fraternal  and  civic  organizations 
Colonel  Peters  has  been  a  valued  and  prominent 
member.  He  is  identified  with  Williams  post. 
No.  23,  (i.  A.  R..  which  he  joined  on  the  28th 
of  August,  i8<'i7.  He  was  its  first  adjutant  and 
has  many  times  filled  the  office  of  conunander. 
He  belongs  to  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion  and  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland since  its  organization.  He  is  a  past 
chancellor  commander  of  Mon  Ami  lodge.  No. 
2^1.  K.  P..  and  is  prominent  in  Iroquois  lodge. 
No.  74,  I.  O.  ().  F.,  ami  in  InM|uois  encampment. 
.No.  81.  reiiresenting  both  organizations  in  the 
grand  bodies  of  the  fraternity.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  Watseka  lodge.  No.  1(18^1,  Knights 
of  Honor,  of  which  he  is  a  past  dictator,  and 
has  represented  the  l<xral  organization  in  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state,  while  in  1880  he  repre- 
sented Illinois  in  the  sujireme  lodge  of  the  L^nited 
States.     He  also  belongs  to  Watseka  lodge.  No. 


i6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


446,  A.  F.  &  A.  yi.,  and  W'atseka  chapter,  Xo. 
114,  R.  A.  M.  He  was  likewise  connected  witli 
the  Illinois  Press  Association  while  a  member 
of  the  journalistic  fraternity,  with  which  he  i.e- 
came  connected  in  1874. 

Since  disposing  of  his  journalistic  interests 
Major  Peters  has  returned  to  that  line  of  trade 
in  which  he  was  formerly  engaged  and  is  now 
conducting  business  as  a  book  and  stationery 
merchant  at  Watseka.  He  has  contributed  to 
the  material  improvement  of  the  city  through 
the  erection  of  the  Times  building  in  1884  and  in 
various  ways  has  been  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  business  life  of  the  town  and  with  those  in- 
terests which  work  for  civic  virtue  and  civic 
pride. 

Fortunate  in  his  home  life.  Colonel  Peters  was 
happily  married  on  the  19th  of  June,  1867,  at 
Sycamore,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Clara  ]\I.  Lyon,  who 
was  born  in  Ontario  county,  New  York,  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Matilda  (Hills)  Lvon. 
Mrs.  Peters,  whose  natural  culture  and  refine- 
ment, combined  with  her  opportunities  for  edu- 
cational advancement,  have  made  her  a  most  es- 
teemed lady,  presides  with  gracious  and  warm 
hearted  hospitality  over  their  home,  which  is 
always  open  for  the  reception  of  their  many 
friends.  They  have  one  son,  Arthur  \"an  Lisle, 
who  was  born  May  10,  1886,  and  until  dcatli 
claimed  her  Mrs.  Roberts  was  a  member  of  the 
household. 

Major  Peters  is  broad  gauged  and  liberal  in 
all  his  views,  political,  religious  and  social.  In 
other  words,  he  looks  at  life  in  its  momentous 
phases  from  every  possible  standpoint  and  does 
not  form  a  speedy  or  biased  judgment.  Yet 
when  once  he  has  determined  upon  a  course  that 
he  believes  to  be  right  neither  fear  nor  favor  can 
swerve  him  therefrom.  He  is  a  man  of  action 
rather  than  theory.  While  others  might  argue 
and  debate  he  has  gone  to  work  and  demon- 
strated. He  has  aided  in  pushing  forward  the 
wheels  of  progress  in  \\'atseka  and  this  part  of 
the  state.  Through  the  whole  course  of  his  ca- 
reer the  prime  spirit  that  has  prompted  all  of  his 
actions  .seems  to  have  been  improvement  and 
advancement.  The  idea  and  intent  of  leaving 
whatever  he  has  touched  better  than  he  found  it. 
and  this  even  when  his  personal  gain  might 
often  have  been  better  advanccfl  bv  an  opposite 


course,  has  been  dominant  with  him.  He  is  a 
man  whose  true  character,  to  be  rightly  under- 
stood, must  be  studied  beneath  the  surface  and, 
thus  e.Kamined,  the  unselfish  and  commendable 
purpose  and  object  of  his  life  becomes  apparent 
and  in  fact  unquestionable.  It  is  usual  that  under 
the  ])ressure  of  adversity  and  the  stinuilus  of  op- 
position the  best  and  strongest  in  men  are  brought 
forth  and  developed  and  while  the  hardships  of 
his  early  life  were  many,  thereb}'  was  awakened 
in  him  a  laudable  desire  for  .something  better, 
and  this  spirit  has  been  manifest  throughout  his 
entire  career. 


O.  F.  MORGAN. 


( ).  F.  Morgan,  a  practitioner  at  the  W'atseka 
bar.  with  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge 
of  the  science  of  law.  as  is  demonstrated  by  the 
able  manner  in  which  he  has  handled  important 
litigated  interests,  was  born  in  \Miite  county, 
Indiana,  September  11,  1859,  a  son  of  David  S. 
and  Magdalene  L.  (Layman)  Morgan,  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Indiana. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  after 
many  years  devoted  to  agricultural  pursuits 
passed  awav  on  the  22d  of  November,  1903.  at 
the  age  of  seventv-one  years!  His  family  num- 
liered  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  of  whom  ( )rlando 
yi.  Morgan  died  when  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
Init  the  daughter,  Magdalene  L.,  is  still  living. 

O.  F.  Morgan,  the  eldest  of  this  family,  was 
educated  in  the  public  .schools  and  at  Purdue 
L'niversity,  in  Indiana,  where  he  completed  his 
more  .specifically  literary  education.  In  1879  his 
parents  removed  to  Kansas  and  he  took  up  the 
study  of  law  in  that  state  under  the  direction 
of  the  firm  of  Fierce  &  Kline,  of  Rush  county. 
After  thorough  and  careful  preliminary  read- 
ing he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884  and  en- 
tered at  once  upon  practice  in  Rush  county, 
where  he  remained  for  five  years.  In  1889  he 
located  for  i)ractice  at  Covington,  Fountain 
county,  Indiana,  and  in  February.  1892,  he  re- 
moved to  ^^'atseka,  being  admitted  to  practice  in 
Illinois  by  the  supreme  court  in  1893.  The  fol- 
lowing vear  he  formed  a  partner.ship  with  David 
A.  Orebaiigh.     .\t  that  time  ^Ir.   Morgan   was 


O.  F.  MORGAN'. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQL'OIS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


•9 


nut  in  aclivc  pnicticc  Init  was  associate  editor  uf 
the  Iroquois  Times  and  the  Kankakee  Sun.  The 
firm  of  Mortjan  &  ( )rel)au;.ili.  however,  was  estab- 
lished and  liad  a  continuous  and  prosperous  exist- 
ence until  Iip3,  when  Mr.  Orehaugh  became 
connected  with  the  law  department  of  the  Inter- 
national Harvester  Company,  and  Mr.  .Morsjan 
has  since  been  alone.  His  success  at  the  bar 
came  soon  because  his  e(|uipment  was  unusually 
good.  He  has  broad  and  accurate  knowledge 
of  the  principles  of  jurisprudence,  is  logical  in 
his  deductions  and  sound  in  his  reasoning.  In 
the  application  of  a  legal  principle  to  a  contested 
point  he  is  seldom,  if  ever,  at  error  and  in  pre- 
senting his  cause  he  martials  the  points  in  evi- 
dence with  the  ]>recision  of  a  military  comniantl- 
•er.  giving  to  each  its  tlue  weight  and  prominence, 
yet  never  losing  sight  of  the  important  point 
ujion  which  the  decision  in  every  case  finally 
turns.  I  le  has  thus  gained  a  large  and  distinct- 
ively representative  clientage  that  has  connected 
him  with  the  most  important  litigation  tried  in 
the  courts  of  his  district  during  the  ])ast  decade. 
In  December,  1893.  Mr.  Morgan  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Louise  V.  liarnliouse.  a 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Harriet  X.  (Straight") 
Piarnhouse,  of  Ironton.  Missouri,  who,  however, 
were  natives  of  X'irginia.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, lierwyn  E.  and  Harriet  M.  Morgan. 

-Mr.  Morgan  is  a  Mason  and  a  member  of  the 
M(xlern  Woodmen  of  .\merica.  His  ])olitical 
allegiance  is  given  to  the  democracy.  1  le  served 
for  one  term  as  county  superintendent  of  .schools 
in  Rush  county.  Kans;is,  and  in  W'atseka  he  has 
fdlefl  the  offices  of  alderman  and  citv  attorney. 
He  enjoys  the  popularity  which  comes  to  those 
generous  spirits  who  are  ever  genial  and  affable, 
while  in  his  profession  he  has  gained  recogni- 
*  tion,  and  he  is  ranked  among  the  foremost  rep- 
resentatives of  the  bar  in    Iroquois  county. 


E.  C.  .XXD  S.  I.  \'.\XI)RRi'()(")RTEX. 

The  name  of  \'anflerp(x>rten  is  an  honored  one 
in  commercial  circles  in  Irof|uois  county  and  E. 
C.  \'anderpc)orten  of  this  review  has  made  a 
creditable  record  as  a  financier  in  both  private 
life  and  public  service.     .\t  the  present  time  he 


is  at  the  head  of  the  .Martinion  Dank,  which  has 
had  a  successful  existence  of  four  years.  Uorn 
in  Clifton,  lnK|uois  county,  March  4,  18^)7,  he  is 
a  son  of  Jo.seph  X'anderpoorlen,  a  native  of  Bel- 
gium, who  in  1S34  crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  Xew 
York.  The  following  year  he  became  a  resident 
of  Chebanse  township,  Iro<juois  county,  Illinois, 
and  for  many  years  was  closely  associated  with 
agricultural  interests.  In  i8<;o  he  was  elected 
county  treasurer  and  served  for  four  years  dur- 
ing which  time  he  made  his  home  in  the  county 
seat.  He  then  returned  to  his  farm,  comjirising 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Chebanse  town- 
ship, but  in  1897  removed  to  W'atseka.  at  which 
place  Mrs.  \'anderpoorten  died  July  3,  1900. 
She  bore  the  maiden  name  of  .Vmelia  lUmker  and 
was  born  in  Canada.  They  became  the  parents 
of  si.x  children,  of  whom  three  are  living. 

E.  C.  \'ander])oorten  su])])lemcnted  his  pre- 
liminary education  by  study  in  ( )narga  Seminary 
and  through  the  periods  of  vacation  and  after 
the  completion  of  his  school  days  he  worked  on 
the  home  farm  for  some  time.  He  was  afterward 
em|)loyed  as  clerk  in  a  store  and  also  had  charge 
of  a  creamery  wagon.  Following  his  father's 
election  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  he  filled 
the  position  of  deputy  for  four  years  and  upon 
his  retirement  engaged  in  the  abstract  business  in 
W'atseka  until  the  1st  of  May,  i>jo^.  when  he 
came  to  MartiiUon  and  entered  the  banking  busi- 
ness. The  Martinton  Piank  was  e.'Stablished  in 
1902  by  R.  F.  Cummings.  Thomas  McSorley  and 
J.  .\.  .\rmfield.  (On  the  1st  of  December  of  that 
year  the  bank  was  sold  to  \'anderpi«)rten  Broth- 
ers and  at  the  present  writing  its  officers  are  E. 
C.  X'anderpoorten.  president ;  S.  I.  \'andeq)oor- 
ten.  cashier;  and  J.  .X.  \'anderpoorten,  assistant 
cashier.  The  institution  is  capitalized  for  ten 
thousand  dollars  and  they  do  a  general  banking 
and  exchange  business  and  are  also  fire  insur- 
ance agents. 

E.  C.  \'anderpoortcn  was  married  in  Chebanse, 
in  i!*)5.  to  Miss  Jennie  I'ranklin.  who  was  born 
in  that  citv  in  1871.  They  now  have  two  chil- 
dren. Ruby  and  Franklin.  Mr.  \'ander|)oorten 
is  a  democrat  in  his  political  views,  while  his  fra- 
ternal affiliation  is  with  the  Masons,  the  Odd 
Fellows  an<l  the  Modern  Woodmen. 

.S.  I.  \'anderpoorten  was  born  in  Clifton,  this 
County.  Xovembcr  Q,  1874.  and  was  educated  in 


20 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Watseka  and  in  the  Xorthcni  Indiana  Xornial  at 
Valparaiso.  After  completing  his  education  he 
entered  the  office  of  his  brother,  assisting;  hini  in 
the  abstract  business  until  1897,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  shoe  business  in  Watseka  for  three  years. 
He  then  sold  out,  came  to  Martinton  and  has 
since  been  interested  in  banking  here  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  Vanderpoorten  Brothers.  S. 
I.  \'anderpoorten  was  married  to  Miss  Florence 
Meinhard,  who  was  born  in  Gilman,  Illinois,  in 
October,  1884,  and  they  have  one  son,  Leland. 

Like  his  brother,  S.  I.  \'anderpoorten  is  a  Ala- 
son  and  both  are  prominent  in  fraternal  circles 
and  public  life,  standing  as  champions  of  many 
interests  which  have  direct  bearing  upon  the  gen- 
eral welfare.  In  connection  with  his  other  in- 
terests S.  I.  Vanderpoorten  owns  a  half  section 
of  land  in  Minnesota.  The  A'anderpoorten 
Brothers  have  not  confined  their  attention  alone 
to  one  line  but  have  extended  their  efforts  into 
various  fields  of  activity  which  have  resulted  in 
direct  benefit  to  their  localit}-  as  well  as  to  them- 
selves. They  organized  the  Martinton  Build- 
ing &  Loan  Association  in  April  1903,  with  John 
Euchner,  Thomas  McSorley,  OUver  Bunker, 
Ernest  Treischel,  Octave  Tatro  and  Thomas  W. 
Mayo  as  directors.  The  last  named  is  secretary 
of  the  concern,  which  has  proved  a  strong  ele- 
ment in  building  operations  and  the  improve- 
ment of  property  in  Martinton.  In  January, 
1906,  S.  I.  \*anderpoorten  was  elected  secretary. 
In  1903  the  Local  Telephone  Company  was 
formed  with  J.  L.  Shaw  as  president,  E.  C.  Van- 
derpoorten, secretary ;  S.  I.  Vanderpoorten, 
treasurer ;  and  L.  PI.  Baron,  manager ;  and  the 
local  office  of  the  company  is  in  the  bank.  They 
have  an  exchange  at  Chebanse,  Clifton,  Ashkum 
and  Pittwood,  and  are  connected  with  the  Cen- 
tral Union  long  distance  service.  This  company 
has  a  capital  stock  of  ten  thousand  dollars.  Van- 
derpoorten Brothers  are  also  owners  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  on  section  16 
and  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  17, 
Martinton  township.  They  are  most  alert  and 
energetic  business  men  and  the  wise  system  of  in- 
dustrial economics  which  they  have  followed, 
combined  with  their  unfaltering  perseverance  and 
diligence,  has  brought  to  them  a  gratifying  meas- 
ure of  prosperity.  Moreover  their  interests  are 
of  such  a  character  that  the  comnumitv  has  been 


directly  benefited  thereby.  They  have  never 
sought  to  acquire  wealth  through  the  inflation 
of  the  values  but  have  depended  upon  judicious 
investment  and  the  promotion  of  legitimate  busi- 
ness concerns,  and  along  these  lines  have  gained 
a  gratifying  measure  of  prosperity  and  won  an 
honorable  name. 


WILLIAAI  P.   PIERSOX. 

The  name  of  William  P.  Pierson  is  so  closely 
associated  with  the  growth  and  upbuilding  of 
Onarga  that  no  history  of  Iroquois  county  would 
he  complete  without  extended  mention  of  his 
life.  He  was  the  first  merchant  of  the  city — 
when  it  was  a  little  crossroads  village,  and  for 
many  years  business  interests  here  felt  the  stim- 
ulus of  his  enterprise,  energy  and  sound  judg- 
ment. His  co-operation  has  been  an  active  fac- 
tor in  many  measures  and  movements  that  have 
proven  of  direct  and  permanent  good  here,  and 
the  beauty  of  the  city  has  been  largely  enhanced 
by  the  trees  which  he  caused  to  be  planted  along 
its  highways,  transforming  it  into  a  veritable 
grove.  Moreover  he  is  the  oldest  resident  of 
Onarga  and  the  most  honored — honored  by  rea- 
son of  his  years,  his  success  and  his  strong  traits 
of  character,  which  have  ever  been  such  as  to 
command  respect  and  admiration. 

His  life  record  began  in  Leroy,  Genesee 
county.  New  York.  December  8.  181 1,  and  he  has 
tlicrefore  passed  the  ninety-fifth  anniversary  of 
his  birth.  Pie  comes  of  English  ancestrv  and 
the  first  of  the  family  to  emigrate  to  the  new 
world  was  the  Rev.  Abraham  Pierson,  who  ar- 
rived on  the  shores  of  Xew  England  in  1639.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Cambridge  University,  Eng- 
land, and  he  labored  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel 
at  Southampton,  Long  Island,  and  at  Bradford, 
Connecticut.  Mr.  Pierson  of  this  review  is  a 
descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  the  Rev. 
Aljraham  Pierson,  who  was  among  the  first  to 
sow  the  seeds  of  Cliristianity  and  civilization  in 
the  new  world,  and  who  was  the  founder  of 
Newark,  New  Jersey.  Abraham  Pierson,  second, 
was  the  first  president  of  Yale  College,  while 
Abraham    Pierson,   third,   was    for   forty   years 


>'\J^- 


OF  THE 

L'fv!V';RSin  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


23 


justice  of  the  peace  at   KilliiiRworth.  Connecti- 
cut. 

I'liiln  Picrsuu,  fatlier  of  our  .--ubejcl,  died  wlicn 
liis  .sou  William  was  only  nine  years  of  a}.;e.  In 
the  family  were  si.x  children,  of  whom  William 
was  the  eldest  and  is  the  only  one  unw  living-. 
At  the  ape  of  fourteen  years  he  plowed  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  with  oxen  in  <irder  to  aid 
in  the  support  of  his  mother  and  yountjcr  l)rolh- 
ers  and  sisters.  His  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Lucretia  Buell,  was  born  in  Kil- 
linjjworth,  Connecticut,  in  1792,  and  was  a 
daughter  of  .\sa  I'.uell.  who  served  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  with  the  rank  of  captain,  while 
Philo  Pierson  and  his  three  brothers  were  sol- 
diers of  the  war  of  18 12. 

Reared  to  manhood  in  his  native  state  William 
P.  Pierson  was  jtrovided  with  liberal  educational 
advantages,  cominc;  from  a  family  of  intellectual 
worth,  who  valued  rightly  the  opportunities  of 
mental  development.  In  1833  '^"^  became  a  stu- 
dent in  the  University  of  Vermont  and  although 
his  course  there  w'as  not  continuous  he  was 
graduated  from  that  institution  with  the  class 
of  1839.  He  worked  his  own  way  through  col- 
lege,— thus  showing  the  elemental  strength  of 
his  character  and  giving  evidence  of  the  laud- 
able ambition  which  was  to  secure  substantial 
successes  for  him  in  later  life,  .\fter  complet- 
ing his  collegiate  course  he  went  to  Kentucky 
and  there  took  up  the  study  of  law,  being  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  in  due  course  of  time  and  success- 
fully practicing  in  that  state  for  some  years. 
His  legal  knowledge  also  proved  to  him  a  step- 
ping-stone fr'Mii  which  he  climbed  upward,  as  it 
enabled  him  to  carefully  direct  his  business  af- 
fairs in  later  years.  From  Kentucky  he  came  to 
the  north.  ;md  in  order  to  recu])crate  his  health, 
which  was  then  somewhat  impaired,  he  settled 
upon  a  farm,  near  Fairfield.  Towa.  which  he  op- 
erated for  a  few  years. 

In  Fairfield.  Iowa,  Mr.  Pierson  formed  the  ac- 
(|uaintance  of  Miss  .Mary  T.  Condit.  of  ( )swego. 
New  York,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  W.  W.  Condit. 
D.  D.,  who  for  forty  years  was  pastor  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  church  of  Oswego,  and  later 
went  to  Iowa  as  a  teacher  in  a  seminary.  The 
young  couple  were  happily  married  .\pril  18. 
1853.  and  Mrs.  Piers<tn  proved  a  most  loyal  and 
devoted    wife    and    companion    to    him    through 


many  years,  her  assistance  and  encouragement 
often  ])roving  iiis  insi)iration.  Siie  was  closely 
identified  with  church  and  Sunday-school  work 
in  ( )narga,  and  organized  the  first  Sunday-school 
in  the  town  with  only  four  pupils,  and  holding 
the  little  meeting  in  her  own  home.  The  mun- 
ber  of  pupils,  however,  increased  rapidly,  an<l  in 
time  there  were  two  hundred  in  attendance  at 
the  school  which  she  established  and  of  which 
she  was  long  the  guiding  spirit.  She  was  one 
of  ( )narga"s  devoted  Christian  la<lies,  was  untir- 
ing in  her  work  for  the  moral  development  o{  the 
community  and  the  infiuence  of  her  life  remains 
as  a  blessed  benediction  to  many  who  knew  her. 
The  greatest  sorrow  that  has  ever  come  to  Mr. 
Pierson  was  in  the  death  of  his  wife  December 
30,  1890,  after  they  had  traveled  life's  journey 
together  for  thirty-seven  years. 

For  about  a  year  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
Pierson  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in 
Chicago,  and  with  wonderful  prescience  he  dis- 
cerned the  possibilities  for  development  in  this 
section  of  the  state  and  came  to  Onarga,  June 
22,  1854,  arriving  at  what  was  then  a  little  cross- 
roads village  of  four  houses  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral, which  had  then  been  comi^leted  to  a  point 
four  miles  south  of  Onarga.  Here  Mr.  Pierson 
erected  a  business  house  and  was  the  first  mer- 
chant to  make  a  permanent  location  in  Onarga. 
He  engaged  in  dealing  in  lumber,  hardware  and 
farm  implements  and  was  a  very  active  and  pn:)- 
gressive  business  man,  following  methods  even 
in  advance  of  his  time.  He  practiced  a  most  lib- 
eral advertising  policy  and  sold  goods  in  numer- 
ous towns  in  this  section  of  the  .state.  <  )n  one 
occasion,  after  extensively  advertising,  he  sold 
three  carloads  of  implements  at  Middlejiort.  now 
Watscka.  at  .n  single  sale.  His  trade  const;uitly 
increased  in  volume  and  importance  with  the 
growth  of  the  town  and  the  settlement  of  the 
surrouniling  country,  and  his  business  became 
an  extensive  one,  yielding  him  large  profits.  A 
man  of  resourceful  ability,  he  was  continually 
watchful  of  opportunities  giving  him  wider 
scope,  and  thus  he  extended  his  efforts  into  vari- 
ous fields  of  activity.  He  laid  out  Pierson's  ad- 
dition— a  twenty-acre  tract — to  the  town  of 
Onarga  and  in  other  ways  materially  improved 
the  city.  He  built  a  commodious  and  tasteful 
residence  for  his  own  home,  and  he  set  out  lutn- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


dreds  of  evergreen  and  forest  trees,  all  through 
the  city  until  it  now  has  the  appearance  of  a 
grove,  while  the  trees,  grown  to  large  size,  af- 
ford ample  shelter  along  the  streets,  and  add 
much  to  Onarga's  well  deserving  reputation  of 
being  one  of  the  beautiful  cities  of  Illinois.  The 
erection  of  various  buildings  by  Mr.  Pierson 
has  also  been  a  source  of  Onarga's  growth 
and  improvement.  He  built  the  first  brick  busi- 
ness block  in  the  city  and  continued  actively  in 
business  until  1873,  when  with  the  substantial 
rewards  of  his  previous  labor,  he  retired  to  en- 
joy life  amid  the  peace  and  prosperity  which 
he  had  well  earned.  Never  has  he  been  known 
to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his  fel- 
lowmen  in  any  business  transaction,  his  success 
being  won  through  close  application,  capable 
management  and  judicious  investment. 

Since  retiring  to  private  life  Mr.  Pierson  has 
traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  both  on  the  con- 
tinent and  through  Great  Britain,  visiting  many 
places  of  historic,  modern  and  scenic  interest. 
In  his  home  town  he  has  figured  prominently  in 
coimection  with  the  work  of  upholding  the  polit- 
ical and  legal  status  of  the  community  and  in 
promoting  its  intellectual  and  moral  development, 
contributing  liberally  to  the  support  of  schools 
and  churches.  Politically  he  was  formerly  an 
old-line  whig  and  upon  the  organization  of  the 
rc|)ublican  party  in  1856  he  joined  its  ranks 
and  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  fourteenth  na- 
tional convention.  In  i860  he  was  a  delegate  to 
the  convention  which  nominated  .\braham  Lin- 
coln for  the  presidency,  and  he  has  taken  an  ac- 
tive part  in  various  campaigns  in  support  of  the 
principles  in  which  he  believes,  but  has  never 
aspired  to  office  for  himself.  He  and  his  wife 
were  among  the  charter  members  and  organizers 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  church  of  Onarga,  and 
he  is  now  the  only  survivor  of  those  who  assisted 
in  its  founding.  Ho  lias  helped  to  build  tlireo 
different  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  city,  the 
last  one,  erected  in  kjjA,  being  a  fine  large, 
brick  structure,  which  was  completed  and  a  pipe 
organ  installed  at  a  cost  of  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars. 

Wliile  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pierson  never  lind 
any  children  of  their  own  they  adopted  Janet 
Breyt  Spraak,  when  she  was  eight  years  of  age. 
She  was  born  near  Amsterdam,   Holland,  and 


was  reared  and  educated  by  Mrs.  Pierson.  She- 
was  cared  for  and  loved  as  their  own  child  and 
now  repays  Mr.  Pierson  by  filial  devotion.  She 
is  a  lady  of  great  intelligence  and  culture,  and 
now  gives  her  time  to  the  care  of  Mr.  Piersoa 
and  his  home,  over  which  she  presides  with  gra- 
cious hospitality. 

Mr.  Pierson  has  now  been  a  resident  of  Onar- 
ga for  more  than  fifty  years  and  has  not  only 
assisted  in  upbuilding  the  town  but  also  has- 
largely  aided  its  people  in  many  ways.  He  has- 
ever  kept  abreast  of  the  times  and  for  fifty-three 
years  has  been  a  reader  of  the  Chicago  Daily 
Tribune.  His  has  not  only  been  a  long  but  also- 
a  most  useful  life  and  while  he  has  never  sought 
to  figure  prominently  in  any  public  light  his  la- 
bor and  influence  have  been  of  benefit  to  his  fel- 
lowmen,  and  constitute  an  example  well  worthy 
of  emulation.  Considering  his  long  years,  his 
splendid  business  successes,  his  public-spirited 
assistance  to  his  town  and  county  and  his  co- 
operation in  those  movements  for  the  bettermen 
of  mankind,  many  who  know  him  entertain  for 
him  the  feeling  expressed  by  the  bard  of  Avon : 

"He  was  a  man.    Take  him  for  all  in  all 
I  shall  not  look  upon  his  like  again."' 


T.  N.  BOUE,  M.  D. 


Dr.  T.  N.  Boue,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery  at  Loda.  and  one  of  the- 
oldest  representatives  of  the  profession  in  Iro- 
quois county,  has  remained  at  his  present  place 
of  residence  for  over  forty-two  years,  and 
throughout  this  period  has  administered  to  the 
needs  of  the  sick  and  suffering  with  an  ability 
that  has  made  him  the  loved  family  physician  in 
many  a  household.  A  native  of  Indiana,  he 
was  born  in  Fountain  county.  May  18,  1837,  and' 
is  a  son  of  L.  D.  and  Eleanor  (Moffett)  Houe. 
In  the  state  of  his  nativity  the  Doctor  was  reared 
and  his  literary  education  was  acquired  in  the 
academy  at  Waveland  and  Ladoga.  He  began 
the  study  of  medicine  under  the  direction  of 
Dr.  Jehu  .\dkins,  of  .Scotch  Prairie,  and  pursued' 
his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege, Chicago,  in  the  winter  of  1863-4.     He  then: 


Dr.  T.  N.  BOUE. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROOLOIS  COfXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


27 


located  at  Loda,  where  lie  entered  iipnii  the  ac- 
tive practice  of  his  profession,  but  hiter  he  re- 
turned ti>  Rush,  wliere  he  remained  as  a  stu- 
dent in  the  winter  of  i8<)5-(i,  bciuj,'  j^raduati-d  in 
the  spring  of  the  latter  year. 

After  completing  the  regular  course  Dr.  Iloue 
returned  to  Loda  and  has  since  continucnisly 
practiced  here,  his  active  identification  with  the 
profession  at  this  place  covering  more  than  four 
decades.  His  friends  gave  to  him  an  agreeable 
surprise  on  the  forty-second  anniversary  of  his 
arrival  in  Loda,  Jul\  27,  1906.  Many  of  his  ac- 
quaintances gathered  at  his  home  to  conuiiem- 
orate  the  event,  to  extend  him  hearty  congratula- 
tions for  what  he  had  accomplished  and  to  ex- 
press their  wish  that  he  might  long  be  permitted 
to  remain  here  in  useful  and  successful  practice. 
He  has  drawn  his  patronage  from  a  wide  terri- 
tory, being  called  for  miles  around  to  exercise 
his  skill  and  ability  in  alleviating  human  suffer- 
ing and  restoring  health.  He  is  probably  the 
oldest  physician  in  years  of  continuous  practice 
in  the  countv  and  none  more  tboniugbly  merit 
the  confidence  and  respect  accurded  liim  he- 
cause  he  has  ever  maintainetl  a  high  standard 
of  professional  ethics  and  through  the  ])assing 
years  has  kept  abreast  with  the  advancement  of 
the  medical  fraternity. 

Dr.  Boue  was  married  June  3.  18^17,  to  Miss 
Effie  L.  Burnette,  who  died  December  29,  1875. 
In  i8~Q.  in  Chicago,  he  wedded  Emma  J.  Kelsey. 
who  was  born  and  reared  at  Oregon.  ]llin<iis. 
There  were  two  children  by  that  union.  \'era 
June  and  Eleanor  May.  who  are  young  ladies 
at  home.  The  second  wife  jjassed  away  in  1888. 
and  on  the  6th  of  March,  1890,  Dr.  Boue  was 
married  in  Loda  to  Miss  Minnie  Carrington. 

The  Doctor  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
his  membership  being  with  the  lodge  at  Loda, 
with  P'axton  chapter  and  I'axton  commandery, 
K.  T.  He  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  the  blue 
lodge,  serving  for  twenty-two  consecutive  years 
as  master  and  afterward  for  another  year,  an 
honor  which  has  been  conferred  upon  no  other 
member.  He  and  bis  wife  hold  membership  in 
the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  Mrs.  lioue  is  past 
worthy  matron.  She  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church  and  served  as  chorister 
for  a  numlier  of  years.  The  Doctor  has  held 
membership   in    the   Christian   church    since    his 


y<iuth.  lie  belongs  to  the  Inniuiiis  and  l-'<ird 
Medical  Society,  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Soci- 
ety and  the  .\meric;in  .Medical  .\ssiiciation.  His 
political  endorsement  is  given  to  the  democracy 
and  he  cast  his  first  ballot  for  Stephen  A.  Doug- 
las in  iS(K>  and  for  each  nominee  of  the  party 
since  that  time.  He  votes  inde|iendently,  how- 
ever, at  local  elections,  nf)r  has  he  been  an  as- 
pirant for  office,  yet  his  worth  and  ability  have 
been  recognized  by  his  fellow  townsmen  who 
have  called  him  to  some  positions  of  political 
preferment,  lie  has  served  as  highway  commis- 
sioner for  twenty-four  consecutive  years,  as  pres- 
itlent  of  the  town  board  for  a  number  of  years 
and  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
His  interest  in  community  affairs  is  deep  and 
sincere  and  arises  from  genuine  devotion  to 
the  public  good.  His  efforts  have  been  discern- 
ingly directed  in  behalf  of  the  general  welfare 
and  he  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  standing  for 
progress  and  improvement  along  all  lines.  He 
and  his  familv  are  held  in  highest  esteem  and 
it  would  he  difficult  to  find  any  who  have  more 
friends  than   Dr.   Boue. 


.\.MES  E.  OWEX. 


The  industrial  interests  of  Onarga  find  a 
worthy  reiiresentative  in  James  E.  ( )wen.  who 
owns  and  conducts  an  electric  light  plant.  He 
is,  moreover,  entitled  to  representation  in  this  vol- 
ume as  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county  and  state, 
and  as  one  of  the  few  remaining  veterans  of  the 
Civil  war.  He  has  resided  in  Iroquois  county 
since  1855.  having  arrive<l  when  a  youth  of  twelve 
vears.  He  was  born  in  P>irmingham.  l-"ngland.  in 
1843.  a  son  of  James  Owen,  whose  birth  occurred 
in  the  same  city.  Xovembcr  13.  1815.  The  father 
was  there  reared  and  married,  the  lady  of  his 
choice  being  .\nn  EUiman.  who  was  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  England.  James  ( )wen.  Sr..  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade  and  followed  that  pursuit  in  his 
native  country  until  after  the  birth  of  four  of  their 
children,  when  with  his  family  he  emigrated  to 
the  new  worhl.  arriving  in  i84<>.  He  sjK-nt  about 
one  year  in  Brooklyn.  .New  York,  a;id  then  came 
west  to  Illir.ois  by  way  of  the  l'>ie  canal  to  Buf- 
falo and  arornd  the  lakes  to  Chicago.      H-    !■  - 


28 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


cated  first  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  which  he  culti- 
vated for  about  five  years.  In  1855  he  removed  to 
Onarga,  where  he  again  worked  at  the  black- 
smith's trade,  establishing  his  first  shop  at  this 
place  and  he  did  work  for  patrons  of  Illinois  at 
a  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  miles.  Subse- 
quently he  again  turned  his  attention  to  farming, 
developing  a  raw  tract  of  land,  which  he  cleared 
and  cultivated  until  1868,  when  he  once  more 
took  up  his  abode  in  Onarga,  spending  h  s  last 
years  here.  He  died  in  1898,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  eighty-three  years,  while  his  wife  survived  him 
and  passed  away  in  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
five  years,  having  spent  her  last  days  in  the  home 
of  her  son,  James  E.  Owen. 

The  educational  privileges  which  James  E. 
Owen  received  in  his  boyhood  days  were  quite  lim- 
ited, for  in  his  youth  he  began  work  upon  the 
farm  or  in  assisting  his  father  in  the  shop  and 
his  minority  was  therefore  largely  a  period  of 
earnest  toil.  When  a  young  man  he  also  worked 
at  farm  labor,  and  in  1861.  when  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  joined  Company  C.  of  the  Fifty-sev- 
enth Illinois  X'olunteer  Infantry.  The  regiment 
went  to  the  south  and  was  attached  to  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee.  Mr.  Owen  was  first  under  fire  at 
Fort  Donelson,  and  later  at  Shiloh,  where  he  sus- 
tained a  gunshot  wound  in  the  left  leg.  He  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Savannah,  where  he  re- 
mained for  about  three  months  on  account  of  his 
injuries.  He  then  returned  home  on  a  furlough 
of  sixty  days,  after  which  he  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  Corinth.  He  afterward  participated  in  a 
number  of  battles,  including  those  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign  and  went  with  Sherman  on  the  cele- 
brated march  to  the  sea.  being  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service 
at  Savannah.  Georgia,  on  the  3nth  nf  nocembcr, 
1864. 

Mr.  Owen  then  started  on  the  return  trip,  mak- 
ing the  voyage  up  the  .Atlantic  coast  to  New  York 
city.  He  crossed  the  country  to  Iroquois  county, 
arriving  in  January,  1865.  After  recuperating 
from  the  hardships  and  rigors  of  war  he  began 
work  on  a  farm  and  was  thus  employed  by  the 
month.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  brick  and  tile  as  an  employe  and  after- 
ward as  proprietor  of  a  plant.  In  connection 
with  F.  P.  P>cach.  he  owneil  and  operated  a  brick 


and  tile  yard  at  Dclrey,  where  he  remained  for  a 
number  of  years,  after  which  he  sold  his  interest 
to  Mr.  Peach  and  entered  into  a  partnership  with 
Horace  Barnes  in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and 
tile  near  Onarga.  That  business  was  conducted 
successfully  for  several  years,  subsequent  to  which 
time  Air.  Owen  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain 
trade,  in  which  he  continued  for  four  or  five 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  in  connection  with 
L.  J.  Risser  established  a  canning  factory,  which 
he  operated  for  some  time.  On  disposing  of  his 
interest  in  that  business  he  established  the  electric 
light  plant  in  Onarga,  which  is  connected  with 
the  electric  light  plant  at  Oilman,  the  power  house 
being  at  the  latter  place.  He  has  the  lighting 
of  the  city  and  public  buildings,  which  are  well 
illuminated,  having  about  two  thousand  lamps 
used  for  the  city.  He  also  furnishes  light  to 
many  private  residences  and  the  business  is  prov- 
ing a  profitable  one. 

I^Ir.  Owen  was  married  in  Iroquois  county,  in 
1867,  to  Miss  Xancy  H.  Coblentz,  who  died  Octo- 
ber 5,  1868.  There  is  one  daughter  by  this  union, 
X'annie,  now  the  wife  of  F.  M.  Chaney,  who 
resides  at  Longwood,  Pettis  countw  Missouri. 
On  the  27th  of  August.  1873.  Mr.  Owen  was 
again  married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mar- 
tha Harper,  who  passed  away  about  1882,  leaving 
one  son,  Frank,  who  is  now  connected  wkh  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  electric  light  plant. 
In  1884  Mr.  Owen  wedded  Emma  Harper,  a  sis- 
ter of  his  second  wife,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Onarga. 

In  his  political  views  Air.  Owen  is  a  stalwart 
republican  and  served  as  postmaster  under  Presi- 
dent Hayes  and  again  under  Presidents  Garfield 
and  Arthur.  Tlis  second  incumbency  covered  a 
period  of  about  six  years,  when  he  resigned.  He 
also  served  on  the  board  of  trustees  for  five  years 
and  for  two  years  acted  as  its  president.  He  was 
for  five  years  a  member  of  the  board  of  educa- 
tion and  is  now  a  candidate  on  the  rejiublican 
ticket  for  the  office  of  county  treasurer,  to  which 
lie  will  (kniluless  be  elected.  I  Us  official  service 
has  ever  been  characterized  liy  a  conscientious  zeal 
in  the  |)erformance  of  his  duties  and  over  the  rec- 
ord of  his  pul)lic  lite  there  falls  no  shadow  of 
wrong  or  susjncion  of  evil.  He  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Odd  Fellows  society  at  Onarga  since 
1869.   lias  filled  all   of   the  cha'rs  and  is  a  past 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


granil.  He  is  likewise  connected  witli  tlie  en- 
campment and  has  served  as  gfrand  patriarch  and 
lias  been  a  dekgjate  to  the  .urand  lodf^e  and  the 
^rand  encanipment,  serving;  in  the  latter  fur  four 
terms.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  identified  with 
the  Rehckah  degree  and  Mr.  Owen  holds  niem- 
bersliip  relations  with  the  tirand  Army  post  at 
Onarga,  which  he  assisted  in  organizing  and  of 
which  he  is  the  present  commander,  serving  for 
two  terms.  From  his  youth  Mr.  Owen  has  been 
a  resident  of  Iroquois  county  and  has  lived  a  most 
active  and  useful  life,  jiromoting  and  conductiTig 
numerous  business  enterprises,  which  have  i)roven 
factors  in  the  business  development  and  prosper- 
ity of  the  community  as  well  as  a  scurce  of  indi- 
vidual profit.  He  is  well  known  in  the  county 
as  a  man  of  sterling  character  and  worth,  having 
the  confidence  and  trust  of  the  entire  community. 
for  in  business  he  has  made  an  unassailable  repu- 
tation and  in  private  life  has  gained  that  warm 
personal  regard  which  arises  from  the  possession 
•of  those  traits  which  in  every  land  and  clime  com- 
mand confidence  and  admiration. 


J.  A.  I'RUITT. 


J.  A.  Pruitt,  living  retired  in  Goodwine,  is  fa- 
miliarly and  affectionately  known  throughout 
Iroquois  county  as  L'ncle  Allen.  Few  residents 
of  the  county  have  more  friends,  for  during  a 
half  century  here  passed  he  has  so  lived  as  to  win 
esteem  and  respect,  while  his  kindliness  and 
geniality  have  brought  him  the  closer  ties  of 
friendship  and  love.  His  opinions  have  carried 
weight  and  he  has  long  been  accounted  an  influ- 
ential and  leading  citizen.  For  many  years  he 
was  actively  engaged  in  farming  but  has  now  put 
aside  business  cares  and  is  living  retired  in 
Goodwine. 

Mr.  Pruitt  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  coimty,  In- 
diana, August  21,  1832,  and  is  largely  a  self- 
educated  as  well  as  a  self-made  man.  His  fa- 
ther being  in  limited  circumstances  and  with  a 
family  of  eleven  children  l<>  su])port,  our  subject 
went  to  live  with  his  maternal  grandfather 
Beekcr  when  nine  years  of  age  and  remained 
with  him  about  seven  vears,  or  until  the  latter's 


death,  when  he  went  to  live  with  his  uncle  Daniel 
Beeker.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  for  a  number  of 
years  and  in  1854  removed  westward  to  Iro- 
quois county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  by  the 
day  or  month  for  three  years. 

Mr.  Pruitt  then  returned  to  Indiana  for  his 
bride,  being  married  in  Carroll  county,  that  stale, 
in  1857,  to  Miss  Barbara  Heiney,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana  and  remained  there  until  she  came 
with  her  husband  to  Illinois.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  u|)on  a  rented  farm  in  this  county 
but  in  iStKt  Mr.  I'ruitt  was  able  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  in  Ash  Grove 
township,  which  he  broke  and  improved,  his 
labors  soon  transforming  it  into  a  good  farm. 
\'ery  industrious  and  energetic,  these  qualities 
were  manifest  both  in  the  tilled  fields  and  in  the 
stock-raising  interests  which  claimed  his  atten- 
tion. In  the  early  days  there  were  many  hard- 
ships and  privations  incident  to  the  establishment 
of  a  home  on  the  frontier,  but  as  the  fields  were 
cultivated  and  the  state  became  more  thickly  set- 
tled so  that  there  was  a  better  market  for  crops, 
the  financial  resources  of  Mr.  Pruitt  increased 
and  he  increased  his  acreage  from  time  to  time 
by  additional  purchases  until  he  owned  eight 
hundred  acres  in  Milford  and  Lovejoy  town- 
ships and  also  bought  land  in  Indiana,  whereon 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  four  years,  begin- 
ning in  1887.  He  then  bought  property  in  Wat- 
seka,  where  he  made  his  home  until  1891,  and 
then  removed  to  Goodwine,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  enjoying  in  well  earned  rest  the  fruits  of 
his  former  toil.  Indolence  and  idleness,  how- 
ever, are  utterly  foreign  to  his  nature  and  he 
finds  it  impossible  to  put  aside  business  interests 
entirely,  but  he  drives  out  almost  daily  to  his 
farm  and  thus  keeps  the  place  in  good  condition. 
He  has  the  entire  farm  enclosed  with  woven  wire 
fence,  attacheil  to  red  cedar  ]x>sts,  shipped  from 
.\labama.  There  are  good  buildings  and  an 
(orchard  and  the  farm  is  a  valuable  properly. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pruitt  have  become  the  parents 
of  four  children :  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Hickman,  of 
Lovejoy  township :  Elias,  who  is  living  in  Ur- 
bana,  Illinois:  .\nnis,  the  wife  of  J.  P.  Hoffman, 
a  farmer  of  .\sh  Grove  township;  and  James 
IT.,  who  is  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at 
Sumpter,  Oregon. 


30 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pruitt  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  he  served  as  elder  in  the  church 
while  living  at  \\'atseka  and  also  at  Milford.  In 
the  work  of  the  church  they  have  been  actively 
interested  and  have  labored  earnestly  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  the  cause.  Mr.  Pruitt  is  a  de- 
mitted  ]\Iason.  having  belonged  to  Milford  lodge, 
No.  i68.  His  political  allegiance  was  long 
given  the  republican  party  but  for  some  years  he 
has  supported  the  men  and  measures  of  the  pro- 
hibition party,  the  cause  of  temperance  having 
ever  found  in  him  a  stalwart  exemplar  and  ad- 
vocate. He  has  always  refused  to  accept  office. 
yet  he  has  ever  been  a  progressive  and  public- 
spirited  citizen,  and  his  advocacy  of  many  meas- 
ures has  been  an  intiuencing  factor  in  securing 
them  further  support.  In  his  business  he  has 
been  straigh forward  and  thoroughly  reliable,  his 
success — -which  is  most  desirable  —  coming 
through  legitimate  business  channels,  and  no 
one  more  fully  merits  the  confidence  and  respect 
so  uniformly  tendered  than  does  Uncle  Allen 
Pruitt  and  his  estimable  wife. 


•    JUDGE  ROBERT  W.  HILSCHER. 

Judge  Robert  W.  Hilscher,  who  at  the  time  of 
.r»  his  death  was  serving  for  the  second  term  as  cir- 
v\  cuit  judge  and  who  was  accounted  one  of  the 
distinguished  citizens  of  Watseka,  was  richly 
endowed  with  all  those  traits  of  character  which 
work  for  intellectual  development,  the  growth 
of  high  moral  purpose  and  of  a  kindliness  of 
spirit  which  results  in  consideration  for  the 
rights  antl  interests  of  others.  His  life  was  so 
unselfish,  his  motive  so  honorable  and  his  public 
usefulness  so  widely  recognized  that  the  news 
of  his  death  was  received  with  a  sense  of  personal 
bereavement  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Robert  Winfield  Hilscher  was  born  in  Ly- 
coming county,  Pennsylvania.  March  8.  1853,  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  I.ouisa  Hilscher.  The  famil\- 
comes  of  German  lineage  but  has  been  repre- 
sented in  America  througli  several  generations. 
The  father,  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  followed  that 
pursuit  in  early  life  in  the  cast  and  in  1855  re- 
moved westward  to  Indiana,  .\ftcr  two  years 
passed  in  that  state  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  a 


farm  near  Lincoln,  Illinois,  and  it  was  there- 
amid  rural  surroundings  that  Judge  Hilscher 
spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  working 
in  the  fields  as  necessity  demanded  and  attending 
school  when  opportunity  oflfered.  Ambitious  for 
further  knowledge  than  could  be  acquired  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home,  he 
entered  the  college  at  Adrian,  ^lichigan,  when 
eighteen  years  of  age  and  was  graduated  there- 
from with  the  class  of  1875.  He  then  attended 
the  law  school  at  Albany,  Xew  York,  and  follow- 
ing his  graduation  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1876. 

His  course  as  a  lawyer  was  marked  by  steady 
progress  due  to  his  thorough  preparation  in  his 
college  days,  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
clients  and  his  clear  and  cogent  reasoning  before 
court  or  jury.  He  located  for  practice  at 
Hoopeston,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  from 
1876  to  1879,  when  he  removed  to  Watseka, 
where  he  continued  to  make  his  home  until  his 
death. 

The  same  year  he  was  married  on  the  8th  of 
October.  1879.  to  IMiss  Clara  ^IcGill,  and  unto- 
them  were  born  a  daughter  and  son,  Elma  and 
Ralph,  who  with  the  mother  still  survive  Judge 
Hilscher.  Theirs  was  largely  an  ideal  home  life, 
for  the  Judge  was  devoted  to  his  family  and  con- 
sidered no  personal  sacrifice  on  his  part  too  great 
if  it  would  enhance  the  happiness  or  promote  the 
welfare  of  his   wife  and  children. 

From  the  beginning  of  his  connection  with  the 
Iroquois  county  bar  he  rapidly  rose  to  promi- 
nence. In  1880  he  was  elected  state's  attorney 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with  such 
fidelity  and  ability  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1884, 
remaining  as  the  incumbent  for  eight  years.  He 
was  afterward  master  in  chancerv  for  one  term 
and  all  this  time  his  private  practice  was  growing 
and  he  was  gaining  a  wider  acquaintance  and 
a  stronger  hold  upon  the  confidence  of  the  people, 
so  that  it  was  but  the  logical  sequence  of  events 
when  in  1897  '^^  was  nominated  and  elected  cir- 
cuit judge  for  a  term  of  six  years.  I  lis  course 
ii])nn  the  liench  was  distinguished  liv  a  masterful 
grasp  of  every  problem  presented  for  solution. 
His  decisions  were  models  of  judicial  soundness 
and  lie  had  the  endorsement  of  the  liar  as  welt 
as  the  general  public.  So  creditable  and  satisfac- 
tory was  his  record  that  in  1903  he  was  re-elected 


1 


OF  iHt 
UUIVEKl'lTY  OF  ILLIKOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLIXolS. 


3J 


without  ojipositioii.  He  had  in  the  highest  de- 
gree the  judicial  teniperaiuent.  His  knowledge 
of  the  fuiulaniental  principles  of  law  was  pro- 
found and  he  was  thoroughly  grounded  in  the 
practice  and  procedure  of  the  courts.  His  judg- 
ment was  sound  and  his  industry  and  conscien- 
tious devotion  to  the  duties  of  his  position  were 
proverbial.  He  was  recognized  as  one  of  the 
ablest  jurists  in  the  state. 

Judge  Hilscher  was,  moreover,  a  leader  in  ])o- 
litical  thought  and  action  becau.«e  of  his  well- 
known  devotion  to  high  ideals  in  citizenship  and 
his  stalwart  championship  of  republican  prin- 
ciples. As  a  public  speaker  he  stood  very  high. 
His  appearance  on  the  rostrum  was  dignified  and 
impressive.  His  manner  was  deliberate  and  gen- 
erally argiuiientative,  but  his  speeches  always 
commanded  attention  and  his  language  often  rose 
to  periods  of  impassioned  eIo(|uencc. 

Aside  from  the  intellectualitx  with  which  na- 
ture endowed  him  and  which  he  cultivated  to  the 
best  of  his  ability  Judge  Hilscher  had  other 
strongly  marked  characteristics,  among  which 
was  his  fidelity  to  the  Christian  religion.  He  was 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  closely  followed  its  teachings,  and  that  he 
was  honored  in  the  denomination  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  was  made  a  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional conference  of  the  church  at  Los  .\ngeles  in 
1904.  This  honor  came  unsolicited  and  he  was 
not  even  present  at  the  session  of  the  body  when 
chosen.  Fraternally  he  was  comiected  with  the 
Masons,  belonging  to  Wat.seka  lodge.  No.  ^fi. 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.;  Wat.seka  chapter,  \o.  114,  R.  A. 
M. ;  and  .Mary  commandery.  Xo.  67,  K.  T. 

Perhaps   no   better   summary   of  the   life   and 

character  of  Judge  Hilscher  can  be.^en  than  l)y 

quoting  from  the  W'atseka  I'ijjptfljlican,  which  at 

■  </ihc  time  of  his  death  sai^^c^A  strong  man  has 

''-   '^  fallen.    In  the  death  of  Robert  \\'.  Hilscher,  Tro- 


C/- 


quois  county  has  lost  her  foremosi  citizen,  one 
who  has  for  many  years  stood  as  a  splendid  type 
of  all  that  was  best  and  highest  in  the  lives  of  her 
peo])le.  He  was  the  embodiment  of  vigorous,  up- 
right, sterling  manhood.  His  personality  com- 
bined the  dignity  of  conscious  power  with  the 
simplicity  of  a  pure  and  untainted  life.  He  was 
warm  hearted,  courageous  and  loyal.  His  char- 
acter was  true  as  steel,  steadfast  as  granite.  His 
mind  was  clear,  logical  and  vigorous.     He  was 


incapable  of  fal.sehood  or  double  dealing  and  he 
possessed  that  instinctive  honesty  and  straight- 
forwardness that  turned  to  truth  as  the  needle 
to  the  pole.  His  conscientiousness  was  inherent. 
Honesty  and  justice  and  right  dealing  were  the 
natural  result  of  the  habitual  bent  of  his  mind. 
He  loved  his  fellowman  with  broadmindedness 
and  charity  for  human. frailty,  sorrowing  deeply 
over  misfortune  and  suffering.  I'ew  men  have 
ever  enjoyed  more  completely  the  confidence  and 
respect  of  their  fellow  citizens — none  have  ever 
more  richly  deserved  such  confidence  nor  more 
sacredly  respected  it.  His  passing  away  in  the 
prime  of  manhood  and  at  the  zenith  of  his  pow- 
ers is  felt  as  a  personal  loss  by  thousands  in  this 
and  iitluT  counties.'' 


HON.  GEORGE  H.  HAMILTON. 

George  11.  Hamilton,  altorney-al-law  at  \\  at- 
seka  and  vice  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  also  connected  with  cattle-raising  in  Texas, 
is  numbered  among  the  native  sons  of  Iro<|Uois 
county,  his  birth  having  occurred  upon  a  farm' 
near  Wellington  on  the  4th  of  .\pril,  1875.  He 
is  a  son  of  John  L.  Hamilton,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  volume. 

Mr.  Hamilton  supplemented  his  early  educa- 
tional privileges  by  study  in  the  W'atseka  high 
.school  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1891.  He  afterward  matriculated  in 
(Olivet  College.  Olivet,  Michigan,  where  he  won 
the  bachelor  of  Science  degree  ui)oti  his  gradua- 
tion in  i8«)4,  and  in  Harvard  University  he  won 
the  flegree  of  Hachelor  of  .\rts  in  1896.  On 
leaving  college  he  accepted  the  position  of  book- 
keeper in  the  First  National  Hank  at  Watseka, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years,  when  he  be- 
gan prci)aration  for  a  professional  career  as  a 
'.student  in  'the  Northwestern  "La-W  School  at 
Chicago. 

His  course  completed.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  i»joi  and  entered  upon  active 
practice  in  Watseka.  where  he  has  already  gained 
a  large  clientage  and  demonstrated  in  his  hand- 
ling of  iiuportant  litigated  interests  his  ability 
to  solve  intricate  legal  problems.  With  a  mind 
naturallv  analvtical  and  imluctive  he  has   found 


34 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


great  interest  in  liis  law  work  and  liis  devotion 
to  his  clients  is  proverbial. 

His  law  practice,  however,  does  not  comprise 
the  extent  and  scope  of  his  business  interests 
and  activities,  for  he  is  also  a  factor  in  financial 
circles  here,  having  in  1904  been  elected  vice 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  which 
he  has  been  a  director  for  a  number  of  years. 
Associated  with  his  two  brothers,  John  L.  and 
AV.  A.  Hamilton,  of  Hoopeston,  he  is  likewise 
connected  with  cattle-raising  interests  in  Texas, 
from  which  state  the  cattle  are  shipped  north 
and  fattened  for  market  upon  his  farm  of  eight 
hundred  acres  near  Wellington.  This  business 
has  reached  extensive  proportions  and  is  a  profit- 
able source  of  income. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  a  republican  in  politics  and 
•on  his  party  ticket  was  elected  to  the  forty-fifth 
general  assembly  of  the  legislature  on  the  6th 
■of  November,  1906.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  in  which  he  has  taken  the 
degrees  of  the  lodge,  cliapter  and  commandery. 
He  is  also  president  of  the  Iroquois  Club  and  as 
•chairman  of  the  building  committee  has  taken  a 
most  active  part  in  the  erection  of  the  new  club 
house,  which  is  now  in  course  of  construction 
and  will  be  ready  for  occupancy  about  the  ist  of 
February,  1907.  The  cost  of  the  building  and 
furnishings  is  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  Mr. 
Flamilton  is  a  man  in  whom  nature  and  culture 
have  vied  in  making  an  interesting  and  entertain- 
ing gentleman,  while  the  development  of  his 
latent  powers  and  energies,  combined  with  close 
application,  have  gained  him  a  goodly  measure 
of  success  in  his  professional  life  and  financial 
interests. 


B.\RTON  BISHOPP. 


Among  the  earnest  men  whose  depth  of  char- 
acter and  strict  adherence  to  principle  excite 
the  admiration  of  his  contemporaries  is  Barton 
Bishopp,  who,  moreover,  fi,gures  promincnth  in 
the  business  life  of  Sheldon  in  connection  with 
the  e.stablishment  and  conduct  of  an  important 
industrial  enterprise,  for  the  Bishopp  Hominy 
Company  is  a  factor  in  the  business  activity  and 
prosperity  of  the  city,  furnishing  employment  to 


a  number  of  workmen,  while  at  the  same  time 
bringing  success  to  the  individual  stockholders. 

Mr.  Bishopp  was  born  in  Kent  county,  Eng- 
land, November  28,  1838,  a  son  of  Edward  B. 
and  Matilda  Elizabeth  Bishopp.  The  father's 
birth  occurred  in  En,gland  in  181 1  and  in  1853 
he  emigrated  with  his  family  to  America.  The 
year  after  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  settled 
in  Iroquois  count}-,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days,  and  in  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  February,  1883,  the  community  lost  one  of  its 
valued  and  most  respected  citizens. 

Barton  Bishopp  is  the  eldest  of  a  family  of 
nine  children.  The  first  fifteen  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  his  native  country  and  he  then 
crossed  the  briny  deep  with  his  parents,  remain- 
ing at  the  family  home  in  Sheldon  township  for 
fifteen  years,  during  which  time  he  learned  and 
followed  the  carpenter's  trade.  Since  a  lad  of 
sixteen  years  he  has  resided  in  this  community 
and  has  therefore  witnessed  almost  the  entire 
growth  and  development  of  the  county.  He 
has  assisted  in  many  ways  in  its  progress  and  ad- 
vancement and  most  particularly  through  the 
conduct  of  his  business  interests,  for  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  any  community  depends  upon 
its  active  and  prosperous  business  men. 

On  the  4th  of  September.  1867,  Mr.  Bishopp 
\vas  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  ^Martha  A. 
Moore,  a  native  of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  B.  and  Sarah  I\I.  (Fleming)  Moore, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  In  the 
spring  of  1831  they  emigrated  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  what  is  now  Belmont  townshi]),  Iroquois 
county.  The  father  entered  a  quarter  section 
of  land  from  the  government  and  through  his 
industrious  efforts  the  wild  tract  of  prairie  was 
converted  into  rich  and  fertile  fields.  He  added 
to  the  property  as  his  financial  resources  would 
permit  until  he  owned  four  hundred  acres,  thus 
becoming  one  of  the  substantial  residents  of  the 
county.  His  death  occurred  November  20,  1870. 
Eight  children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moore,  six  of  whom  are  yet  living:  Joseph 
B. :  Micajah  S.,  who  died  in  Alay,  1863 ;  Flem- 
ing R. :  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Bishopp :  William  F. ; 
Nancy  J.,  who  died  in  infancy ;  Z.  \'. ;  and 
John  A." 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Bishopp  removed 
to  Stockland  township,  where  he  resided  for  four 


BARTON    lilSIK  U'l' 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRt)(U"()IS  COUNTY.   ILLINOIS. 


years  and  tlu'ii  took  up  his  almilc  in  Slulddn. 
where  he  became  connected  wit!)  the  hnnher 
trade.  He  also  took  contracts  for  the  erection  of 
huiMin.iis  for  a  nninher  of  years  but  eventually 
sold  out  that  business  and  became  inlereste<l  in 
the  grain  trade,  with  which  he  iias  since  been 
connected.  In  i8<ji  he  orj^anizid  the  liisliopp 
Hominy  Company,  of  Sheldon,  of  which  he  is 
now  manager.  This  company  is  dning  a  very 
extensive  and  constantly  increasing  business  and 
has  a  most  excellent  trade.  In  1905  another 
large  mill  four  stories  in  height,  adjoining  the 
old  one.  was  crectetl  in  order  to  meet  the  in- 
creasing demands  of  the  trade.  In  the  year 
1888  Mr.  Bishopp  was  made  president  of  the 
Building  and  Ix>an  .\ssociation  of  Sheldon,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  continued  for  several 
vears.  He  is  a  man  of  resourceful  ability,  who 
in  the  recognition  and  utilization  of  his  ojiportii- 
nities  has  made  steady  advancement  in  the  com- 
mercial world,  .\lthough  his  life  has  been  a  very 
busy  one  he  has  yet  found  time  to  devote  to  pub- 
lic interests  and  in  1868  was  elected  su])ervisor 
of  Slieklon  township,  which  position  he  filled 
until  1886.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  town 
council  for  a  number  of  years  and  was  a  member 
of  the  board  of  education  from  1882  until  i8<^o, 
doing  effective  service  in  tlie  interests  of  the 
schools.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  greatly 
interested  in  politics  affecting  both  national  and 
local  conditions. 

Mr.  liishopp  and  his  wife  have  a  family  of 
eight  children:  Edward  I'.arton,  deceased;  \V. 
Frank,  who  is  now  a  stockholder  and  secretary 
of  the  P.ishopp  Hominy  Com]>any  :  \irginia  Mi- 
nerva:  Harry  I'..:  John  D. :  .\rthur  .\. :  .Martha: 
and  Benjamin.  The  family  arc  pleasantly  sit- 
uated in  a  comfortable  home  and  the  members 
of  the  household  occujiy  an  enviable  position  in 
the  social  circles  in  which  they  move.  Tlial 
they  are  enabled  to  enjoy  the  comforts  and  stime 
of  the  luxuries  of  life  is  due  to  the  fact  that 
Mr.  Bishopp  has  been  very  active  in  business 
since  attaining  his  majority,  utilizing  his  time 
and  talents  to  the  best  advantage.  In  manner 
he  is  courteous  and  pleasant,  winning  friends  by 
his  genial  disposition  and  honorable  character, 
which  commands  the  resj)ect  of  all.  Through 
the  years  of  his  residence  in  Ir<K|uois  county  he 
has  given  his  support  to  whatever  is  calculated 


to  proiiiiiu-  tin.-  j;iiieral  welfare  and  in  all  the  re- 
latinns  of  life  he  has  been  faithful  and  true,  while 
over  his  life  work  there  falls  no  siiadow  of  wrong 
or  susjMcion  of  evil  doing  to  darken  his  honored 
])athway. 


JOHN   Wll.Ll.X.M  /,E.\, 

John  William  Zea  has  contributed  in  large  and 
substainial  measure  to  the  upbuilding  of  La 
Hogue  and  the  improvement  of  this  portion  of 
the  county.  His  mind  bears  the  impress  of  the 
early  historic  annals  of  this  part  of  the  state  and 
since  pioneer  times  he  has  borne  his  full  share 
in  the  work  of  progress  and  improvement  that 
has  converted  tlvB  locality  into  a  rich  agricultural 
and  commercial  district.  He  was  born  October 
'•^'  ''^.^.v  '"  Cazenovia.  Madison  county,  New 
York,  aiifl  is  descended  from  one  of  three  broth- 
ers of  the  name  of  Zea  who  were  natives  of  Ger- 
many and  crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  Manhattan 
Island  (luring  the  colonial  period  in  the  history 
of  this  country.  Two  of  the  number  afterward 
retuiiKil  111  the  fatherland,  but  the  great-grand- 
father of  our  subject  remained  on  Manhattan 
Island.  William  Zea.  father  of  John  William 
Zea  of  his  review,  was  bi>rn  in  Schoharie  county, 
Xew  York,  and  became  a  resident  of  Madison 
county,  that  state,  where  he  met  and  married  Miss 
Laura  I'llackman.  who  was  lx>rn  in  Connecticut 
and  was  descended  from  Puritan  ancestry.  Mr. 
Zea  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  which 
was  the  life  work  of  his  ancestors,  and  in  1846 
he  sought  a  home  in  Illinois,  carrying  on  general 
agricultural  pursuits  for  many  years  in  La  Salle 
county.  The  journey  westward  was  made  by  way 
of  the  lakes  to  Chicago  and  thence  by  wagon  to 
his  destination.  His  early  political  support  was 
given  the  whig  party  and  upon  its  dissolution  he 
joined  the  ranks  of  the  new  republican  party. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  held  membership  in  the 
Methodist  church  and  he  passed  away  in  that 
faith  when  about  seventy  years  of  age.  while  his 
wife  dei)arteil  this  life  at  the  age  of  alxiut  eighty 
vears.  Their  fam'Jy  numbered  six  sons  and  three 
daughters,  of  whom  John  W.  was  the  second  in 
order  of  birth. 

In  the  usual  maimer  of  farm  lads  Mr.  Zea  of 
this  review   spent   the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 


38 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


youth.  He  was  but  eleven  years  of  age  when  the 
family  came  to  Illinois  and  after  that  time  was 
never  able  to  attend  school  for  more  than  three 
months  in  a  year.  From  the  age  of  eleven  years 
he  has  practically  been  dependent  upon  his  own 
resources  in  life,  so  that  whatever  success  he  has 
achieved  is  entinrely  the  reward  of  his  labor  and 
industry.  He  was  first  employed  as  a  farm  hand 
at  five  dollars  per  month  and  remained  on  one 
farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  was  then 
married  and  established  a  home  of  his  own. 

It  was  on  the  17th  of  March,  1855,  that  Air. 
Zea  wedded  Mary  E.  Arris,  at  Ottawa,  La  Salle 
county.    She  is  a  native  of  Maine  and  a  daughtei 
of  James  and  Hannah  Arris,  who  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1850.    Soon  after  their  marriage  the  young 
couple  removed  to  Brenton  township.  Ford  coun- 
ty, where  Mr.  Zea  engaged  in  the  hay  business. 
The  first  land  which  he  ever  owned  was  a  tract 
of  twenty  acres  in  La  Salle  county,  but  he  sold 
tliat  in  1868  and  removed  to  Ford  county,  where 
he  purchased  eighty  acres,  improving  it  and  mak- 
ing his  home  thereon  until  1872.    When  the  To- 
ledo,   Peoria    &    Warsaw    Railroad    was    built 
through    Iroquois   county   he   was   made   station 
agent  at  La  Hogue,  but  at  that  time  there  was  only 
a  railroad  switch  there.  He  built  the  first  dwelling 
in  the  town  and  continued  to  act  as  station  agent 
until  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Sherman.     He 
likewise  extended  h'ss  efforts  into  other  fields  of 
activity,  for  in  the  fall  of  1872  he  began  dealing 
in  grain  and  hay  and  has  since  continued  in  that 
line.     For  the  first  five  years  he  was  in  partner- 
ship with  James  O.  Barnard  and  for  twenty-nine 
years  he  has  represented  the  firm  of  P.  B.  and 
C.  C.  Miles,  of  Peoria,  in  the  grain  and  coal  busi- 
ness, in  which  he  has  secured  a  liberal  patron- 
age.   He  has  moreover  promoted  the  growth  and 
improvement  of  La  Hogue  through  the  building 
of  several  houses  and  in  addition  to  this  property 
he  owns  a  farm  just  outside  the  corporation  lim- 
its. 

As  the  years  passed  the  family  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Zea  nnnihcrcd  nine  chiJdren  :  John  C,  who 
is  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Manchester.  Kan- 
sas ;  Clara  E.,  the  wife  of  .\dam  Laub,  of  La 
Hogue;  Charles  E.,  who  is  living  in  Minnesota; 
Mary  Alice,  the  wife  of  George  Hill,  of  La 
Hogue ;  Frank  E. ;  Harry  E.,  who  died  January 
17,   1897,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years,  four 


months  and  eleven  days ;  James  A.,  a  resident 
farmer  of  Ridgeland  township ;  Sherman  L.,  who 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Onarga  Commercial  College 
and  is  connected  with  his  father  in  business  and 
is  station  agent  at  La  Hogue;  and  Lester  M., 
who  completes  the  family.  On  the  17th  of 
March,  1905,  the  parents  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding.  It  was  a  most  enjoyable  occasion,  at 
which  all  of  their  living  chiJdren  were  present 
save  their  son  Charles. 

Since  casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  John 
C.  Fremont  Mr.  Zea  has  been  continuously  a  stal- 
wart advocate  of  republican  principles  and  has 
frequently  attended  the  conventions  of  his  party. 
He  is  rniterested  in  the  growth  and  success  of  the 
political  policy  that  he  endorses,  yet  he  has  never 
sought  or  desired  office  for  himself.  Fraternally 
he  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a  Alason,  having  at- 
tained the  Royal  Arch  degree  in  the  craft.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  active  and  helpful  members  of 
the  Alethodist  church,  in  which  he  has  served  as 
steward  and  trustees.  He  is  well  known  in  the 
business  life  of  the  community  and  La  Hogue 
numbers  him  among  its  founders  and  promoters, 
his  efforts  being  of  great  benefit  in  the  improve- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  county.  In  all  of  his 
dealings  he  has  been  straightforward  and  reliable 
and  his  life  has  been  one  of  continuous  activity, 
in  which  has  been  accorded  due  recognition  of 
labor,  so  that  he  is  numbered  among  the  substan- 
tial citizens  of  the  communitv. 


J.  M.  SIBBITT. 

J.  M.  Sibbitt,  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  who 
dates  his  residence  in  Iroquois  county  since  1871, 
owns  and  operates  a  well  improved  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  situated  on  section  17, 
Prairie  Green  township,  his  postoffice  being  Wel- 
lington. He  was  born  in  Carroll  county.  In- 
diana, November  22,  1848,  a  son  of  Benjamin 
Silibiit.  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  he  was  reared 
and  married  to  Miss  Melinda  Schoficld,  also  a 
native  of  the  Buckeye  state.  The  father  then  re- 
moved to  Carroll  county,  Indiana,  where  he  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  and  followed  farm- 
ing until  about  the  year  1850,  when  he  removed 
to  Jasper  county,  that  state,  where  he  bought  a 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ll.I.IXoIS. 


39- 


large  farm  of  eight  liuiulrcil  acres,  ami  llieri 
reared  his  family,  his  death  occurring  in  the 
latter  connty  in  1869.  His  wife  had  preceded 
him  several  years  before,  her  death  occurring  in 
1852.  Three  of  their  sons  served  in  the  Civil 
war,  one  of  the  number,  ( )liver  Perry,  having 
lost  his  life  in  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks.  The 
eldest  son,  Joseph,  passed  away  in  Indiana,  lien- 
jamin  died  at  the  age  of  si.xteen  years,  and  the 
only  daughter  of  the  family,  Nancy,  died  after 
she  had  reached  mature  years.  The  second  son, 
Richard,  and  J.  M.  of  this  review  are  the  only 
surviving  members  of  the  father's  family. 

J.  M.  Sibbitt  was  but  two  years  of  age  when 
taken  by  his  parents  from  Carroll  county  to 
Ja.sper  county,  Indiana,  so  that  he  was  reared 
and  educated  in  the  latter  place,  lie  was  early 
trained  to  the  duties  of  the  fields,  and  when  not 
thus  engaged,  pursued  his  studies  in  the  common 
schools,  wherein  he  was  afforded  good  advant- 
ages. He  remained  with  his  father,  giving  him 
the  benefit  of  his  services  until  he  had  reached  tlie 
age  of  twenty-three  years,  when  in  1871,  he  came 
to  Irocjuois  county,  where  he  was  first  employed 
in  breaking  land  for  others,  breaking  in  all  five 
hundred  and  si.xty  acres.  He  then  rented  that 
property  and  made  many  improvements  thereon, 
building  five  and  a  half  miles  of  fence,  erected 
good  outbuildings  and  otherwise  improved  the 
place,  making  his  home  thereon  for  fifteen  years. 
Having  prospered  in  his  work,  he  then  felt  justi- 
fied in  making  purchase  of  land,  and  accordingly, 
in  1878,  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  a  portion  of  which  had  been  cleared.  He 
soon  had  the  entire  tract  cleared  and  cultivated, 
drained  the  land  by  the  use  of  tiling,  and  thus 
owing  to  practical  methods  which  he  followed  in 
his  farm  labor  he  annually  harvested  good  crops. 
He  further  improved  the  place  by  the  erection 
of  a  good  residence  and  outbuildings  necessary 
for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  He  divided 
his  land  into  fields  of  convenient  size  by  the  use 
of  both  hedge  and  wire  fencing,  and  altogether 
has  made  it  a  valuable  property.  He  later  added 
an  additional  tract  of  eighty  acres  to  his  original 
purchase,  so  that  he  now  owns  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  his  home  place,  and  here  he  is 
carrying  on  general  fanning  and  also  raises  high 
grades  of  stock,  this  branch  of  his  business  prov- 
ing a  gratifying  source  of  income  to  him. 


Choosing  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey,  Mr.  Sibbitt  was  married  in  Carroll 
county.  Indiana,  December  ii>.  1873,  to  Miss 
l"'lora  Stretch,  who  was  born  anil  reared  in  that 
county,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Stretch,  an  nld 
settler  of  that  state.  Their  marriage  lias  beea 
blessed  with  three  sons  and  one  ilaughter;  lien- 
jamin  J.,  who  is  married  and  is  a  mail  clerk  on 
the  Toledo,  I'eoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad,  making 
his  home  in  I'eoria,  Illinois;  J.  .\rthur,  a  farmer 
residing  near  Hoopeston,  in  X'ermilion  county ; 
Jessie,  who  is  a  successful  teacher  in  the  schools 
of  Inxjuois  county;  and  James  II.,  who  assists, 
his  father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  place. 

Mr.  Sibbitt  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
re])ublican  party,  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  in  sup]5ort  of  General  U.  S.  Grant,  in  1872, 
and  has  supported  each  candidate  of  that  party 
since  that  time.  He  has  taken  an  active  and 
helpful  part  in  local  political  ranks,  and  is  popu- 
lar with  his  fellow  townsmen,  having  been  called 
to  fill  a  number  of  positions  of  public  honor  and 
trust.  He  has  served  as  town  clerk,  as  assessor 
for  two  terms,  was  school  trustee  for  several 
years,  and  in  1901  was  elected  supervisor  of  his 
township,  to  which  office  he  was  re-elected,  so 
that  he  has  now  serveil  for  five  vears  in  that 
office.  He  is  an  honorary  member  of  the  county 
board  of  supervisors  and  has  served  on  a  num- 
ber of  important  committees,  having  been  on  the 
committee  on  building  of  roads  and  bridges,  and 
has  acted  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  print- 
ing, lie  has  also  been  a  ilelegate  to  county  and 
state  conventions,  and  in  many  ways  has  given 
excellent  service  in  the  various  offices,  the  duties 
of  which  he  has  ever  discharged  with  prompt- 
ness and  fidelity.  Not  the  least  important  of 
his  public  service,  however,  was  that  given  in 
defense  of  the  Union  at  the  time  of  the  Civil 
war,  when,  in  1864,  he  joined  Comjiany  K.  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-fifth  Indiana  \oluntcer 
Infantry,  and  was  in  active  service  in  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  .\labama  and  Georgia,  and  jiartici- 
patcd  in  the  important  engagement  at  Nashville 
He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being  mus- 
tered out  in  the  spring  of  1865,  returning  home 
with  a  most  honorable  military  record,  and  in 
the  discharge  of  his  public  duties  since  that  tim. 
he  has  been  equally  loyal  to  the  best  interests  of 
the  community  at  large. 


40 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sibbitt  are  devoted  and 
loyal  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Hoopeston,  and  he  holds  membership  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  that  place.  He  has  made 
his  home  in  Iroquois  county  for  the  past  thirty- 
five  years,  and  therefore  enjoys  a  large  acquaint- 
ance, and  during  that  period  has  witnessed  the 
many  changes  that  have  here  been  wrought,  for 
when  he  came  to  this  county  few  settlements 
had  been  made,  and  much  of  the  land  was  still 
wild  and  unimproved,  but  in  the  years  that  have 
since  come  and  gone  the  land  has  all  been  set- 
rtled,  fine  homes  have  been  erected,  thriving 
towns  and  villages  have  sprung  into  existence, 
and  altogether  this  is  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
■  ous  sections  in  the  great  state  of  Illinois. 


ORLAXDO  BUSH.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Orlando  Bush,  who  during  the  years  of 
his  residence  in  Iroquois  county  occupied  a  prom- 
inent  position    in   business   circles   and   won   the 

■entire  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen 
bv  reason  of  an  upright  life,  honorable  business 
practices  and  fidelity  to  high  principles,  passed 
away  February  20.  1889.  when  in  the  si.xtieth 
year   of  his  age.     He   was  born   in   Tippecanoe 

.■county,  Indiana,  November  28,  1829,  and  was  a 
son  of  William  Bush,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
Berkshire  county,  ^lassachusetts.  and  who  re- 
moved to  Tippecanoe  county  at  a  \-ery  early 
epoch  in  the  development  of  that  part  of  the  state. 
He  was  a  son  of  Captain  Daniel  jjush,  who 
fought  with  the  American  army  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill  and  was  a  valiant  defender  of  the 

•cause  of  liberty  in  the  Revolutionary  war. 

Dr.  Busli,  reared  after  the  manner  of  the  fron- 
tier at  his  home  in  Indiana,  supplemented  his 
more  specifically  literary  education  b\-  a  course  of 
study  in  St.  Louis  Medical  College  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  then  one  of  the  leading  medical  col- 
leges of  this  country,  liaving  a  high  ri]nitation 
for  the  proficiency  and  ability  of  its  aUnnni. 
Following  his  graduation  he  located  at  Dayton, 
Indiana,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  for 
twenty-five  years   near   his  boyhood   home.     He 

"kept  abreast  with  modern  thought  and  ]irogress 
in  ctinncction   with  the  practice  of  medicine  ami 


surgery  and  his  ability  was  widely  acknowledged 
and  indicated  in  the  liberal  patronage  which  was 
extended  him.  .-Vs  he  prospered  he  began  to  in- 
vest money  in  western  lands  in  Indiana  and  Illi- 
nois and  in  1871  he  removed  to  Sheldon  in  order 
to  more  directly  supervise  his  business  interests 
in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  then  spent  his 
remaining  days  in  Sheldon,  one  of  its  most  hon- 
ored and  respected  citizens.  He  never  resumed 
the  practice  of  medicine  after  coming  to  Illi- 
nois but  devoted  his  entire  time  and  attention 
to  his  landed  interests,  which  were  very  exten- 
sive, for  he  had  made  many  investments  in  prop- 
erty in  this  part  of  the  state.  His  farms  were 
purchased  with  the  intention  of  devoting  them  to 
stock-raising  and  he  always  saw  that  they  were 
well  supplied  with  living  water.  He  purchased 
his  first  tract  of  land  in  Iroquois  county  in  1859. 
In  later  years  he  bred  Hereford  cattle  to  a  great 
extent  and  became  well  known  in  that  connection. 
His  judgment  was  rarely,  if  ever,  at  fault  in 
any  matter  of  business.  He  formed  his  plans 
readily  and  was  determined  in  their  execution. 
He  seemed  to  solve  intricate  business  problems 
with  ease  and  facility  and  his  investments  were 
so  judiciously  made  that  they  brought  to  him  a 
splendid   financial    return. 

In  1867  Dr.  liush  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Ada  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Butler  county, 
Ohio,  but  was  taken  in  early  girlhood  to  Tip- 
pecanoe county,  Indiana,  by  her  parents,  Samuel 
and  .\bigail  (Lindley)  Davis,  both  natives  of 
\'ermont.  The  father  removed  from  the  Green 
Mountain  state  to  ( )hio  at  a  verv  early  day  and 
subsequently  went  with  his  family  to  Indiana, 
settling  near  Dayton,  where  he  became  the  owner 
of  a  fine  and  well  improved  farm.  He  had  two 
children:  .Mrs.  Ihish;  and  Mrs.  Julius  liull, 
who  was  a  resident  of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  until 
her  death.  Unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bush  were  born 
two  daughters.  Clara  P>.  became  the  wife  of  Dr. 
Horace  Gib.son,  of  Sheldon,  and  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1905,  leaving  one  child,  Genevra.  Rosa- 
mond P..  is  the  wife  of  H.  Clayton  Dowell,  a  re- 
tired attornev  of  Sheldon,  and  tliey  reside  with 
Mrs.  r.ush. 

In  his  iiolitical  views  Dr.  P.ush  was  a  stalwart 
democrat  but  never  held  or  sought  office,  as  he 
believed  in  every  man  having  an  equal  chance. 
IK'  \\;is  a  broad-minded  gentleman,  of  wide  in- 


.....        ^^  f^E 

^'-".:.'^:.'n'  or  uircn 


Oh^i^.^^^ 


'yUi 


J-^ ^  Jo .  fi,^  ^ . 


OF  THE    . 
UUlVCfiClTY  01-  ILLIKOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUXTV.  II.I.I  .\<  )IS. 


43 


telligciicc.  who  kept  tlioroug:lily  informed  on  llie 
questions  of  the  day,  jjohtical  and  otlierwise. 
Moreover  he  jjosscssed  a  kind  and  synii)athetic 
nature  tliat  responded  readily  to  any  tale  of  (hs- 
trcss  or  of  need./MIis  benevolence  was  one  of  the 
stronjj  elements  in  his  nature  and  in  its  disi)lay 
he  was  entirely  free  from  ostentation.  A  liiy;h 
type  of  manhood,  lie  st(K)d  for  all  that  is  iionor- 
able  and  ui)ri,i;ht  in  man's  relations  with  his  fel- 
lowmen  and  in  liis  home  dis|)layed  those  traits 
of  character  which  constituted  him  larijely  an 
ideal  husband  and  father.  The  brea<llh  of  his 
mind  and  his  intellectual  resources  were  such 
as  to  render  liim  a  cherished  companion  of  many 
of  the  lea<linjj  thinkers  of  the  a.i;c.  Robert  ti. 
Ingersoll,  who  was  a  long-time  friend,  wrote  to 
Mrs.  Bush  shortly  after  her  husband's  death : 
"Dr.  Piusli  was  one  of  my  best  and  truest  friends 
and  I  held  him  in  the  highest  esteem,  liis  head 
was  clear  and  his  heart  was  on  the  right  side. 
Xo  one  had  greater  courage.  He  said  what 
he  thought  was  true,  and  he  did  what  he  thought 
was  right."  Mrs.  Bush  was  left  by  her  husband 
large  tracts  of  land,  which  she  has  managed  with 
care  and  good  judgment.  She  also  owns  a  beau- 
tiful residence  in  Sheldon,  where  she  resides,  it 
being  one  of  the  most  attractive  homes  of  the 
town.  She  spends  the  winter  seasons  in  l-'lorida 
and  the  summer  months  in  Illinois.  ( )f  kind 
and  loving  disposition,  she  has  a  ho.'it  of  friends 
in  tlie  community  in  which  she  lives  and  de- 
served and  receives  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all. 


JOHX   R.   .McMAIIoX. 


John  !•-.  McMahon,  whose  ]x)sition  in  financial 
and  political  circles  in  Chebanse  is  one  of  leader- 
.ship,  is  the  president  of  the  .State  Bank  of  C'he- 
banse  and  has  continuously  served  as  mayor  of 
the  city  since  1897.    One  of  Illinois'  native  sons, 
he  was  born  January  24.  1864.  at  Kankakee,  be- 
ing the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four  children  burn 
unto    Michael     and     Klizabeth    ( Maloney )    Mc- 
Mahon, who  were  natives  of   Ireland  and  came 
to  the  I'nited  States  in   1848.     The  brothers  of 
our    subject    are:       T.   J.    McMahon,   assistant 
•  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Chebanse  and  a  real- 
restate  dealer,  and  W.  H..  who  is  eiiLr.iiri'd  in  the 
3 


grain  and  elevator  business  at  Otto,  Illinois. 
The  sister  is  Mrs.  11.  .\.  Mlvin,  i>i  Chebanse 
township. 

Brought  to  Chebanse  in  his  boylxjod  days, 
Mr.  McMahon  completed  his  education  by  gradu- 
ation from  the  |)ublic  schools  here  and  afterward 
engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Chebanse  lown- 
shi]).  .\lert  and  enterprising,  he  has  figured 
prominently  in  business  circles  here  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  is  a  director  and  manager  of  the 
firm  of  R.  I".  Cummings  Grain  Coiupany,  incor- 
p(jrated,  (nvners  of  an  elevator  at  Chebanse.  .\s 
l)resi<lent  of  the  State  Bank  of  Chebanse  he  is 
associated  in  the  enterprise  with  II.  C.  Burns, 
vice  ])resident  :  Thomas  Ferris,  second  vice 
president;  William  .M.  llickey,  cashier:  and  T.  J. 
McMahon,  assistant  cashier.  These  gentlemen 
are  all  members  of  the  board  of  directors  to- 
gether with  \.  .\llen,  J.  C.  Beardsley.  11.  1'. 
Xordmyer,  l-'rank  Peters,  J.  C.  Kerin.  W.  !•". 
.\der.  II.  J.  Legris,  Thomas  Hickey,  I).  Iloran 
and  William  Mur])hy.  The  State  Bank  of  Che- 
banse was  established  September  12,  1906,  with 
a  capital  of  twenty-five  thousand  dollars  and  at 
present  has  seventy-four  stockholders.  It  was 
organized  by  T.  J.  McMahon,  now  assistant 
cashier.  The  company  own  the  building  in 
which  the  business  is  carricil  on  and  it  is  valued 
at  seven  thousand  dollars.  They  conduct  a  gen- 
eral banking  and  loan  business  and  success  has 
attended  the  new  enterprise,  a  liberal  patronage 
having  already  been  secured. 

Mr.  McMahon  has  been  called  to  various  pub- 
lic offices  of  honor  and  trust.  In  i88<)  he  was 
elected  collector  of  Chebanse  and  from  iSt/)  until 
1898  inclusive  was  town  clerk.  In  i8«97  he  was 
elected  mayor  and  .still  fills  the  office,  his  re- 
election standing  in  imcontrovertible  evidence  of 
the  trust  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen 
and  the  cr»p;diility  which  he  has  displayed  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties,  lie  is  watchful  of  the 
needs  and  opportiuiities  of  the  city  for  substantial 
growth  and  advancement  and  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties  in  coiuiection  with  municii)al  busi- 
ness he  has  displayed  marked  enteri^rise  and 
keen  discernment. 

Mr.  McMahon  was  marrie<l  June  16,  i8i>7.  at 
Chebanse,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  McGivney,  of  this 
place.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Che- 
banse lodge.  Xo.  (>)4,  M.  W.  A.,  which  he  joiiu-d 


46 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


in  1895.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance in  the  city  where  the\'  have  long  re- 
sided, while  the  circle  of  their  friends  is  almost 
co-extensive  with  the  circle  of  their  acquaint- 
ance. Of  cordial,  genial  manner  as  well  as  of 
excellent  executive  and  business  ability.  ^Ir.  Mc- 
Mahon  proves  a  popular  officer  in  the  bank  as 
well  as  in  municipal  interests  and  his  labors  are 
directly  beneficial  in  the  management  of  those 
affairs  which  are  matters  of  civic  virtue  and  of 
civic  pride. 


WILLIA.AI  H.  SHEDD. 

The  business  life  of  a  community  and  its  con- 
sequent prosperity  depends  upon  the  enterprise 
and  energy  of  those  who  control  its  industrial 
and  commercial  interests  in  which  connection 
William  H.  Shedd  made  a  creditable  record  dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Watseka.  He  became  wide- 
ly known  as  a  thoroughly  reliable  merchant  who 
kept  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  progress 
and  who  well  merited  the  liberal  patronage  that 
was  accorded  him.  In  his  death  therefore  the 
community  lost  one  whom  it  could  ill  afford  to 
spare  because  he  not  only  was  a  promoter  of  the 
commercial  interest.s  of  the  town  but  also  con- 
tributed in  substantial  measure  to  the  further- 
ance of  those  movements  which  have  tiirect  bear- 
ing  upon   the    general   welfare. 

Born  in  Pepperill,  Massachusetts,  October  8, 
1821,  his  youth  was  passed  in  the  east,  where 
his  parents  always  resided.  He  acquired  his 
early  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town  and  afterward  went  to  Boston,  where 
he  had  the  benefit  of  instruction  in  some  of  the 
best  schools  of  that  city.  Attracted  by  the 
broader  business  opportunities  of  the  growing 
west,  he  made  his  way  to  Michigan  City,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business 
for  a  few  years.  He  then  went  to  Chicago  in 
company  with  his  brother  Joshua  and  in  that 
city  they  established  and  for  a  few  years  con- 
ducted a  lumber  and  stove  business,  but  the  dis- 
covery of  gold  in  California  led  Mr.  Shedd  to 
di.spose  of  his  commercial  interests  in  the  mid- 
dle west  and  seek  his  fortune  upon  the  Pacific 
coast.     Accordingly  in   1849  ^^  started   for  the 


mining  region  and  was  there  engaged  in  a  search 
for  gold  for  several  years.  He  was  much  more 
fortunate  than  many  and  in  fact  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  his  mining  operations,  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  east  and  settled  at  Deep  River, 
Indiana,  where  in  connection  with  his  brother- 
in-law,  Mr.  Wood,  he  conducted  a  dry-goods 
business  for  a  few  years.  His  next  place  of  resi- 
dence was  at  \'alparaiso,  Indiana,  where  he  also 
engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  for  several 
years  and  in  1866  he  located  at  [Middleport,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  remained  until  iSCx),  when  he 
came  to  Watseka. 

Believing  that  there  was  an  advantageous 
opening  for  a  furniture  store,  Air.  Shedd  secured 
a  stock  of  goods  in  that  line  and  at  once  began 
business.  From  the  beginning  the  new  enter- 
prise prospered  and  after  a  brief  period  he  ex- 
tended the  scope  of  his  activities  by  also  engag- 
ing in  the  undertaking  business,  owning  the  first 
hearse  in  Watseka.  He  afterward  also  engaged' 
in  the  marble  business,  dealing  in  fine  marble 
and  granite  monuments  and  gravestones.  In 
these  various  lines  he  continued  with  good  suc- 
cess until  1889,  when  impaired  health  caused 
him  to  close  out  his  business  and  for  two  years 
he  was  an  invalid. 

Air.  Shedd  was,  first  married  in  Deep  River, 
Indiana,  to  Miss  Abbie  Wood,  of  that  place,  who 
died  three  years  later,  leaving  a  daughter,  Abbie. 
For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Shedd  chose  Miss  Jo- 
sephine Blachley,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  two  sons.  The  elder, 
William  T-  Shedd,  is  a  leading  business  man  of 
Chicago,  being  vice  president  and  general  mana- 
ger of  the  Knickerbocker  Ice  Company  and  one 
of  its  largest  stockholders,  in  which  connection 
he  controls  a  large  share  of  the  ice  trade  in  the 
citv.  He  also  owns  a  large  plantation  in  Cen- 
tral America.  He  married  Miss  Alice  M.  Till- 
inghans.  of  a  prominent  Watseka  family,  and 
they  reside  at  No.  4033  Mncennes  avenue,  Chi- 
cago. He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic fraternity  there  and  the  extent  and  impor- 
tance of  his  business  connections  makes  him  well 
known  in  commercial  circles  in  the  metropolis. 
Cornelius  Orton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  forty 
vears.  was  also  president  and  general  manager 
of  a  large  ice  company  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
for  manv  vears.     He  wedded  Aliss   Fannie  H. 


WILLIAM   II.  SHEDD. 


OF  fHt 
UKlVEKiJiTY  Of  ILLlKUkS 


IR(.1QU()IS  COUNTY,  ILLIXUIS. 


49 


llaniiltoii,  whose  people  were  also  |)roniinent  in 
Watscka. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Shedil  occurred  April  22. 
1891,  and  he  left  to  his  faniil\  an  initaniislieil 
name  and  a  comfortable  competence.  He  was  a 
prominent  member  of  tiie  Masonic  fraternity  in 
\\'atseka  and  exemplified  in  his  life  the  benefi- 
cent .spirit  of  the  craft,  which  is  based  ujxm  mu- 
tual helpfulness  an>l  brotherly  kindness.  lk)tli 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  .Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  his  i)olitical  allet^iance  was 
given  to  the  republican  party.  His  fraternal, 
church  and  social  relations  thus  indicate  much  of 
the  character  of  the  man,  who  full\  merited  the 
esteem  in  which  he  was  uniformly  held.  In  his 
business  life  he  never  made  en,s;aijements  that 
he  did  not  fill  nor  incurred  obligations  that  he 
did  not  meet  and  nis  word  became  synonymous 
with  commercial  integrity  in  W'atseka. 

Mrs.  Shedd  .still  survives  her  hu.sband  and 
maintains  the  family  home  on  West  Walnut 
street,  where  she  owns  a  large  and  beautiful  resi- 
dence, which  was  built  by  Mr.  Shedd  a  number 
of  vears  ago.  She  spends  the  winter  months 
with  her  son  in  Chicago  or  with  her  sister  in 
Topcka.  Kansas,  but  always  passed  the  summers 
in  Watseka.  where  she  occupies  a  very  prominent 
and  enviable  position  in  social  circles. 


R(  )i'.i:RT  11.  ri:kRV. 

Robert  H.  Perry,  deceased,  was  one  of  the 
leading  fanners  and  landowners  of  Iroquois 
county,  at  one  time  having  a  large  farm  near 
the  village  of  Crescent,  upon  which  he  resided 
until  he  t«x)k  up  his  abode  in  Wat.seka.  where 
his  last  (lavs  were  passefl.  .Ml  who  knew  him — 
and  his  acquaintance  was  a  large  one — enter- 
tained for  him  resjicct.  confidence  and  good  will 
and  thus  his  death  was  deeply  regretted  by  many 
friends,  while  his  life  record  will  be  received 
with  interest  by  all  who  knew  him.  He  was 
born  in  Clarkson.  Monroe  county.  Xcw  York. 
February  17.  1830.  his  parents  being  Samuel  .\. 
and  .\nna  (Hoy)  I'errv.  who  were  likewise 
natives  of  New  'S'ork  and  resided  in  Clarkson 
for  several  years.  In  early  manhood,  however. 
Samuel  .\.  Perrv  removed  to  a  farm  near  I.ock- 


port,  .\ew  York,  when  that  section  of  the  lomi- 
iry  was  largely  wild  and  unsettled.  He  cleared 
a  tract  of  lanri  and  converted  it  into  farming 
purposes,  residing  thereon  throughout  his  re- 
maining days,  his  time  and  energies  being  de- 
voted to  general  agricultural  i)ursuits.  The  olil 
homestead  also  remained  the  i)lace  of  residence 
of  his  wife  until  she  t(Xi  was  called  from  this 
life.  There  they  reared  their  family  of  twelve 
children.  .\lr.  I'erry  was  recognize<l  as  one  of 
the  inlluential  and  leading  resiclents  of  his  com- 
nnmitv  and  he  left  the  im])ress  of  his  individu- 
ality upon  public  life  and  ]>rogress.  serving  for 
twenty  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  in  which 
office  he  rendered  decisions  that  were  strictly  fair 
and  impartial. 

Robert  11.  I'erry  was  educited  in  the  common 
schools  of  Lockport  and  began  farming  on  his 
own  account  in  early  manhood,  but  thinking  to 
find  other  ])ursuits  more  congenial  he  went  to 
Xiagara  I'alls,  where  he  accepted  a  ])osition  in 
the  employ  of  the  Erie  Railroad  Company  as 
ins])ector  of  cars,  acting  in  that  capacity  for  eight 
\ears.  In  the  meantime  he  inve.sted  his  money 
in  coal  lands  in  Cirundy  county,  Illinois,  and  on 
severing  his  connection  with  the  railroad  com- 
pany he  came  to  the  middle  west  to  look  after 
his  interests  in  this  state.  Locating  at  Coal  City 
in  (irundy  county,  he  there  purchased  more  land, 
which  was  imderlaid  with  bituminous  dei)osits 
and  thus  became  the  owner  of  .several  thousand 
acres.  .\s  the  mines  were  operated  the  lan<l 
became  more  valuable  year  by  year  and  Mr. 
I'erry  continued  to  reside  there  until  he  had  sold 
off  most  of  the  property,  which  proved  to  be  a 
splendid  investment,  bringing  to  him  handsome 
financial  resources.  On  leaving  Grundy  county 
he  came  to  Iro(|uois  countv  and  .settled  u])on  a 
farm  near  Crescent. 

.Mr.  I'erry  had  been  married  in  1850,  in  Lock- 
port,  Xew  ^'ork.  to  .Miss  Esther  Soper,  a  native 
of  that  city,  born  July  15.  1832.  ."^he  was  a 
daughtir  of  Isaac  and  Phoebe  (Pennington) 
i^oper.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Xew  York 
and  early  settlers  of  Lockport.  where  the  father 
engaged  in  farming  for  many  years.  He  then 
removed  to  the  middle  west,  purchasing  a  farm 
near  Woodstock  in  McHenry  countv,  Illinois, 
where  both  he  and  his  wife  spent  their  remaining 
days.     Mr.  and   Mrs.    Perry  became  the  parents 


50 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


of  three  sons :  Arthur,  who  married  Miss  Ger- 
trude Smith  and  resides  at  Gardner.  Illinois, 
where  he  is  now  bookkeeper  for  a  mining  com- 
pany ;  George,  who  wedded  Anna  Cotton,  of 
Grundy  county,  Illinois,  and  makes  his  home  in 
Denver,  Colorado,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
grocery  and  market  business ;  and  Eugene  H., 
who  married  ]\Iiss  Emma  Plowman,  and  resides 
on  the  old  Perry  farm  near  Crescent.  He  has 
four  children,  while  George  Perry  has  five  chil- 
dren. 

On  coming  to  this  county  the  father.  Robert 
H.  Perry,  purchased  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty-five  acres  near  Crescent  and  there  devoted 
his  energies  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  fnr 
five  years.  About  the  same  time  he  invested  in 
another  valuable  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  near  Creston,  Iowa.  His  health 
becoming  impaired,  he  abandoned  farming  and 
removed  to  \\'atseka  to  live  retired  and  for  sev- 
eral years  he  was  in  poor  health.  For  man\- 
years  he  was  president  of  the  Alutual  Insurance 
Company  of  Iroquois  covuity  and  throughout  his 
business  career  he  displayed  excellent  powers  of 
management  and  keen  discernment  in  placing  his 
investments.  He  formed  his  plans  readily,  was 
determined  in  their  execution  and  carried  for- 
ward to  a  successful  termination  whatever  he 
undertook.  After  removing  to  \\'atseka  he 
erected  a  beautiful  residence  on  South  Fourth 
street  and  there  he  passed  away  May  lo.  1898. 
He  was  never  an  office  seeker  but  was  a  stanch 
democrat  in  jiolitics  and  though  not  connected 
with  any  religious  denomination  he  always  at- 
tended the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his 
wife  was  a  member.  Mr.  Perry  could  well  be 
termed  one  of  the  t\pical  business  men  of  the 
middle  west,  possessing  in  large  measure  the 
spirit  of  dcterniinaliim  and  progress  which  liave 
been  the  dominant  factor  in  the  upbuilding  nf 
this  section  of  the  country.  He  was  watchful 
of  oppdrtunities  and  seemed  to  recognize  when 
and  where  and  how  to  use  his  native  talents  to 
the  liest  advantage.  Thus  his  efforts  were  dis- 
cerningly directed  and  brought  to  him  a  measure 
of  prosperity  that  classed  him  with  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  Watseka.  Moreover  he  ])i)s- 
sessed  a  kindly  and  genial  spirit  that  wim  him 
warm  friendship  and  made  him  a  devoted  hus- 
band   and    father.      Mrs.    Perrv    still    resides    in 


Watseka  in  the  home  built  by  her  husband  and 
she  also  owns  the  farm  near  Crescent  upon  which 
her  son  resides  and  also  the  farm  property  in 
Iowa. 


WILLIAM  H.  MARTIX. 

William  H.  Martin,  prominent  in  the  public 
life  of  Belmont  township,  was  born  and  reared 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  on  section  34. 
His  natal  day  was  September  5,  1870.  His 
father.  John  J.  Martin,  a  native  of  \\'ashington 
county.  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  1837  and  was 
only  three  years  old  when  brought  to  Illinois  by 
his  parents,  who  purchased  what  is  now  known  as 
the  Martin  homestead.  Upon  this  place  John  J. 
Martin  has  resided  continuously,  recognized  for 
man\-  years  as  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists 
of  the  community.  He  was  married  here  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  John,  a  native  of  Iroquois  county 
and  a  daughter  of  William  John,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  who  came  from  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  to  Illinois.  Following  his  marriage  John 
Martin  engaged  in  buying  and  trading  in  land 
and  at  one  time  owned  over  four  hundred  acres. 
He  built  a  comfortable  residence  and  substantial 
outbuildings  upon  his  place  and  actively  carried 
on  farm  work,  placing  many  rods  of  tile  in  the 
fields  and  thus  draining  the  land  and  adding 
greatlv  to  its  productiveness.  He  has  since  sold 
a  part  of  his  property  but  still  retains  die  owner- 
shi])  of  two  hundred  acres. 

William  H.  Martin  was  the  only  child  born 
unto  his  parents  and  upon  the  home  farm  he  was 
reared,  being  accorded  good  school  privileges. 
He  has  never  left  the  farm  and  his  parents  now 
make  their  home  with  him.  On  the  3th  of  May, 
1897.  It-'  ^\'«is  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Myrtle 
I  >.  .Strain,  a  native  of  Milford.  Iroquois  comity. 
1)1  irn  in  iSSo,  and  a  daughter  of  J.  M.  Strain, 
of  Milford  township.  Mrs.  Martin  died  .\ugust 
23,  1906.  leaving  three  children :  Eliuer  \\'ar- 
ren.  Ruth  Elizabeth  and  Jessie  Fay.  Mr.  Mar- 
tin's mother  now  takes  care  of  the  gramlchildren. 

Reared  to  farm  work  in  all  of  its  departments, 
William  H.  Martin  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
enterprising  a,griculturists  of  this  part  of  the 
state.  He  raises  full  blooded  Poland  China  hogs 
and  also  good   grades  of  cattle  and  sheep,  and 


IR(K)rt)IS  COUXTN'    II  I  IVi  il< 


in  connection  witli  liis  stock-raising  interests  and 
the  cultivation  of  cereals  he  also  owns  and  oper- 
ates a  thrcshintj  outfit,  havinj;  enjjaRed  in  the 
business  for  fifteen  years.  He  is  also  aj,'ent  for 
farm  machinery  and  in  the  season  of  kjcXj  sold 
two  steam  threshers.  He  is  well  known  through- 
out the  county  as  a  business  man  of  enterprise 
and  energy,  who  forms  his  plans  readily  and  is 
determined  in  their  execution.  He  cultivates  the 
old  homestead  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,  which 
is  highly  improved,  and  through  modern  meth- 
ods of  farming,  the  rotation  of  crops,  the  ju- 
dicious use  of  fertilizers  and  the  utilization 
of  the  best  improved  farm  machinery  he  is  meet- 
ing with  excellent  success  in  his  undertakings. 

Politically  Mr.  Martin  is  independent  at  local 
elections,  but  where  political  issues  are  involved 
he  gives  his  support  to  the  republican  ])arty,  be- 
ing in  thorough  sympathy  with  its  principles.  He 
has  served  his  ])arty  in  public  life  for  ten  years, 
acting  for  four  years  as  constable  and  six  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  still  filling  the  latter 
office.  His  decisions  are  strictly  fair  and  im- 
partial, being  based  upon  the  law  and  the  equity 
in  the  case  pronounced  without  fear  or  favor. 

Mr.  Martin  is  a  member  of  Woodland  lodge, 
Xo.  649.  I.  O.  O.  F.,  of  which  he  served  for  three 
terms  as  noble  grand  and  secretary  for  four 
terms.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America  at  Woodland  and  is 
serving  as  venerable  consul.  The  higher  and 
holier  duties  of  life  are  not  neglected  by  him.  for 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  By  the  faithful  performance  of  each 
day's  duty  as  it  comes  to  him  he  finds  encourage- 
ment and  inspiration  to  take  up  the  work  of  the 
succeeding  day,  conscientiously  meets  every  ob- 
ligation that  rests  upon  him  and.  with  true 
appreciation  of  life's  values  and  responsibilities, 
he  apportions  his  time  between  the  business, 
social,  political,  home  and  moral  interests. 


GEORGE  SWARTZ. 


George  Swartz  is  one  of  the  largest  land- 
owners in  Iroquois  county,  owning  five  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  is  situ- 
ated on  sections   16.  21   and  24,  Prairie  Green 


luwujliip,  and  i.-.  divided  inlci  three  farms,  lie 
is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred in  lUiKjmington.  .\pril  16,  i8<io,  a  son  of 
IMiilip  Schwartz,  a  native  of  Germany.  The 
father  was  there  reared  and  educated,  and 
when  a  young  man  crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  the 
new  world,  landing  in  New  York,  where  he  li> 
cated.  He  was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Hartzog,  a  German  lady.  In  1857  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  the  west,  settling  at  liloomington.  Il- 
linois, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  a 
number  of  years,  when,  in  1867,  he  came  to 
Iroquois  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Prairie 
Green  township.  He  first  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  to  which  he  after- 
ward added  from  time  to  time  until  he  was  the 
lX)Sscssor  of  eight  hundred  acres,  and  was  the 
largest  landowner  in  his  township.  He  there 
reared  his  family  and  continued  to  follow  agri- 
cultural pursuits  throughout  a  long  period,  but 
he  later  took  up  his  aljode  in  Dunnington,  In- 
diana, where  his  death  occurred  August  16,  HJ04, 
when  he  had  reached  the  very  advanced  a.ge  of 
eiglUv-two  years.  His  wife  still  survives  and 
makes  her  home  in  Dunnington,  Indiana. 

George  Swartz.  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  is  the  second  in  order  of  birth  in  a  fam- 
ilv  of  five  sons  and  one  daughter  born  of  his 
father's  niarria.ge.  He  was  reared  in  much  the 
usual  manner  of  farm  lads  of  his  period,  assist- 
ing his  father  in  the  various  tasks  of  carrying 
on  the  home  farm,  and  when  not  thus  engaged 
pursued  his  studies  during  the  winter  mcmths  in 
the  Prairie  Green  school.  He  remained  on  the 
home  farm  until  he  had  reached  maturity,  when 
he  established  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage, on  the  2d  of  December,  1886.  to  Miss 
Emma  Fields,  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  near 
Danville,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated. 

Following  their  marriage  the  young  couple 
located  on  the  farm  which  has  since  been  their 
home,  but  his  first  purchase  comprised  but  eighty 
acres,  which  he  tiled  and  fenced,  and  in  course 
of  time  placed  his  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  He  set  out  considerable  fruit  on  his 
place  and  further  improved  the  property  by  the 
erection  of  good  buildings.  .\s  he  prospered  he 
added  to  his  property  from  time  to  time,  and  also 
inherited  some  land,  so  that  he  has  now  alto- 
gether a  tract  of  five  hundred  and  forty  acres, 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


which  is  divided  into  three  farms.  In  addition 
to  his  general  farming  pursuits  he  also  raises 
good  grades  of  stock  and  this  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness is  proving  a  profitable  source  of  income  to 
him. 

The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swartz  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children,  Susie,  Lester, 
Claude  and  Lillian,  all  still  under  the  parental 
roof.  Mr.  Swartz  adheres  to  the  faith  of  the 
democracy  where  national  issues  are  involved  but 
at  local  elections  votes  an  independent  ticket, 
supporting  the  men  whom  he  believes  best  quali- 
fied for  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliation.  He 
has  never  been  active  as  an  office  seeker,  but  is 
a  believer  in  good  schools  and  competent  teach- 
ers, and  served  as  township  trustee  for  two  or 
three  years.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Mr.  Swartz  was  but  a  little  lad  of  six  years 
when  the  family  home  was  established  in  Iro- 
quois county  and  has  therefore  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  this  section  of  the  state,  so  that 
he  has  a  very  wide  and  favorable  acquaintance 
and  is  today  numbered  among  the  progressive 
and  well-to-do  agriculturists  of  Prairie  Green 
township. 


<     r  W    ( 


V 


GEORGE  C.  HARRINGTON. 


J^  George  C.  Harrington  was  born  in  St.  Law- 
/"VxiJ  rence  county.  New  York,  June  30,  1834,  the  son 
^  of  Benjamin  O.  and  Harriet  E.  (Langdon)  Har- 
rington, both  natives  of  WTmont.  When  three 
years  of  age  he  came  witli  his  parents  to  Jolict. 
Illinois,  where  the  family  made  their  permanent 
home.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  entered  the  of- 
fice of  the  True  Democrat  (  now  the  Joliet  Re- 
publican)  to  learn  "the  art  preservative  of  all 
arts."  Here  he  ap])lied  himself  industriously  ami 
faithfull\-  111  his  chosen  vocation  and  acquired  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  printer's  trade.  Hav- 
ing served  out  his  a])prenticeship  in  the  compos- 
ing rooms  of  the  True  Democrat  he  went  to 
Skowhcgan  Falls,  Maine,  and  there,  by  a  proper 
course  of  study,  prepared  himself  for  college.  He 
afterward  entered  I'liiiin  College,  Schenectady, 
New  York,  tlun  under  the  i^residency  of  the  dis- 
tinguished Dr.  i'liphalct  Nntt.    His  career  in  this 


celebrated  institution  of  learning  was  a  series  of 
marked  triumphs,  standing  at  the  head  of  his 
class  in  the  classics,  and  in  point  of  literary  ability 
ranking  first  among  the  many  able  students  then 
in  attendance.  From  Schenectady  he  returned  to 
the  great  west  and  rested  at  Davenport,  Iowa, 
which  presented  an  inviting  field  to  the  young 
student  all  aglow  with  enthusiasm  and  ambitious 
to  carve  out  for  himself  a  useful  and  worthy  ca- 
reer. In  connection  with  Franc  B.  Wilkie  ( Poli- 
uto),  then  of  the  Chicago  Times,  he  established 
the  Davenport  Daily  News,  which  soon  took  rank 
as  one  of  the  leading  democratic  journals  of 
Iowa. 

In  1859  Mr.  Harrington  came  to  Iroquois 
county  and  associated  himself  with  the  Iroquois 
Press,  a  democratic  newspaper.  In  the  follow- 
ing year  the  democracy  of  Iroquois  covmty  placed 
him  in  nomination  as  their  candidate  for  circuit 
clerk  and  although  defeated  at  the  ensuing  elec- 
tion, he  ran  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  still 
contimued  his  connection  with  the  Press  until 
1862.  The  country  was  then  writhing  in  the 
agonies  of  the  Civil  war.  and  as  a  patriotic  son 
he  felt  that  his  services  were  retpiired  in  the  field. 
He  consequently  abandoned  his  editorial  duties 
and  began  recruiting  for  the  service,  and  after 
taking  the  first  company  into  camp  at  Kankakee 
for  the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Regiment,  assisted 
in  filling  up  two  other  companies  for  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirteenth.  He  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate soldier,  but  his  superior  ability  being  recog- 
nized, the  members  of  his  company  (A)  elected 
him  captain.  In  January,  1863,  he  was  promoted 
to  major.  He  was.  however,  not  permitted  to 
serve  long  after  this.  On  July  4.  1863,  near 
\'icksburg,  Mississippi,  he  w'as  reluctantly 
obliged  to  resign  on  account  of  disease  contracted 
in  the  army. 

On  his  return  from  the  army  he  engaged  in 
the  hardware  business  at  Watseka,  in  the  firm  of 
\\'oodford  &  Company.  He  was  soon  appointed 
collector  of  internal  revenue  for  Iroquois,  Ford 
and  Champaign  counties,  in  which  capacity  he 
discharged  his  duties  conscientiously,  so  that  at 
the  close  of  his  official  term  not  one  cent  of  the 
large  amounts  of  money  handled  by  h'tu  was 
missing,  and  he  turned  over  the  tooks  to  his  suc- 
cessors with  ;i  clean  record.  In  i8(k)  Major  Har- 
rinsfton   was  olecteil  niavor  nf  \\'atseka,  and   re- 


jCH  <& 


^^ JL^.        &.    Ji a^^'y  oo,  o  -<  <^ 


LIdiRAi-Y 
OF  THE 

i;v:v:!;siTY  cf  illikois 


1RI)QU)1S  CUfXTY.  ILLINOIS. 


55 


elected  the  followinj;  year,  declining;  the  office 
after  havinji  served  tliree  terms,  tlionjih  iirj;cntly 
pressed  to  accej)!  a  fourth  term.  Tliis  eviilences 
the  hipli  esteem  in  which  he  is  lield  l)y  the  people 
of  \\atseka.,'  In  the  vear  1870.  in  connection  with 
several  other  enteri>risiT)g'  citizens.  Major  llar- 
ringfton  organized  the  First  National  I'.ank  of 
Watseka.  of  which  corporation  he  was  promptiv 
chosen  as  cashier,  which  office  he  still  holds. 
This  institmion  is  one  of  the  stanchest  anil  most 
flourishing  in  the  county,  havintj.  from  its  or- 
ganization,  won   the  confi<lence  of  the  jH'opk'. 

-Major  Harrington  was  married  to  .\[ary  L. 
Hutchinson,  at  Crawfordsvilli-.  Indiana,  in  i8(')4. 
and  has  two  children  living.  \ery  domestic  in 
his  habits,  his  home  is  a  model  of  comfort  and 
good  taste.  He  has  taken  considerable  interest 
in  politics,  though  not  an  active  politician  in  the 
usual  sense  of  that  term.  He  is  recognized 
throughout  the  state  as  a  prominent  democrat, 
prominent  more  for  his  ability  than  his  activity. 
Though  never  an  office-seeker.  Ik-  was,  in  1876, 
without  his  consent,  mentioned  by  several  ])apers 
and  prominently  spoken  of  by  eminent  democrats 
as  a  candidate  for  secretary  of  state  but  he  induced 
his  friends  to  withdraw  his  name  from  the  state 
convention.  He  presided  over  the  democratic 
congressional  convention  held  at  Fairbury  in  1878, 
and  on  invitation  of  that  tody  addressed  them, 
making  a  masterly  speech,  which  was  published 
and  scattered  broadcast  as  a  cami)aign  document. 
The  same  convention  would  have  nominated  him 
as  their  candidate  for  congress,  but  he  emphatic- 
ally declined  the  proffered  honor.  In  1878  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  democratic  state  cen- 
tral committee:  in  1880  chosen  delegate  to  the 
national  democratic  convention  at  Cincinnati, 
which  nominated  General  Hancock  as  its  candi- 
date for  the  presidency  :  and  in  1884  was  presi- 
dential elector  from  Illinois  on  the  democratic 
ticket. 

Mr.  Harrington  as  a  financier  ranks  among  the 
leading  men  of  the  state,  while  his  views  on  finan- 
cial questons,  expressed  by  speech  and  in  the 
press,  command  general  attention  among  bankers. 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Inde|)endent  ( )r- 
der  of  Odd  Fellows  and  nyich  esteemed  by  his 
x  brethren  of  the  fraternity/  .\  gentleman  of  cul- 
"  turc.  a  fine  scholar  and  still  a  student  from  habit, 
a  man  towering  high  among  his  fellows,  all  recog- 


nize his  superior  ability  and  worth  of  character, 
and  pay  deference  to  his  excellent  qualities.  A 
democrat  in  i)rinci])Ie  and  practice,  he  believes 
with  a  faith  born  of  conviction  in  the  e(|uality 
and  brotherhood  of  man.  He  is  ])ublic-si)irited, 
liberal  and  charitable,  ever  ready  to  assist,  with 
his  purse  or  his  pen.  in  any  cause  that  ])romises 
g(Xid  to  his  fellowman  or  the  public.  A  man  of 
broad  and  com])rehensive  views,  he  looks  upon 
the  world  as  he  finds  it  and  is  therefore  conserv- 
ative rather  than  radical.  The  people  of  Watseka 
look  u])on  him  as  an  exem]>lary  man  an<l  arc 
])r()ud  to  call  him  their  own. 


I'lR.^r  XA ri(  »x AL  r.AXK  oi-  \\.\isI':k.\. 

The  I'irst  National  Bank  of  Watseka  was  or- 
ganized in  the  year  1870,  with  a  capital  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  the  stockholders  representing 
some  of  the  best  known  and  wealthiest  citizens 
of  the  county.  .-\t  the  first  election  of  officers 
Hon.  Samuel  Williams  was  chosen  president, 
David  McGill.  vice  president,  and  George  C. 
Harrington,  cashier.  Xot  knowing  whether  the 
enteqirise  would  receive  immediate  recognition 
by  the  public,  the  bank  made  its  first  office  in 
the  second  story  of  the  Willoughby  building. 
However,  meeting  with  unexi)ecte<i  favor,  it  was 
soon  necessitated  to  seek  more  accessible  and  com- 
modious quarters  and  shortly  erected  a  wooden 
structure.  This  building  not  proving  adequate, 
the  bank,  in  connection  with  the  lodge  of  ( )dd 
Fellows,  erected  a  building  in  t875.  This  latter 
building  was  sold  by  the  bank  and  in  connection 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity  erected  its  present 
fine  building. 

During  the  financial  ]ianic  of  1873.  when  most 
of  the  banks  of  the  country  were  necessitated 
to  close  their  doors,  the  h'irst  National  I'.ank  of 
Watseka  kept  open  doors  and  honored  every  de- 
maud  ma<Ie  upon  it.  It  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  institutions  of  the  county  in  which  the  people 
feel  a  just  i)ridc.— solid  and  safe  beyond  <|ues- 
tion.  and  its  management  conservative  enough  to 
keep  it  so.  The  officers  of  ]()oC>  are.  David  Mc- 
Gill. president.  George  II.  Hamilton,  vice  presi- 
dent, (ieorge  C.  Harrington,  cashier,  and  II.  II. 
.Mter  and  H.  T.  Riddell  assistant  cashiers.     Its 


56 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


capital  and  surplus  is  over  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  at  the  commencement  of  its  thirty- 
seventh  year,  1906. 


JAMES  O.  FREEMAN. 

James  O.  Freeman  is  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war  and  for  years  was  a  prominent 
farmer  of  Iroquois  county  but  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Milford,  for  his  former  toil  brought  to 
hin:  a  competence  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  en- 
joy the  comforts  of  life  without  recourse  to  fur- 
ther labor.  He  has  lived  in  the  county  since 
1852,  having  arrived  here  when  a  youth  of  ten 
years.  His  birth  occurred  in  Warren  county, 
Indiana,  April  21,  1842.  His  father,  George  \V. 
Freeman,  was  born  in  Chatham  county.  North 
Carolina,  in  July,  1818,  and  removed  thence  to 
Ohio  and  subsequently  to  Warren  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  he  met  and  married  Aliss  Rebecca 
Hooker,  a  native  of  Ross  county,  Ohio.  He  be- 
gan farming  in  the  Hoosier  state  and  there 
cleared  up  a  tract  of  land,  which  he  converted 
into  fertile  fields,  making  his  home  thereon  until 
1852,  when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois. 
The  work  of  development,  settlement  and  im- 
provement had  scarcely  been  begun  here,  as  is  in- 
dicated by  the  fact  that  a  part  of  the  land  was 
still  in  possession  of  the  government.  Mr.  Free- 
man entered  a  claim  in  Stockland  township  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and  began  to  culti- 
vate the  hitherto  wild  tract,  turning  the  first 
furrows  in  the  fields  and  continuing  the  work  of 
plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  until  rich 
crops  rewarded  his  efforts.  In  later  years  he  re- 
moved to  Columbia  county,  Oregon,  where  he 
joined  a  son  and  daughter  and  there  he  passed 
away  in  September,  1894.  His  wife  died  on  the 
•old  homestead  in  Iroquois  county,  in  February 
of  the  same  year.  The  family  of  this  worthy 
cou[ile  numbered  three  sons  and  three  daughters 
and  with  the  exception  of  one  daughter  all  are 
yet  living. 

James  O.  I'rceman  was  reared  in  the  usual 
manner  of  farm  lads  in  a  frontier  district  and 
a  common-school  education  qualified  him  for  the 
work  of  life.  He  was  only  twenty  years  of  age 
when,  his  patriotic  spirit  aroused,  he  oflfered  his 


services  to  the  government  and  on  the  9th  of 
August,  1862,  was  enrolled  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany E,  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  \'olunteer  In- 
fantry. The  regiinent  was  attached  to  the  West- 
ern .\rmy  and  he  participated  in  the  Tullahatchee 
campaign,  the  ^'icksburg  campaign,  the  battles 
of  Jackson,  Black  river  bridge  and  numerous 
others.  Later  he  took  part  in  the  engagements 
at  Mobile  and  at  Fort  Blakely,  Alabama.  He 
was  wounded  at  Jackson's  crossroads,  this  oc- 
curring from  an  accident,  a  comrade's  gun  dis- 
charging as  he  fell  wounded  by  a  shell.  Islr. 
Freeman  continued  at  the  front  until  the  war 
ended  and  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank 
of  corporal  at  Galveston,  Texas,  July  22,  1865. 
He  returned  home  with  a  creditable  military 
record,  for  on  many  a  hotly  contested  battle-field 
he  had  given  proof  of  his  loyalty  and  was  equally 
faithful  when  on  the  lonely  picket  line  or  in  the 
di.scharge  of  any  military  duty  assigned  him.  The 
war  ended,  he  returned  home  and  resumed  farm- 
ing. 

Mr.  Freeman  was  married  in  this  county  in 
February,  1868,  to  i\Iiss  Clara  Hunter,  a  daugh- 
ter of  S.  P.  Hunter,  an  old  settler  from  Indiana, 
who  was  originally  from  Ohio.  Mrs.  Freeman 
was  born  in  Warren  county.  Indiana,  but  spent 
the  greater  part  of  her  girlhood  in  this  county. 
Following  their  marriage  they  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Stockland  township,  commencing  with  forty 
acres.  ^Ir.  Freeman  cultivated  that  and  other 
lands  and  as  his  capital  increased  as  the  result 
of  his  industry  and  economy  he  added  to  his 
property  until  he  was  the  owner  of  one  hundred 
and  twcnt\-  acres.  On  this  he  erected  a  comfort- 
able residence  and  good  barn,  put  up  a  wind 
pump,  set  out  an  orchard  and  made  the  farm  a 
productive  place,  well  ci|uip|ied  in  its  \'arious  de- 
partments. There  he  successfully  carried  on  the 
work  of  tilling  the  soil  until  1901,  when  he  rent- 
ed his  land,  purchased  a  residence  in  Milford 
and  has  since  lived  retired  in  the  town.  Unto 
him  and  his  wife  has  been  born  but  one  child, 
Rosa   Belle,   who  died   in  infancy. 

Mr.  Freeman's  political  jiosition  is  never  an 
equivocal  one,  as  he  has  always  stanchly  sup- 
I)orted  the  republican  party  wdiere  state  and  na- 
tional questions  are  involved,  while  locally  he 
votes  independently.  While  on  the  farm  he  was 
elected  and  served  for  fourteen  consecutive  vears 


MR.  AM)  MRS.  J.  U.  I-Kl-IK.MAX. 


LlbKrtKY 

OF  fHt 

UNIVEK6I1V  OF   ILLINOIS 


IKOQUOIS  COUN'TV.  ILLINOIS. 


59 


as  siipervisDr  ami  was  a  member  ol'  the  commit- 
tees on  claims  ami  the  poor  farm,  acting  as  cliair- 
nuin  of  the  former  for  two  or  three  years.  Me 
has  also  Tilled  the  office  of  township  collectur, 
has  been  director  and  township  school  trustee  for 
four  vears.  and  in  these  various  positions  ha  * 
manifested  an  unquestioned  loyalty  to  the  public 
g<Kid.  He  also  maintains  pleasant  relations  with 
his  old  army  comrades  throui^h  his  mem- 
bership in  \ennum  post.  No.  471,  G.  A.  K.  More 
than  a  half  century  has  come  and  gone  since  he 
was  brought  to  lro»|uois  county  and  as  the  years 
have  advanced  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  gen- 
eral growth  in  his  business  life  and  in  his  devo- 
tion to  the  public  good.  He  has  been  a  capable 
officer,  a  reliable  and  progressive  business  man 
and  a  citizen  whose  loyalty  is  today  as  markca 
as  when  he  followed  the  old  flag  upon  the  bat- 
tle-fields of  the  south. 


FRANK  A.  CAN  I:N1-:V. 

l-'rank  .\.  Caveney.  filling  the  office  of  sui)er- 
visor  of  Iroquois  township,  was  born  in  Kendall 
county.  Illinois,  February  11,  1861.  his  parents 
being  John  L.  and  Fsther  (Lincoln)  Caveney, 
both  of  whom  were  from  New  York.  They  came 
to  Illinois  at  an  early  period  in  the  settlement 
and  development  of  this  state  and  both  are  now 
deceased.  Two  daughters  of  tlie  family  are  yet 
living,  Mrs.  Edgar  Harrown,  a  resident  of  W'at- 
seka.  and  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Leonard,  who  is  living 
in  Mayfielil.  Washington. 

Frank  A.  Caveney  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  always  folhiwed  farming.  He 
bought  his  first  farm,  which  consisted  of  eighty 
acres,  in  Crescent  townshi]).  in  iKi)i,  but  never 
lived  there,  the  property  being  his  father's  old 
home  place,  lie  now  has  a  valuable  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty-five  acres  in  Irotpiois  town- 
ship, where  he  now  resides,  eighty  acres  in  a 
second  tract  and  fifty-three  acres  in  a  third  tract. 
His  holdings  therefore  aggregate  more  than  three 
Inmdrefl  acres  and  the  land  is  rich  and  i)roduct- 
ive  because  of  the  care  and  labor  which  has  been 
bestowed  upon  it.  .Mr.  Caveney  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising.  He  tills  his 
fields  acforiling  to  the  mo<t  niii(lern  methods  ami 


aimiially  harvests  gixid  crops.  His  sl<Kk.  too.  is 
an  important  source  of  income  to  him.  and  he 
is  likewise  a  large  sluireholdcr  in  the  I"irst  Na- 
tional  I'.ank.  at  Crescent  City. 

In  l-ebruary.  1884.  Mr.  Caveney  was  married 
to  Miss  Sophia  .\luller.  of  Ircxpiois  county,  and 
mito  them  have  Ix-en  born  four  children:  Lula. 
who  was  educated  at  ( »narga  and  is  a  graduate 
from  the  art  dei)artmenl  of  the  ( >narg3  Sem- 
inary, is  now  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Malany.  of  Iro- 
(juois  township :  Maud  also  attended  school  in 
()narga:  Frank  .M.  is  attending  the  State  L'ni- 
versity :  and  Clara  is  in  school  at  Crescent  City. 
The  chililren  have  thus  been  |)rovide<!  with  ex- 
cellent educational  privileges.  The  family  home 
is  pleasantly  and  conveniently  situated  two  and 
a  half  miles  from  Crescent  City  and  is  attractive 
by  reason  of  its  warm-hearted  hospitality. 

In  his  political  affiliation  Mr.  Caveney  is  a 
democrat,  recognized  as  one  of  the  local  leaders 
of  the  i)arty,  and  for  five  years  he  has  done  ef- 
fective service  in  behalf  of  the  general  welfare 
as  supervisor  of  Irtx(uois  township.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  school  Ixiard  and  there  is  no 
more  stalwart  champion  of  the  cause  of  public 
instructi<jn.  .\  gentleman  of  excellent  personal 
worth,  well  liked  by  all  who  know  him,  he  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  prominent  residents  of 
Ir(X|uois  township.  He  is  also  accounted  one  of 
its  most  successful  agriculturists,  having  so  di- 
recte<l  his  business  interests  that  the  legitimate 
outcome  of  labor  is  his  and  he  is  now  a  pros- 
perous  farmer. 


TIIOMA.'^  .\1.  1,  \NN(  iN. 

Thomas  .M.  ( iannon.  of  Middleport  township, 
was  born  March  i.  i8''/j,  in  Kankakee  county, 
his  father.  Thomas  (iannon.  entering  lan<l  on 
both  sides  of  the  Kankakee-Iroquois  countv  line. 
There  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  u]>on 
a  I'arnt  and  when  his  parents  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee he  went  to  Chicago.  His  father  and 
mother,  however,  died  and  lie  burie<I  at  Kanka- 
kee. 'There  were  three  sons  in  the  family,  the 
brothers  of  our  subject  being  Kolx'rt  1'.  and 
William  H.  (Iannon.  who  live  in  the  west.  He 
.'dsit  has  five  sisters:     Mrs.  Julia   Hollanrt    Mi« 


6o 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


Ellen  Lamm,  Mrs.   Alargaret  Ariiitt.  Mary  and 
Mrs.  Catharine  Cleary. 

As  stated,  Thomas  il.  Gannon  went  to  Chi- 
cago when  his  parents  removed  to  Kankakee, 
but  on  the  ist  of  March,  igoo,  he  bought  the 
land  upon  which  he  now  lives.  Here  he  is  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising,  handling 
cattle,  hogs  and  sheep  and  shipping  dressed 
meats  to  the  Chicago  market.  He  leases  other 
land  for  pasture  and  has  a  convenient  shipping 
point  at  Pittwood,  only  one  mile  from  his  home. 
His  land  is  well  adapted  to  grazing  purposes 
and  he  keeps  the  farm  well  stocked,  does  his 
own  butchering  and  by  reason  of  his  capable 
management,   enjoys   prosperity. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  1891,  Thomas  M. 
Gannon  was  united  in  marriage  to  j\Iiss  Jo- 
sephine Alartin,  whose  death  occurred  August  17, 
1898.  There  were  two  children  of  that  mar- 
riage: Josephine,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two 
years;  and  Forest  Glenn.  On  the  ist  of  March, 
1900,  Mr.  Gannon  was  again  married,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  ]\Iiss  Hattie  ]\IcCue.  and 
they  have  two  daughters :  Catharine,  born  Au- 
gust 7,  1904 ;  and  Marcella,  born  December  5, 
1906. 

Mr.  Gannon  has  a  comfortable  home  and 
takes  pleasure  in  country  life.  He  is  disposed 
to  help  a  neighbor  and  is  interested  in  the  atTairs 
of  the  county  that  is  his  chosen  abiding  place. 
Public-spirited,  he  is  glad  to  be  of  use  to  his 
fellowmen  in  matters  of  citizenship  and  he  votes 
with  the  democratic  party  but  does  very  little 
campaign  work,  preferring  to  concentrate  his 
energies  on  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  is 
meeting   with   good    success. 


FRED  WEBER. 


Fred  Weber,  living  retired  in  Buckley  after 
long,  close,  successful  and  honorable  connection 
with  farming  interests  in  Artcsia  township, 
where  he  still  owns  two  valuable  tracts  of  land, 
was  born  in  Germany,  July  23,  1833,  and  has 
therefore  reached  the  seventy-third  milestone  of 
life's  journey.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  in 
his  native  country  and  is  indebted  to  its  educa- 
tional   system    for   the   school   privileges   he   en- 


joyed. He  was  also  trained  to  the  work  of  the 
farm  and  remained  in  his  native  country  until, 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  when  the  favor- 
able reports  which  he  had  heard  concerning  the 
new  world  and  its  advantages  influenced  him  to 
seek  a  home  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic.  Ac- 
cordingly in  1858  he  bade  adieu  to  friends  and 
fatherland  and  took  passage  on  a  sailing  ship  at 
Bremen,  which  six  weeks  later  dropped  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  reaching  that  port 
in  June. 

Mr.  Weber  flid  not  tarry  long  in  the  east  but 
came  at  once  to  Illinois,  locating  in  Dupage 
county,  where  for  a  year  or  two  he  was  employed 
by  a  friend  whom  he  had  known  in  the  old  coun- 
try. He  continued  to  work  as  a  farm  hand  by 
the  month  until  after  the  inauguration  of  the 
Civil  war.  Many  were  the  German-American 
citizens  who  responded  to  the  call  of  the  coun- 
try for  aid  and  Mr.  \\"eber  was  among  the  num- 
ber who  flocked  to  the  standard  of  the  Union 
and  fought  in  the  defense  of  the  stars  and  stripes 
on  the  battle-fields  of  the  south.  He  enHsted 
August  23,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  I, 
One  Hundred  and  Fifth  \'olunteer  Infantry,  the 
regiment  being  assigned  to  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  For  eight  months  he  was  ill  and 
in  the  hospital  at  Gallatin,  Tennessee.  Upon  his 
recovery  he  joined  a  regimental  train  on  de- 
tached duty  engaged  in  guarding  the  railroads 
in  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  then  mustered  out  and  honorably 
discharged  in  Chicago  in  June,  1865.  He  never 
faltered  in  his  allegiance  to  the  cause  which  he 
espoused  and  he  deserves  classification  with  those 
to  whom  the  country  owes  a  debt  of  gratitude 
that  can  never  be  repaid. 

Once  more  returning  home  Air.  Weber  was 
employed  at  farm  labor  until  1867,  when  he 
came  to  Iroquois  county.  He  purchased  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  acres  of  land,  of  which 
forty  acres  had  been  broken  and  fenced  and  at 
once  he  began  the  task  of  further  developing  and 
improving  this  property.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  added  to  llie  farm  from 
time  to  time.  He  further  made  arrangements 
fcir  liaving  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  in 
1  )ii])age  county  in  the  spring  of  1868  to  Miss 
Dora  Neiman,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  Ger- 
many.    The  young  couple  began  their  domestic 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ll.I.IXt  US. 


6i 


life  on  the  farm  two  miles  cast  of  lUicklex .  LatiT 
.Mr.  \\el)cr  boiiglit  cit;hty  acres  adjoining  and 
sul)sc(|UiiUly  line  hundred  and  eighty-two  acres 
and  lor  twenty-eight  years  he  followed  general 
agricultural  pursuits  there,  erecting  good  build- 
ings and  making  all  the  substantial  modern  im- 
|)rovements  which  go  to  facilitate  the  work  on 
the  farm.  His  time  and  energies  were  concen- 
trated ui)on  the  task  of  tilling  the  soil  and  caring 
for  his  stock  until  181^5.  when  he  bought  seventy 
acres  of  land,  fourteen  acres  lying  within  the 
cor])oration  limits  of  I'.uckley,  while  the  remain- 
der adjoins  the  town.  This  constitutes  a  neat 
and  well  improved  farm.  u|)on  which  lie  makes 
his  home.  He  started  out  in  life  not  only  emi)ty- 
handed  but  in  debt,  but  a  resolute  spirit  and  stal- 
wart determination  have  enabled  him  to  over- 
come difficulties  and  obstacles,  to  make  judicious 
investment  and  to  work  his  way  steadily  upward. 
He  has  a  valuable  farm  and  good  home  and  he 
has  also  won  an  honored  name  in  his  business 
life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weber  are  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  to  whom  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters are  yet  living:  Henry,  who  is  engaged  in 
business  as  a  dealer  in  hardware  and  farm  imple- 
ments in  Buckley ;  \\'illiam,  who  is  married  and 
resides  on  one  of  his  father's  farms ;  Ella,  the 
wife  of  Professor  John  Schader,  who  is  teaching 
in  the  German  schools  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio;  Min- 
nie, the  wife  of  Fred  Lcetz,  a  partner  with  Henry 
Weber  in  the  hardware  and  implement  business 
in  Buckley ;  Tillie.  the  wife  of  Rev.  Theodore 
Blanken.  a  minister  of  the  Lutheran  church  at 
Uillsboro,  Indiana;  and  Fred  H.  W.,  who  is  now 
a  student  in  the  German  schools  at  Edison,  Illi- 
nois. Those  who  have  passed  away  are:  Louis, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years :  and  Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Albert  Ecker,  at  Woodworth, 
Illinois,  and  died  two  years  later. 

Politically  Mr.  Weber  was  formerly  a  repub- 
lican but  now  votes  the  democratic  ticket.  Ik- 
has  served  as  highway  commissioner  for  several 
years  and  as  school  trustee  for  a  number  of  years, 
yet  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
office  seeking,  preferring  to  do  his  public  service 
as  a  private  citizen.  He  was  born  and  reared 
in  the  Lutheran  faith  and  has  always  stood  for 
advancement  and  progress  in  those  lines  which 
lead  to  material,  intellectual  and  moral  develop- 


ment. He  has  been  greatly  interested  in  the 
changes  which  have  transformeil  Inxjuois  county 
from  a  wilderness  and  swamp  into  one  of  the 
richest  agricultural  counties  of  this  great  state 
and  he  has  borne  his  full  share  in  this  task.  .\s 
the  years  passed  by  he  gatliered  a  comfortable 
competence  from  his  labors  and  ior  eleven  years 
has  now  lived  retired  in  Buckley,  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  his  former  diligence. 


GUST  MALRITS. 


A  well  im|)roved  farm  of  eightv  acres  on  sec-  ' 
tion  15.  Beaver  township,  constitutes  the  home 
of  (iust  Maurits,  wlio  has  improved  and  made 
the  property  what  it  is  today,  for  when  it  came 
into  his  possession  it  was  still  in  its  wild  and 
unimproved  state.  He  is  a  native  of  Sweden, 
born  in  1852,  a  son  of  John  and  .\nna  (  Poultes) 
Maurits,  who  were  farming  peojile  of  that  coun- 
try, and  the  father  held  public  office  there. 

Mr.  Maurits  had  heard  favorable  reports  con- 
cerning the  opportunities  which  were  here  of- 
fered to  young  men  of  ambition,  and  when  a 
youth  of  seventeen  years  he  decided  to  try  his 
fortune  in  the  new  world,  and  accordingly,  in 
1869,  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  bound 
for  American  shores,  where  lived  two  uncles, 
who  had  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
Sweden.  L'pon  arriving  in  tlie  United  States, 
Mr.  Maurits  at  once  made  his  way  to  Iroquois  I 
countv  and  rented  a  farm  in  Beaver  township, 
which  he  conducted  for  five  years.  He  had  prac- 
tical knowledge  of  the  best  methods  of  carrying 
on  a  business  of  this  character,  so  that  his  labors 
brought  to  him  the  sum  whicli  in  1886  enabled 
him  to  purchase  the  farm  which  is  his  present 
place  of  residence.  As  time  has  passed  he  has 
made  added  improvements  on  the  place.  In  1896 
he  built  a  fine  barn,  while  two  years  ago  he 
erected  a  modern  country  residence,  containing 
eight  rooms,  which  is  supplied  with  every  con- 
venience and  comfort  for  the  family.  He  has 
laid  many  rods  of  tiling  on  his  land,  thus  mak- 
ing his  fields  very  productive,  so  that  he  annually 
harvests  good  crops  as  a  result  of  the  care  and 
labor  which  he  bestows  upon  them.  In  addition 
to  his  farm  work,  he  is  likewise  engaged  in  rais- 


'62 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


iny;  cattle,  horses  and  hogs,  which,  when  placed 
upon  the  market,  command  high  prices. 

In  1896  Mr.  Maiirits  was  happih-  wedded  to 
Miss  Minnie  Johnson,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  lieaver  townshi]).  and  by  her  marriage  has 
become  the  mother  of  four  children:  Earl  Sigs- 
bee ;  lone  Caroline,  who  is  attending  school ;  and 
Ruby  Irene  and  Emma  ( )rpha  Medora.  at  home. 
Mr.  Maurits  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
republican  party,  for  his  study  of  the  important 
events  of  the  day  has  led  him  to  lielieve  its  prin- 
ciples are  most  conducive  to  good  government. 
He  holds  membership  in  the  Swedish  ]\Iethodist 
church  of  Beaver. 

Mr.  Maurits  took  up  his  abode  in  a  strange 
land  when  but  a  youth  but  in  the  years  which 
have  since  come  and  gone  he  has  demonstrated 
his  ability  to  rank  with  the  best  citizens  of 
America,  and  his  well  improved  farm  in  its  neat 
appearance,  indicates  that  his  life  has  been  a 
.success. 


JUDGE  STEPHEN  G.  BOVIE. 

In  the  interpretation  and  execution  of  the  laws, 
as  attorney  and  county  judge,  Stephen  G.  Bovic 
was  long  accorded  a  position  of  distinction  in 
connection  with  the  Iroquois  county  bar,  and  the 
strength  and  breadth  of  his  intellect  and  powers 
made  him  well  fitted  for  leadership  in  the  public 
life  of  the  community.  In  his  political  work  in 
those  da)s  which  gave  incc])tinn  to  the  repub- 
lican party,  he  was  the  fi-ieml  ami  co-laborer  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  David  Davis  and  others  who 
attained  national  fame,  and  with  whom  he  was 
also  associated  at  a  period  whrn  the  practice  of 
law  meant  "riding  the  circuit"  in  order  to  engage 
in  the  trial  of  cases  at  the  clift'ereni  centers  in 
vvliich  the  court  convened. 

Coming  to  Iro(|uois  count\  in  iS5_^.  judge 
Bovie  was  a  factor  in  the  life  of  the  county  at  the 
most  dramatic.  pictnre.sc|ne  and  thrilling  e]ioch 
in  the  hislorx-  (if  the  state,  lie  was  burn  in  Liv- 
ingston county,  Xew  York,  November  21,  1827, 
a  son  of  John  E.  and  Amy  (Gardner)  Bovie. 
The  father  a  farmer  by  occupation  spent  his  en- 
tire life  in  the  east  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
passed  away  there  many  years  ago.     In  the  com- 


mon schools  of  his  native  county  Judge  Bovie 
received  his  early  mental  discipline,  pursuing  his 
studies  through  the  winter  seasons,  while  in  the 
summer  months  he  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the 
farm.  In  early  manhood,  having  made  marked 
progress  in  the  work  of  the  schoolroom,  owing 
to  his  special  aptitude  in  his  studies,  he  engaged 
in  teaching  in  his  native  county,  and  his  naturally 
strong  intellect  prompted  him  to  a  professional 
rather  than  an  agricultural  life,  so.  while  con- 
ducting his  classes  in  the  schoolroom,  he  utilized 
his  leisure  hours  for  the  study  of  law  and  follow- 
ing his  admission  to  the  bar.  engaged  in  the 
practice  in  the  east  for  several  years.  Admitted 
in  Monroe  county.  New  York,  in  1851.  he  re- 
mained there  as  a  member  of  the  legal  fraternity 
imtil  1853,  when  he  came  to  Watseka.  Here  for 
a  year  he  engaged  in  teaching  school,  when,  be- 
lieving there  was  favorable  opportunity  for  law 
practice,  he  entered  actively  upon  the  work  of  the 
profession  for  which  he  had  prepared  and  for 
many  years  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  strongest 
practitioners  of  Iroquois  county.  In  the  un- 
settled condition  of  Illinois  at  that  time,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  attorneys  should  travel  the 
circuit  with  the  court  and  thus  Judge  Bovie 
passed  froiu  one  county  seat  to  another  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  profession,  going  at  various 
intervals  to  Kankakee.  Grundy,  La  Salle,  \\"\\\. 
Iroquois,  Chami)aign  and  Ford  counties.  On  this 
circuit  he  often  met  Abrahaiu  Lincoln.  David 
Davis  and  others  who  afterward  became  famous 
in   state  and   national  politics. 

In  1856  Judge  Bovie  was  made  a  delegate  to 
the  convention  at  Bloomington.  Illinois,  where 
was  organized  the  re|)ublican  ])artv  of  the  state. 
and  he  remained  throughout  his  remaining  days 
a  stalwart  cham])ion  of  its  principles.  He  was 
master  in  chancery  at  \\'atseka  for  several  years 
and  in  1S80  he  was  elected  county  jud,ge  to  fill 
nut  the  unexpired  term  of  Judge  M.  B.  Wright. 
divoased.  In  his  law  practice  he  enjoyed  a 
liberal  and  distinctively  representative  clientage, 
by  reason  of  his  ability  to  successfullv  solve  in- 
tricate legal  ]>roblenis  and  present  his  cause  in 
the  strong,  clear  light  of  reason,  correctly  ap- 
plying the  |)rinci|jles  of  law  and  seldom  failing 
to  win  a  verdict  favorable  to  his  clients.  I'pon 
the  bench  his  decisions  were  so  entirely  the  em- 
liodiment  of  judicial  wisdom  and  knowledge  that 


y- 


Of  THE 
'-'1^  Of  ILUmiS 


i 


Mf^^  LJ,  iB. 


Li- 

Or 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLIMOIS 


IROQL'OlS  COUNTY.  IIJ.IN'OIS. 


67 


at  tlie  rtpublican  conventions  of  1882  and  i88(j 
1k'  was  n<iniinatc<t  by  acclaniatiun  and  at  cacli 
election  received  increased  majorities,  runninj; 
far  ahead  of  his  ticket.  His  decisions  were 
inoilels  of  jndicial  sonndness  and  liis  compre- 
hensive \vfin\  knowledge  coinniandetl  the  respect 
of  the  bar  and  of  tile  general  pnbHc.  His  private 
practice  t(X)  was  extensive  and  his  attention  to 
the  duties  of  his  office  was  unremittinfj.  Much 
important  legal  work  aside  from  that  of  the 
ciiMrtriH)m  was  enlru.sted  him  and  he  seemed  to 
fHjsscss  a  special  faculty  for  directing  the  settle- 
ment of  estates  with  as  little  loss  as  i)ossible. 
It  is  remarkable  \v<w  few  were  his  decisions  from 
which  an  appeal  was  taken  and  how  little  litiga- 
tion grew  out  of  the  vast  business  that  passed 
through  his  court.  In  him  the  widows  and  or- 
phans of  the  county  found  a  trustworthy  advisor 
anil  true  friend  and  the  assistance  which  he 
rendered  them  i)i  a  legal  capacity  was  often  of 
the  utmost  value  in  their  affairs. 

Happy  in  his  home  life.  Judge  IJovie  was  mar- 
rie<l  in  1^5.2.  in  Monroe  county.  New  York,  to 
Miss  Julia  .\.  Symson,  a  native  of  the  Knipire 
state,  and  they  traveled  life's  journey  in  most 
congenial  conipanionship  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  Xovember  30,  1888,  after  a  brief  illness. 

Judge  I'xivie  was  a  prominent  and  honoretl 
member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Wat.scka  and 
his  brethren  of  the  craft  had  charge  of  the 
funeral  services  held  here  prior  to  the  removal 
of  the  remains  to  his  old  home  at  Rochester,  Xew 
York,  for  interment.  The  news  of  his  death 
■causetl  a  sensation  of  jjrofound  regret  through- 
out Iro<|uois  county,  for  no  man  witliin  its  bor- 
.ders  had  a  wider  accjuaintance  or  enjoyed  more 
general  popularity.  There  were  few  indeed  with 
whom  he  diti  not  have  more  or  less  personal  ac- 
quaintance and  the  news  of  his  demise  brought 
to  the  vast  majority  a  sense  of  jK-rsonal  bereave- 
ment :  to  the  community,  where  he  was  a  value<l 
citizen  :  to  his  clients  who  recognized  in  him  a 
trustworthy  counselor  and  advisor;  to  the 
widows  and  orphans,  whose  cause  he  had  so 
often  befriended  ;  to  his  close  personal  acc|uaint- 
ances,  who  cherished  his  friendship ;  and  to  her 
upon  whom  the  wealth  of  his  love  and  attention 
was  Ix'stowed.  .Since  the  death  of  her  husband 
Mrs.  IJovie  has  continued  to  make  her  home  in 
"Watseka.  owning  a  Iwautiful  home  on  West  Wal- 
4 


nut  street,  but  she  also  s|>en<is  much  time  in 
travel  and  in  visiting  relatives  in  ditTerent  parts 
of  the  countrv. 


.\UMS   .S.  CHAI'.M.W. 

Arms  S.  Chapman,  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
( iiliuan  Star,  is  a  representative  of  une  <>!  the 
old  families  of  Iro<|uois  county,  and  in  his  pres- 
ent business  cai)acity  is  giving  to  the  public  a 
journal  which  has  had  ilirect  and  im])ortant  bear- 
ing u])on  the  welfare  and  improvement  of  this 
portion  of  the  state.  The  press  has  not  only 
recorded  the  histi)ry  of  advancement  but  has  also 
ever  been  the  leader  in  the  work  of  progress — 
the  vanguard  of  civilization.  The  j>hil<jsopher 
of  some  centuries  ago  proclaimed  the  truth  that 
"The  i)en  is  mightier  than  the  sword."  and  the 
statement  is  continually  being  verified  in  the  af- 
fairs of  life.  In  molding  |)ul)lic  opinion  the  power 
of  the  news])aiKT  cannot  be  estimated  but  at  all 
events  its  influence  is  of  greater  force  than  that 
of  any  other  single  element  and  the  Star  has  been 
a  potent  force  in  the  life  of  Gilman. 

Mr.  Chapman  was  a  youth  of  twelve  years 
when  he  became  a  resident  of  lr<K|uois  c<)unty, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Chicago  in  1864. 
The  family  comes  of  Irish  lineage  and  was  es- 
tablished in  .\merica  by  the  great-great-grand- 
father of  our  subject,  who  left  the  luuerald  isle, 
crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  the  new  world  and  estab- 
lished a  home  in  Xew  ICngland.  It  was  in  that 
part  of  the  country  that  the  great-grandfather 
was  born,  while  Henry  D.  Chapman,  the  grand- 
father, was  a  native  of  .New  Lebanon.  Xew  York. 
He  became  a  contractor  and  builder  after  learn- 
ing the  carpenters  trade  and  was  thus  iilenti- 
fied  with  industrial  life  in  the  east.  His  political 
allegiance  was  given  to  the  whig  ])arty.  He 
wedded  Maria  .Arms,  who  was  born  in  Conway, 
Massachusetts,  while  her  father  was  also  a  native 
of  Xew  luigland  and  came  of  Knglish  ancestry. 
In  i8,V)  Mrs.  Maria  .\rms  Chapman  started  with 
her  four  sons  for  Michigan,  driving  through 
C'anada  and  across  the  coiuitry  with  an  ox  teain 
to  Washtenaw  county.  The  family  opened  up 
two  farms  in  Michigan,  and  Mrs.  Chapman 
sjunt  her  last  days  there. 


68 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


Her  son,  Foster  .M.  Chapman,  the  second  in 
a  family  of  five  children  numbering  four  sons 
and  one  daughter,  was  born  in  old  Sodus,  Wayne 
county.  New  York,  September  19,  1819,  and  was 
therefore  a  youth  of  seventeen  years  at  the  time 
of  the  removal  to  Michigan.  His  educational 
privileges  were  very  limited  and  he  earned  his 
first  money  by  digging  potatoes  for  a  neighbor, 
but  his  father  collected  his  wages.  He  shared 
with  the  family  in  the  hardships  and  privations 
of  early  residence  in  Michigan  and  in  the  winter 
of  1839  engaged  in  teaching  school  in  Living- 
ston county,  Illinois.  He  was  married  IMarch 
20,  1845,  to  Miss  Charlotte  E.  Spafard,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  L.  Spafard,  who  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Michigan  in  1838.  Mrs.  Chapman  was 
born  in  the  Empire  state  and  was  a  maiden  of 
si.xteen  years  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the 
family  to  the  middle  west.  For  several  years 
after  his  marriage  Foster  M.  Chapman  followed 
farming,  and  in  1851  began  the  sale  of  small 
farm  implements,  making  his  headquarters  in 
Chicago.  He  handled  the  first  John  H.  Manney 
reapers  which  were  brought  to  that  city  and  for 
a  time  he  also  conducted  a  branch  house  at  De- 
troit, enjoying  an  extensive  trade  in  farm  imple- 
ments in  [Michigan,  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  con- 
tinuing in  the  business  until  1866,  when  he  ac- 
cepted the  agency  for  the  Manney  reapers  for 
the  territory  of  southern  Indiana,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee.  In  1867  he  became  a  real-estate 
dealer  of  Chicago  and  carried  on  an  extensive 
business  there  until  1876. 

That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Iroquois 
county,  where  he  invested  his  capital  in  six  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Danforth  township.  The 
farm  was  in  an  unimproved  condition  but  by 
judicious  tiling  and  ditching  and  the  erection  of 
good  buildings  he  converted  it  into  one  of  the 
best  kept  and  most  fertile  farms  of  the  county. 
In  fact  he  was  a  pioneer  in  drainage  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  and  to  his  efforts  and  the  labors 
of  a  few  other  enterprising  men  is  due  the  splen- 
did condition  which  is  found  in  the  agricultural 
districts  in  Iroquois  county,  owing  to  the  tiling 
and  ditching  that  has  been  carried  on.  At  times 
the  whole  surface  of  the  country  seemed  cov- 
ered with  water.  Prairie  creek  several  times  a 
stop  to  planting  or  cultivating.     An   inclTcctive 


ditch  was  dug  prior  to  1878,  in  which  year  Mr. 
Chapman,  in  company  with  W.  J.  and  C.  G. 
McUougall,  George  W.  Decker  and  others, 
started  the  enterprise  uf  cutting  a  ditch  from 
Prairie  to  Spring  creek,  thus  giving  a  short  out- 
let for  this  entire  flat  country.  That  was  the 
first  extensive  effort  to  furnish  a  system  of  drain- 
age and  to  this  work  Mr.  Chapman  gave  time, 
mone_\-  and  effort.  Contracts  for  ditches  were  let 
averaging  from  four  to  eight  feet  in  depth  and 
forty  feet  wide,  surface  measure.  As  soon  as 
water  would  run  they  put  a  riding  plow  in  the 
ditch  and  teams  on  each  bank.  Mr.  Chapman 
managed  the  plow  and  often  rode  in  water  up 
to  his  armpits.  Day  after  day  he  worked  in  that 
soaked  condition  until  the  completion  of  the 
ditch.  Xothing  has  done  more  to  add  to  the 
advantage  of  flat  land  in  this  section  and  the  men 
who  persevered  to  obtain  the  enterprise  deserve 
much  credit.  Mr.  Chapman  also  spent  consider- 
able time  and  money  in  lobbying  at  Springfield 
for  the  law  which  finally  passed,  enabling  the 
lands  of  non-residents  to  be  taxed  for  the  bene- 
fits they  would  receive.  Today  drainage  has 
made  this  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  dis- 
tricts of  the  entire  countrv  with  farming  lands 
offered  at  from  one  to  two  hundred  dollars  per 
acre. 

In  politics  Air.  Chapman  was  a  whig  in  early 
life  and  when  the  question  of  slavery  became  a 
dominant  one  joined  the  abolition  party,  while 
a  further  progressive  step  was  made  by  him  in 
allying  his  interests  with  the  republican  party 
when  it  was  formed  to  prevent  the  further  ex- 
tension of  slavery.  He  has  always  stood  for 
advancement  and  improvement  in  the  various 
interests  relating  to  the  public  welfare  yet  has 
never  sought  office  for  himself.  After  living  for 
many  years  upon  the  farm  he  removed  to 
Gilman  in  i8go,  there  to  enjoy  retirement  from 
further  labor. 

Arms  S.  Chapman,  the  only  son  and  child, 
was  a  youth  of  twelve  years  when  he  came  with 
his  parents  to  Iroquois  county.  .\  short  time 
previously  he  had  visited  the  farm  with  his 
father.  There  were  still  many  evidences  of  pio- 
neer life  to  be  seen  here  for  the  land  was  un- 
drainecl  and  therefore  untilled,  and  often  times 
the  floods  rendered  further  work  of  cultivation 
impossible.     The   lakes   and   rivers  abounded   in 


JRlJQL'OIS  OJLNTY.  I!.!.!N'0|S 


60 


fish  and  there  was  ample  opportunity  lor  tlic 
huntsman  to  indulge  his  love  of  sport  where 
countless  tliousands  of  ducks,  brants  and  Canada 
geese  were  to  be  had.  Prairie  chickens  were  also 
to  be  found. 

Arms  S.  Chapman  attended  the  public  schools 
and  later  the  University  of  Illinois.  In  1888  he 
left  college  to  begin  newsjjaper  work,  practiadly 
his  first  experience  being  as  city  editor  of  a  morn- 
ing paper  at  Little  Rock,  Arkansas.  Later  in 
the  line  of  service  he  became  telegrapii  editor  of 
the  St.  Paul  News.  In  1895  he  married  Miss 
Minnie  Cross,  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  old  resi- 
dents of  Gilman.  After  his  marriage  he  worked 
on  Chicago  daily  papers  until  he  returned  to 
Gilman  in  1898  to  acquire  an  interest  in  the  Star. 
Aside  from  his  editorial  work,  Mr.  Chapman  has 
contributed  to  eastern  magazines,  such  as  the 
Century  and  the  Outlook.  He  has  three  chil- 
dren, two  sons  and  a  daughter.  He  is  a  Mason, 
a  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  Press 
Club  of  Chicago. 


TOHN  SMITH. 


John  Smith,  of  Unarga,  is  one  of  the  largest 
landowners  and  most  active  and  enterprising 
business  men  of  Iroquois  county.  He  owns 
farms  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city,  all  well  im- 
proved and  valuable,  aggregating  fourteen  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  His  residence  in  the  county 
dates  from  1865  and  throughout  this  period  he 
has  maintained  an  unassailable  reputation  for 
business  integrity  and  at  the  same  time  has  be- 
come most  widely  known  by  reason  of  his  un- 
flagging diligence.  cIikc  aj>y>Iii-.iiiiin  .tihI  idiit- 
prise. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Imliaiia.  having  been 
born  in  Hendricks  county  on  the  26th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1830.  His  father,  .\bel  Smith,  was  born  in 
Xorth  Carolina,  whence  he  removed  to  Kentucky 
in  his  childhood  days  in  company  with  his 
parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Smith.  He  was 
reared  in  Owsley  county,  Kentucky,  and  when 
a  young  man  removed  to  Indiana.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  Hendricks  county  to  Miss  Sarah  Bales, 
a  native  of  the  Blue  Grass  state  and  a  daughter 
of  .Me.xander  Bales,  who  removed  to  Kcntuckv 


when  tin  mill. Ill-  wen  nnui-  iiimiirini>  tiiail  the 
white  settlers  and  the  warfare  between  the  two 
races  had  earned  for  the  state  the  name  of  the 
dark  and  bloody  ground.  Jolin  Smith  is  one 
of  a  family  of  two  sons  and  si.\  daughters  who 
reached  mature  years  and  seven  of  the  number 
are  still  living,  namely :  James  Smith,  who  re- 
sidi-s  in  Warren  county.  Inwa;  Mary,  who  is 
living  u|x)n  the  old  home  place  in  Warren 
county;  Susan,  the  wife  of  Thomas  McClellan, 
a  resident  of  Washington;  Mrs.  Kmeline  l!ick- 
ford,  a  widow,  of  Warren  county.  Iowa;  Mrs. 
Louisa  Jane  Lewis,  of  the  same  cnunty  ;  Amanda, 
the  widow  of  Taylor  Judkins:  and  John. 

John  Smith,  whose  name  introduces  this  rec- 
<ird.  was  reared  upon  the  home  fann  in  Hen- 
ilricks  county,  Indiana,  to  the  age  of  nineteen 
years  and  then  removed  with  his  father  to  Iowa, 
the  family  home  being  established  in  Warren 
county.  His  school  privileges  were  quite  lim- 
ited, so  that  he  is  largely  a  self-educated  as  well 
as  a  self-made  man.  but  in  the  school  of  experi- 
ence he  has  learned  many  valuable  lessons  and 
reading  and  observation  have  also  added  largely 
to  his  knowledge,  making  him  a  man  of  good 
business  capacity  and  sound  judgment.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  in  Iowa  for  one  year 
and  then  returned  to  Warren  county,  Indiana, 
making  the  journey  on  foot.  There  he  rented 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  for  six  years,  dur- 
ing which  period  he  was  married  on  the  i8th  of 
Xovcmber,  1853,  to  Miss  Hannah  .^tarry,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  that  county.  In  1856  he  re- 
turned to  Iowa,  settling  in  Hamilton  county, 
where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  raw  land  which 
he  broke  and  converted  into  a  good  farm.  He 
did  his  breaking  witii  ox  teams  and  in  the  course 
of  years  he  improved  an  excellent  farm  prop- 
erty, on  which  he  erected  good  buildings  and 
added  many  modern  cf|uipments  and  accessories. 
He  bought  more  hnd  from  time  to  time  there 
until  he  owned  four  hundred  acres,  residing  upon 
his  farm  until  i8ri3.  when  he  sold  the  pro|Hrty 
and  came  to  Iro<|uois  county.  Illinois.  His  first 
investment  in  lan<l  here  made  him  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres  which  was  jiartially  improved. 
He  at  once  took  up  the  work  of  further  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  and  as  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  Ixiught  other  tracts  of  land 
adjoining.     He  contiiund  tin-   work  of   f.-irmiiK' 


70 


PAST  AXl)  PRESENT  OF 


and  luriher  improving  the  property  until  the 
old  home  place  now  comjjrises  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  ui)on  which  he  has  a  good  residence, 
barns  and  corn  crii)s.  lie  likewise  invested  in 
three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres  south  of 
the  home  place  on  the  same  section  and  improved 
that.  As  opportunity  has  afforded  he  has  con- 
tinued his  purchase  of  land  and  has  over  seven 
hundred  acres  across  the  creek  near  Onarga,  con- 
stituting a  well  improved  farm.  He  continued 
to  engage  actively  in  farming  until  1901,  when 
he  removed  to  Onarga  and  hnilt  the  residence 
which  he  now  occupies.  It  is  a  commodious, 
neat  and  substantial  home  and  is  one  of  the  evi- 
dences of  the  thrift  and  industr\-  which  have 
ever  been  characteristic  of  Mr.  Smith  and  wliich 
have  enabled  him  to  advance  from  a  htmilile 
financial  position  to  one  of  wealth  and  affluence. 
His  success  has  come  as  the  result  of  careful  in- 
vestment, of  keen  discernment  in  business  af- 
fairs and  of  unfaltering  energy  and  thus  he  has 
accumulated  a  large  fortune  and  is  today  one  of 
the  well  known  and  prosperous  men  of  the 
county.  He  is  still  very  active  and  gives  i)er- 
sonal  supervision  to  his  extensive  farming  in- 
terests. 

L'nto  J\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  been  born 
five  children:  James,  who  follows  farming 
in  (  )narga  township,  is  married  and  has 
three  children,  Mabel,  Prank  and  John.  (  )scar 
resides  upon  a  farm  in  Kansas.  He  has  si.\  chil- 
dren: I'earl,  of  ( )narga ;  Ralph,  who  resides  in 
Utah;  Millie,  who  is  living  in  this  county;  Har- 
lan, who  is  residing  upon  one  of  the  farms  be- 
longing to  his  grandfather;  Hazel  and  Edith. 
Margaret  .\nu  is  the  wife  nf  John  Xielmlds,  a 
retired  business  man  of  (  )narga.  and  they  have 
one  son,  William.  Mnlex'.  who  is  operating  one 
of  his  father's  farms,  is  also  married.  .Mr.  ;uid 
Mrs.  Smith  also  lost  one  child,  their  first  born. 
Sarah  IClizabelh,  who  reached  womanhood  and 
became  the  wife  of  Alpheus  Keiuiedy.  She  died 
in  1877,  lea\-ing  a  daugliter.  who  also  reached 
womanhood  and  passed  away  in  the  fall  of  H)04. 
.She  was  reared  by  Mr.  .-md  Mrs.  Smith.  .Mr. 
Snn'th  gives  his  politic-al  allegiance  to  the  repub- 
lican ])arty  but  cast  his  first  ])resi(!ential  ballot 
for  a  democratic  candidate.  I'"ranklin  I'iirce.  in 
1852.  He  has,  however,  for  a  niuuber  of  vears 
been  identified  with  the  republican  organization. 


He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  although 
he  .served  as  town  clerk  in  Iowa  and  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board.  He  was  formerly  identified 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  society  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  for  forty-one  years,  wit- 
nessing its  wonderful  growth  and  development 
and  at  the  same  time  has  kept  pace  in  his  busi- 
ness career  with  the  progress  of  the  county  until 
he  is  now  one  of  its  largest  landowners  and  most 
successful  business  men.  There  has  been  no  esot- 
eric phase  in  his  life  record.  On  the  contrary  his 
history  is  as  an  open  book  which  all  may  read. 
He  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy 
and  he  early  learned  the  value  of  unremitting  la- 
bor, and  it  is  through  his  close  application  and 
his  watchfulness  of  opportunities  for  judicious 
investment  that  he  has  advanced  by  gradual  yet 
l)rogressive  stages  to  his  present  position. 


willia:\i  'm.  hickey. 

William  M.  Hickey  is  a  young  man  who  has 
gained  a  creditable  place  in  financial  circles,  serv- 
ing at  the  present  time  as  cashier  of  the  State 
Bank  of  Chebanse  and  also  as  a  member  of  its 
board  of  directors.  Roth  he  and  his  father  are 
largelv  interested  in  this  institution  and  also  in 
the  Liank  of  Irwin  at  Irwin,  Illinois,  of  which 
William  'SI.  Hickey  is  manager.  Born  in  Che- 
banse on  the  25th  of  September.  1882,  he  is  a  son 
iif  Thomas  and  Beeze  (Conley)  Hickey,  of  Brad- 
ley. Illinois.  He  is  the  eldest  of  three  sons,  the 
others  being  John,  a  graduate  of  St.  Viateurs 
College  at  Bourbonnais,  Illinois ;  and  Richard, 
who  is  a  student  in  the  public  schools  of  IJrad- 
ley. 

.Vftcr  obtaining  his  preliminary  education  in 
the  ])ublic  schools  of  Chebanse  William  M.  Hick- 
ey spent  two  years  as  a  student  in  St.  X'iateurs 
College,  of  P.ourbonnais  Grove,  Illinois,  and  three 
years  in  .St.  Ignatius  College  at  Chicago.  FoUriw- 
ing  his  graduation  from  the  last  named  institu- 
tion he  inirsued  a  commercial  course  in  the  Atli- 
enaetnn  business  college  in  Chicago,  and  was 
thus  well  (|ualified  b\'  liberal  training  for  life's 
])ractical  and  res])(insil)le  duties.  When  he  had 
permanently  put  aside  his  text-books  he  connect- 


WILLIAM    M.    lilt  Ki:V. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNI\'FRP!rv  Of  ILLINOIS 


^3^ 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


7i 


c<l  himself  with  the  National  L'ank  at  Uliatswortli, 
Illinois,  as  assistant  cashier  and  bookkct-ptr  and 
thns  served  nntil  Scptiniber.  1906,  \>hen  he  en- 
tered njjon  his  present  position  as  cashier  of  the 
Stale  r.ank  of  Chebanse  upon  its  organization. 
He  is  a  young  man  typical  of  the  progressive 
spirit  of  the  times  and  his  diligence  and  la1)or 
constitute  him  a  rejiresentative  factor  in  the  busi- 
ness life  of  the  town. 

Mr.  Hickcy  is  a  member  of  St.  Mary's  and 
Joseph's  Catholic  church  at  Chebanse  and  since 
i8<)2  he  has  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Co- 
lumbus at  Kankakee.  Illinois.  His  political  views 
accord  with  the  principles  of  the  republican  party 
and  at  the  polls  he  always  gives  endorsement  to 
its  candidates.  The  place  which  he  has  already 
made  fur  himself  in  business  circles  argues  well 
for  the  future,  for  his  qualities  arc  such  as  will 
brook  no  obstacles  if  they  can  Ik  overcome  bv  per- 
sistent and   straightforward  effort. 


HERBERT  E.   IWCEV 


Herbert  E.  Pacey,  residing  on  section  6.  Pigeon 
Grove  township,  operates  a  good  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-two  acres,  belonging  to  his  fa- 
ther's estate,  upon  which  he  was  1)om  February 
7,  1870.  He  is  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza  (Harms- 
ton)  Pacey.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Eng- 
land. The  father  was  born,  reared  and  married 
in  Lincolnshire  and  carried  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits there  before  his  marriage,  or  until  1S56. 
when  he  came  to  the  new  world.  He  made  his 
first  location  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming  rented  land  for  twelve  years 
and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he  removed 
to  Iroquois  county  in  1868.  With  the  money  he 
had  saved  from  his  earnings  he  invested  in  fifty- 
eight  acres  of  land,  which  he  bought  at  twelve 
dollars  per  acre.  Today  this  same  property  is 
worth  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per 
acre.  He  built  a  home  and  Iwgan  to  till  the  soil, 
which  in  due  course  of  time  brought  forth  rich 
and  abundant  harvests.  He  later  Imught  eighty- 
four  acres  adoining  and  thus  made  a  givxl  farm. 
He  lived  here  until  i8<>8.  when  he  removed  to 
Paxton,  Illinois,  where  he  died  January  23.  i<K>4. 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.     His  wifi-  -nr- 


vives  him  and  yet  lives  in  Paxton  in  her  seventy- 
first  year.  This  worthy  cou|)le  were  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  and  Herlx-rt  E.  and  Walter 
still  reside  upon  the  old  homestead,  Walter  oper- 
ating a  rented  farm  near  this  place. 

Herl)ert  E.  Pacey  at  the  usual  age  became  a 
student  in  the  public  schools  anrl  afterward  pur- 
sued a  commercial  course  in  the  college  at  Onar- 
ga.  He  has  always  lived  on  this  place  and  has 
helpeil  to  carry  on  the  home  farm  from  his  early 
youth  to  the  present  time.  When  but  a  boy  he 
lK>gan  plowing,  planting  and  liarvesting  and  on 
attaining  his  majority  he  rented  the  place  from 
his  mother  and  has  since  conducted  it,  its  well 
kept  appearance  indicating  his  careful  supervi- 
sion and  practical  methods. 

On  the  15th  of  .\pril,  1897,  Mr.  Pacey  was 
married  to  Miss  Hattie  Hall,  a  native  of  Iro- 
quois county  and  a  daughter  of  John  Hall,  who 
was  Ixirn  in  northern  England  and  came  to  this 
county  about  18^)0.  He  served  in  defense  of  the 
I'nion  in  the  Civil  war  and  reside<l  here  until  his 
death.  I'nto  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Pacey  have  been  born 
two  children,  but  one  died  in  infancy,  the  sur- 
viving  son   being  Cuy   Harold. 

The  parents  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Buckley.  Mr.  Pacey  is  a  stalwart  re- 
publican, giving  earnest  allegiance  to  the  party 
when  are  involved  the  questions  that  divide  the 
two  great  political  organizations  but  at  local  elec- 
tions he  casts  an  independent  ballot.  He  has 
served  on  the  school  l)oard  as  trustee,  but  other- 
wise has  never  consented  to  hold  office.  His  time 
and  energies  are  fully  occupied  by  his  business  af- 
fairs, which  are  bringing  to  him  signal  success. 
He  raises  good  graded  hogs,  also  some  cattle  and 
<lraft  horses  and  is  now  conducting  a  profitable 
business. 


HON.  JdllN  I..  II.\Mll.r(  )X'. 

Hon.  John  L.  Hamilton,  whose  life  record  was 
one  of  signal  usefulness  and  honor,  his  distin- 
guished service  and  personal  characteristics  gain- 
ing him  a  place  in  public  regard  that  caused  his 
death  to  come  as  a  per.sonal  bereavement  to  the 
great  majority  of  citizens  in  Iroquois  county, 
|)assed  awav  in  K/X).  Few  indeed  have  been  the 
ri~M.i!t>  t.f  the  county   that   have  occupied   .so 


74 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


prominent  a  position  in  public  esteem  and  no  liis- 
tory  of  this  section  of  the  state  would  be  com- 
plete without  the  record  of  his  life.  He  was  born 
of  Scotch  parents  in  County  Armagh,  Ireland. 
November  9,  1829.  and  was  a  young  man  of  twen- 
ty-two years  when  he  sought  a  home  in  .America, 
attracted  to  this  country  by  the  favorable  reports 
which  he  had  heard  concerning  its  business  op- 
portunities and  advantages.  The  year  1851  wit- 
nessed his  arrival. 

He  landed  at  Xew  Orleans  and  soon  after- 
ward came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Jersey  county. 
where  he  began  work  as  a  common  laborer  on  a 
farm.  Carefully  saving  his  earnings  he  soon 
became  enabled  to  make  a  payment  on  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land,  arranging  for  the 
purchase  in  1861.  On  selling  out  there  he  came 
to  Iroquois  county  and  settled  on  section  11,  Love- 
joy  township,  purchasing  the  entire  section  and 
also  the  north  half  of  section  14.  on  which  the 
village  of  Wellington  was  afterward  built.  He 
watched  his  opportunities  for  judicious  invest- 
ment and  owned  other  farms  in  Pigeon  Grove, 
Prairie  Green  and  Middleport  townships,  until 
at  his  death  his  realty  holdings  had  reached  the 
extensive  figure  of  twenty-five  hundred  acres  in 
this  county,  besides  seventeen  thousand  acres  in 
Texas.  He  was  seldom  at  error  in  matters  of 
business  judgment  and  thus  his  investments  were 
carefully  placed  and  were  to  him  an  excellent 
source  of  income.  He  was  also  vice  president 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Watseka,  and  presi- 
dent of  the  private  banking  institution  of  Hamil- 
ton &  Cimningham  at  Hoopeston.  In  all  that  he 
did  he  displayed  an  aptitude  for  successful  man- 
agement together  with  a  fertility  of  resource  and 
a  native  sagacity  that  constituted  him  a  pre-em- 
inently a  man  of  affairs. 

Mr.  Hamilton  aside  from  the  successful  con- 
duct of  extensive  and  important  business  inter- 
ests filled  many  local  ofiices  of  honor  and  trust, 
being  three  times  chairman  of  the  hoard  of  county 
supervisors  and  four  times  treasurer  of  Iroquois 
county.  His  re-elections  were  indicative  of  his 
capability  and  fidelity  in  office  and  the  unfaltering 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  fellowmen.  Still 
higher  honors  awaited  him,  for  he  was  called  to 
represent  the  people  of  the  sixteenth  district  in 
the  state  legislature,  where  he  served  with  fidel- 
ity and  honesty  u])  to  the  time  of  his  death.     He 


gave  to  each  question  which  came  up  for  settle- 
ment his  earnest  consideration  and  was  swerved 

by  no  personal  prejudice  or  partisan  feelings  in 
his  legislative  service. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  married  February  24,  1857, 
to  Miss  Ann  Eliza  Leemon,  a  native  of  County 
Armagh,  Ireland,  and  they  became  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  of  whom  seven  are  liv-  ^, 
ing,  namely :  John  L.,  of  Hoopeston.  Illinois ;  J-"'^ 
Mrs.  Fannie  Ayres,  of  St.  Louis,  ^Missouri :  ^Irs. 
Nettie  Morse,  of  Troy,  Pennsylvania ;  William 
A. :  Edward  C. :  Edith  :  and  George  H. 

Mr.  Hamilton  was  an  exemplary  member  of 
the  Masonic  fraternity^  It  is  a  difficult  task  to 
offer  a  fitting  memorial  to  the  life  and  accom- 
plishments of  a  man  of  his  character — remark- 
able in  the  breadth  of  his  wisdom  and  in  his  in- 
domitable perseverance  and  his  strong  individu- 
alitv,  and  _\'et  one  whose  entire  life  had  not  one 
esoteric  phase,  being  an  open  scroll,  inviting  the 
closest  scrutiny.  True  his  were  "massive  deeds 
and  great"  in  one  sense  and  yet  his  entire  life  ac- 
complishment but  represented  the  result  of  the 
fitting  utilization  of  the  innate  talent  which  was 
his  and  the  directing  of  his  efforts  in  those  lines 
where  mature  judgment  and  rare  discrimination 
lead  the  way.  He  carved  his  name  deeply  on 
the  record  of  the  political,  agricultural  and  finan- 
cial history  of  the  county  which  owes  much  of 
its  advancement  to   his   efforts.  X 


ENXAN  CLARK. 


Evlan  Clark  has  since  1848.  or  for  a  period 
of  six  decades,  been  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county, 
and  for  many  years  he  carried  on  the  work  of 
tilling  the  soil  and  raising  crops,  which  in  course 
of  time  brought  him  an  excellent  annual  income 
and  enabled  him  to  add  yearly  to  his  competence 
until  it  is  now  sufficient  to  permit  of  his  living 
retired.  He  makes  his  home  at  the  present  writ- 
ing in  Sheldon  and  is  one  of  its  worthy  and 
rej)resentative  citizens.  He  was  born  in  St.  Jo- 
sei)h  county,  Michigan,  .\ugust  18,  1838,  and  is 
a  .son  of  Ouartus  and  Nancy  (Nye)  Clark.  The 
father  came  with  tlic  family  to  Iroc|uois  county 
in  1848.  locating  in  P.cavcr  township,  which  at 
that  time  had   few   inhabitants.     Hardships  and 


t^^irWut^  Wr'^i/^ 


OP  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRoOroiS  COUNTY,  H.I.INolS. 


n 


privations  siidi  as  are  al\va\s  incidi-m  in  iroiuicr 
life  were  the  Int  <>f  the  family  in  those  early  days. 
The  father  was  luit  long  periniiled  tn  enjov  his 
new  Ihiine,  for  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest 
in  1851.  leaving  his  wife  with  four  young  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  still  survive,  namely  :  l-'vlan. 
of  this  review:  Xiles.  who  was  nanieil  for  the 
town  of  Xiles.  Michigan,  and  who  is  now  living 
in  lienton  county,  Arkansas:  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Nordyke.  a   resident  of  (Oakland,   L'alifornia. 

I'-vlan  Clark  ac<iuired  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  this  county  but  his  opix)rtimities 
in  that  direction  were  very  limited.  He  was 
ten  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  to  Illi- 
nois and  was  a  little  lad  of  only  thirteen  when  his 
father  died.  He  began  to  earn  his  own  living  when 
verv  young  and  always  had  to  work  hard,  so 
that  his  youth  was  largely  a  perio<l  of  unremit- 
ting toil.  \\'hen  he  was  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  feeling  that  his  first  tluty  was  to  his  coun- 
try, he  enlisted  in  .\ugust,  1862,  and  joined  the 
br)ys  in  blue  of  Company  E,  Seventy -sixth  Illi- 
nois X'olunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain  Irving, 
serving  for  three  years  in  Tennessee,  Louisiana, 
Mississippi.  .Mabama  and  Florida.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  siege  of  \icksburg.  the  charge  on 
I'ort  r.lakely  near  Mobile.  .Mabama.  and  many 
other  engagements  of  minor  importance,  and  for 
a  few  days  he  was  ill  in  the  camp  hospital  at 
\'icksburg.  During  his  service  he  was  appointed 
first  sergeant  an<l  as  such  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  the  5th  of  August.  1865.  after  three 
years  devoted  to  aiding  his  country  in  the  sup- 
pression of  the  rebellion  and  the  preservation  of 
the  Union. 

When  the  war  was  over  .Mr.  Clark  returned  to 
his  home  and  for  one  year  etigaged  in  cari)enter- 
ing.  He  afterward  spent  i>ne  year  at  work  as  a 
farm  hand  by  the  month,  and  in  i8(>8  he  began 
faruiing  on  his  own  account,  having  previously 
purchased  eightv  acres  of  land  in  I'eaver  lown- 
shi|).  He  made  other  investments  during  the 
war  and  still  owns  the  property  which  became 
the  nucleus  of  his  [ireseiit  extensive  and  valuable 
|H)ssessions.  for  he  has  addetl  to  his  original  hohl- 
ings  from  time  to  time  until  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  giwid  land 
in  I'.eaver  township.  The  im]>rovcments  on  the 
j)lacc  as  seen  in  the  well  tilled  fields  and  sul> 
stantial  buildings  were  placed  there  by  him  and 


lie  also  tiktl  his  land,  thus  adding  greatly  to  its 
l»roductiveiiess.  He  followed  general  farming 
and  stiKk-rai.sing  for  a  long  jH'riod  ami  then  at 
length    retired    from    business   cares. 

Iiefore  entering  the  army  Mr.  Clark  was  mar- 
ried, on  the  0th  of  December,  i860,  to  Miss 
Llarissa  K.  Watkins.  who  was  l)orn  in  Imliana. 
.■\ugust  1;,  1843.  and  is  a  daughter  r»f  Jonathan 
Watkins,  whose  birth  occurred  in  Montgomery, 
Indiana,  in  1820,  and  who  is  now  living  retired 
in  .SheMon,  having  taken  up  his  alMwIe  in  that 
city  in  1854.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  three 
children.  .MlK-rt  W.,  who  was  educate<l  in  Shel- 
don .ind  in  the  Chicago  Commercial  College,  is 
now  with  the  Cleveland  firain  Company,  at 
Cleveland,  ( >hio.  Charles  K.,  who  was  educated 
in  I'.loomington  and  in  Cham])aign,  Illinois,  is 
now  professor  of  architecture  in  the  State  Uni- 
versity. Mary  K..  who  was  educate<l  in  Hloom- 
ington  and  in  the  State  University  at  Champaign, 
from  which  she  was  graduated,  is  at  home  with 
her  father. 

Mr.  Clark  retired  from  the  farm  and  removed 
to  (iridley  in  I'ebruary,  1888.  He  afterward 
went  to  Donovan  as  representative  of  the  grain 
finn  of  Watkins  &  Company  for  three  years  but 
in  the  meantime  established  his  home  in  BlfM>m- 
ington,  residing  there  and  in  Champaign.  Illinois, 
for  seven  years  in  order  to  provide  his  children 
with  the  cducatif)nal  advantages  that  could  be 
enjoyed  in  those  cities.  While  living  in  liloom- 
ington  he  established  a  lumberyard  at  Sheldon. 
forming  a  partnership  in  !8<)5  with  H.  H.  l^ast- 
burn  under  the  firm  style  of  Rastburn  &  Clark. 
They  conducted  this  enterprise  for  some  time, 
after  which  .Mr.  Clark  .sol<l  out  and  permanently 
|nit  aside  business  cares,  now  living  in  honorable 
retirement.  In  1895  the  family  rfniiived  to  Shel- 
don and  now  occui>y  one  of  the  fine  homes  of  the 
city,    which   was  built   by    Mr.   Clark. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  t'lark  is  independent. 
His  first  Vote  was  cast  for  Stephen  .\.  Douglas, 
the  nominee  of  the  democratic  parly  in  i8^)0.  He 
has  held  various  local  offices,  serving  as  assessor, 
collector,  school  treasurer,  highway  commis- 
sioner and  town  clerk,  and  many  years  ago  was 
commissifiner  of  the  drainage  canal.  He  is  a  sur- 
veyor and  does  considerable  work  in  that  line. 
l"raternally  he  is  connccte<I  with  the  Cirand  Army 
of  the   Republic,  and  he  and  his  wife  and  chil- 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


dren  arc  all  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  was  empty-handed 
and  all  that  he  has  since  possessed  and  enjoyed 
has  been  acquired  through  his  own  labors.  He 
is  strictly  a  self-made  man,  deserving  of  all  the 
praise  which  that  term  implies  and  as  the  archi- 
tect of  his  own  fortunes  he  has  builded  wisely  and 
well.  Moreover,  the  accumulation  of  wealth  has 
not  been  his  sole  aim  and  purpose,  for  he  has 
recognized  his  duties  and  obligation  to  his  fel- 
lowmen.  to  his  friends  and  to  his  family,  has 
been  honorable  and  just  in  his  treatment  of  all 
with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact,  while  in  his 
home  he  has  regarded  no  personal  sacrifice  on 
his  part  as  too  great  if  it  would  promote  the 
welfare  and  happiness  of  his  wife  and  children. 


A.  L.  PEARCE. 


One  of  the  well  improved  farm  properties  of 
'Concord  township  is  in  possession  of  A.  L. 
Pearce,  an  enterprising  and  practical  agricul- 
turist. He  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Indi- 
ana, September  9,  1835,  and  is  numbered  among 
the  early  residents  of  Iroquois  county,  having 
for  almost  a  half  century  resided  within  its  bor- 
ders. His  father,  Andrew  Pearce,  was  born  in 
Kentucky  and  removed  to  Indiana  in  1826.  He 
cast  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  residents  of  War- 
ren cotmty  and  entered  from  the  government 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land.  Not  a 
furrow  had  been  turned  nor  an  improvement 
made  upon  the  place  but  with  characteristic  en- 
•ergy  he  began  its  development  and  in  course  of 
years  the  raw  tract  was  converted  into  very  pro- 
ductive fields.  He  married  Marinda  Lewis,  a  na- 
tive of  ( )hio,  ancl  they  became  the  parents  of 
eleven  children. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  A.  L.  Pearce  were 
quietly  passed  in  the  state  of  his  nativity.  He 
became  familiar  with  farm  work  in  all  of  its  de- 
partments, as  he  rendered  active  assistance  to  his 
father  in  carrying  on  the  home  place.  Having 
arrived  at  years  of  maturity,  he  was  married 
in  Warren  county,  Indiana,  in  1857,  to  Miss 
Esther  Armstrong,  who  was  there  born  in  1840. 
The  following  year  they  started  for  Illinois,  trav- 
■eling  by  wagon  to   Milford,   for   it   was  before 


the  era  of  extensive  railroad  building  and  many 
of  the  journeys  throughout  the  country  were 
made  by  wagon  or  other  private  conveyance  or 
by  stage.  On  reaching  this  county  ^Ir.  Pearce 
rented  land  and  so  continued  to  engage  in  farm- 
ing until  1865,  when  with  the  money  that  he  had 
managed  to  save  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
from  Henry  Sherl  on  section  6,  Concord  town- 
ship. Ambitious,  however,  to  have  a  much  larger 
farm,  he  added  to  the  property  as  opportunity 
offered.  In  1866  he  bought  forty  acres  more 
land,  in  1868  an  additional  tract  of  forty  acres 
and  in  1872  sixty  acres  on  section  i,  Aliddleport 
township.  In  1884  he  invested  in  another  tract 
of  forty  acres  and  still  later  bought  one  hundred 
and  forty  acres.  In  1872  he  erected  a  good 
dwelling  on  his  place  on  section  6,  Concord 
township,  and  in  1875  built  a  barn,  while  in 
1900  he  built  a  fine  new  barn,  forty-two  by  sev- 
enty-two feet.  He  has  ditched  and  tiled  the  land 
and  fenced  all  of  it  himself.  Only  fifteen  acres 
had  been  broken  when  the  farm  came  into  his 
possession,  but,  being  a  man  of  diligence  and 
resolute  spirit,  he  has  continued  the  work  of 
placing  the  farm  under  cultivation  and  has  made 
it  a  valuable  property.  He  was  actively  and 
successfully  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stock-raising  until  the  last  few  years,  when  he 
has  lived  retired,  leaving  the  active  work  of  car- 
rying on  the  farm  to  his  sons,  although  he  still 
gives  to  the  business  his  general  supervision. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearce  became  the  parents  of 
five  children,  of  whom  three  are  yet  living :  N. 
S.,  who  runs  the  home  farm ;  Rosa  Lee,  the  wife 
of  Charles  Shaw  :  and  Arthur  M.,  at  home.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  .\|iril  13,  1887,  and  her 
death  was  deeply  regretted  by  many  friends,  for 
she  was  verv  widelv  and  favorably  known  in 
this  jiart  of  the  county.  Their  son,  Newton,  who 
was  born  in  IMilford  in  1861.  has  always  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock-raising  and  has  been 
at  home  with  his  father  since  1892,  now  having 
charge  of  the  farm.  In  that  year  he  was  mar- 
ried in  Chicago  to  Miss  Etta  Piarriball,  who  was 
liorn  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  died  May  6, 

1904- 

]\Ir.  Pearce  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 

support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  democracy 

and  has  served  in  several  local  offices,  acting  as 

road  commissioner  and  for  three  terms  as  su- 


A.  L.  I'EARCE. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQL'OIS  COUXTV.  1I.I.IX(  »IS. 


8i 


pervisor  of  Concord  townsliip.  He  has  likewise 
l)een  school  dircclor  lor  tweiitv  years  and  his 
interest  in  conniuinity  affairs  is  that  »jt  a  pultlic- 
spiriled  citizen,  wlio  lias  piven  active  co-opera- 
tion to  many  ))laiis  anil  nioveinenls  for  tile  gen- 
eral g;<x)d.  He  has  been  a  nieniiier  of  the  Chris- 
tian church  since  1874  and  lias  cuntrilnited  lib- 
erally to  its  support.  His  life  has  been  honor- 
able, his  actions  manly  and  sincere  and  his  poinl 
qualities  have  won  for  him  the  favorable  regard 
mill  trust  i>f  his  fellowmeii. 


TOHX  ()\  kr.\cki:r. 


While  there  is  truth  in  the  cry  that  corru|)tioii 
«xists  in  political  circles  in  the  city,  it  is  equally 
true  that  in  the  rural  districts  an  election  to  of- 
fice is  an  expression  of  popular  approval  and 
popular  choice.  .Abraham  Lincoln  said.  "Vou 
may  fool  all  of  the  people  some  of  the  time  and 
some  of  the  people  all  of  the  time,  but  you  can't 
fool  all  of  the  people  all  of  the  time,"  and  when 
a  man  has  lonjj  been  continued  in  the  public 
service  it  is  unmistakable  ])roof  of  his  fidelity 
to  duty  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his 
fellowmen.  We  are  led  to  this  train  of  reflec- 
tion in  considering  the  fact  that  John  ( )veracker 
has  for  twenty-seven  years  served  as  collector 
of  Danforth  township,  and  has  been  elected  for 
the  twenty-eighth  year.  He  resides  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Danforth.  where  be  has  made  his  home 
for  the  past  thirty-six  years,  carrying  on  busi- 
ness as  a  contractor,  carpenter  and  builder,  so 
that  bis  laliors  have  been  a  material  elenuiit  in 
the  improvement  of  the  town  and  surrounding 
country.  .\  native  of  St.  Lawrence  county.  Xew 
York,  his  birth  occurred  .\pril  1.  1841.  his  par- 
ents being  John  W.  and  Susan  (Howes)  ( )ver- 
acker,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Ijiiiiirc 
state.  They  were  farming  ))eo|)le  ami  contiinifd 
their  residence  in  Xew  York  until  called  to  their 
final  rest,  the  father  passing  away  in  li^/t.  at 
the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  having  long  sur- 
vived his  wife,  who  died  in  1855.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  seven  children  but  with  the  exception  of 
our  subject  none  ever  came  to  the  west.  Two  (»f 
the  number  are  now  dcceasetl.  while  the  others 
reside   in   the  old   home   town    in    St.   I-awrcncc 


County,  .New  \  ork.  Having  lust  his  lirst  wiic 
the  father  wedded  Miss  ZuUer,  and  they  had 
seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  residents  of  the 
lMn])ire  state,  while  one  has  passed  away. 

John  Dveracker  was  reared  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity  and  though  in  iiis  youth  he  worked 
upnn  the  farm,  he  preferred  iither  occupation 
and  in  early  life  learneil  the  carpenter's  trade. 
He  has  since  been  identified  w  ith  building  o]>era- 
tiuns  and  one  of  the  elements  of  his  success  is 
undoubtedly  the  fact  that  he  has  continuously 
devoted  his  energies  to  that  occupation  in  which 
he  embarked  as  a  young  tradesman.  He  soon 
Ix'came  an  excellent  workman  and  his  capability 
and  his  fidelity  to  the  tenns  of  a  contract  have 
secured  him  liberal  pain  mage  and  won  him 
gratifying  success.  He  dates  his  residence  in 
Illinois  from  i8(j3.  at  which  time  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Kendall  county  with  his  bride.  He 
had  lieen  recently  married  in  the  Empire  state 
to  Miss  Jane  I'ringle.  who  was  born  in  Roxboro, 
Scotland,  in  .\ugust,  1841,  a  daughter  of  James 
and  Catherine  Pringlc,  who  came  to  .\merica  in 
May.  1S50,  settling  in  St.  I^wrence  county. 
Xew  York,  where  their  subsequent  years  were 
passed.  The  father  died  during  the  early  girl- 
hood of  Mrs.  Overacker,  and  the  mother  after- 
ward married  a  Mr.  Ireland,  and  passed  away  in 
i<^4.  at  the  very  advanced  age  of  eighty-si.x 
years.  I'y  her  first  marriage  she  liad  two  chil- 
dren, the  son  being  George  I'ringle.  a  resident 
of  Michigan.  By  the  second  marriage  there  were 
sons  and  daughters  who  are  now  living  in  the 
east.  .\s  staled,  in  the  year  of  their  marriage 
.Mr.  ami  Mrs.  ( )veracker  became  residents  of 
Kendall  county,  Illinois.  He  had  visited  the 
state  two  years  before  and  had  determined  upon 
locating  here.  He  came  from  Kendall  county  to 
lr<K|uciis  county,  settling  in  the  village  of  Dan- 
forth, where  for  thirty-six  years  he  has  made 
his  home,  being  closely  connected  with  its  build- 
ing operations  throughout  this  period.  Many 
important  contracts  have  been  awarded  him  and 
he  lias  erected  substantial  public  buildings  and 
residences  Ixuli  in  the  town  and  thningh  the 
surrounding  country. 

I'lito  Mr.  and  Mrs.  (Overacker  have  been  born 
three  sons,  who  are  yet  living,  while  four  chil- 
dren have  passed  away.  .Ml  are  natives  of  Iro- 
(|iniis   county   and   those   who   still    .survive   are: 


82 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


John  W.,  who  is  proprietor  of  an  elevator  at 
Danforth  and  resides  with  his  father ;  \\ilHam, 
who  is  in  business  with  his  father,  and  Lyman, 
who  is  connected  with  the  elevator  at  Dan- 
forth. Those  who  have  passed  away  are : 
Lester,  Hattie,  Charles  and  George,  the  last 
named  dying  in  1903,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years,  while  Lester  and  Hattie  died  at  the  age  of 
four  and  six  years  respectively,  while  Charles 
was  a  child  of  three  years  at  the  time  of  his 
demise. 

John  Overacker  is  widelv  recognized  as  one 
of  the  leaders  in  the  ranks  of  local  democracy 
and  served  for  four  years  during  President 
Cleveland's  administration  as  postmaster  of  Dan- 
forth. As  stated,  he  has  for  twenty-seven  years 
been  collector  of  Danforth  township  and  not  a 
cent  entrusted  to  his  care  has  ever  been  used  for 
other  than  its  legitimate  purposes.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  town  of  Danforth,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  board  until  1905,  during 
one  year  of  which  time  he  served  as  its  presi- 
dent. He  is  thoroughly  reliable,  his  political  in- 
tegrity being  above  question,  while  his  honesty 
in  business  life  is  also  unassailable.  Socially  he 
is  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Ash- 
kum  and  of  the  encampment  at  Onarga.  In 
his  religious  views  he  favors  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  and  his  wife,  the  Presbyterian 
church.  During  the  long  years  of  their  residence 
in  Danforth  they  have  ever  occupied  an  honor- 
able position  in  social  circles,  enjoying  the  es- 
teem and  confidence  of  all  with  whom  they  have 
been  associated  and  none  are  more  \vi:)rthy  of 
honorable  mention  in  this  volume. 


THOMAS  L.  CLIFTON. 

Thomas  L.  Clifton  is  an  agriculturist  living  on 
section  2,  Ash  Grove  township,  and  upon  this 
farm  his  birth  occurred  October  28,  i860.  His 
father,  John  Clifton,  was  born  in  Delaware  and 
when  a  lad  of  seven  years  became  a  resident  of 
Indiana,  being  reared  near  Attica,  \Varrcn  coun- 
ty, amid  the  wild  scenes  of  frontier  life.  There 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Kennard,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  reared,  however, 
in   Ohio  and   Indiana  and   engaged   in   teaching 


prior  to  her  marriage.  In  1856  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clifton  removed  westward  to  Illinois,  where  he 
purchased  raw  land,  upon  which  not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made.  He 
resolutely  took  up  the  task  of  developing  a  new 
farm,  which  in  the  course  of  years  became  very 
profitable  and  productive.  Upon  it  he  reared  his 
family  and  spent  his  last  years,  passing  away  in 
1886.  His  wife  still  survives  him  and  resides 
upon  the  old  home  place.  After  her  husband's 
death  Mrs.  Clifton  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
other  heirs  in  the  property  and  her  son,  Thomas 
L.,  has  carried  on  the  farm.  He  was  the  eldest 
of  six  children,  the  others  being :  Mary  Lou, 
the  wife  of  A.  E.  Wilson,  of  Edgerton,  Minne- 
sota ;  Sadie  E.,  a  teacher  in  the  high  school  at 
Crescent  City,  this  county ;  Emily  C,  twin  sister 
of  Sadie  E.  and  the  wife  of  John  Grunden,  of 
Oklahoma  ;  Eliza  K.,  at  home  ;  and  John  W.,  who- 
assists  in  carrying  on  the  home  farm. 

The  farm  upon  which  our  subject  was  born  re- 
mained his  playground  in  his  boyhood  and  was 
also  his  training  school  for  business  life,  for  he 
early  began  assisting  in  the  work  of  field  and 
meadow  and  soon  became  familiar  with  all  de- 
partments of  farming.  His  more  specifically  liter- 
ary education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools 
and  when  not  busy  with  his  text-books  he  aided 
his  father,  continuing  with  him  until  the  latter's 
death,  when  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  busi- 
ness. Since  taking  charge  of  the  property  Mr. 
Clifton  has  rebuilt  and  added  to  the  residence, 
which  is  now  a  neat  and  pleasant  home.  He  has 
also  put  up  a  good  barn  and  granary,  has  set  out 
fruit  and  has  drained  his  land  by  modern  proc- 
esses of  tiling.  He  has  also  built  many  rods  of 
fence  and  in  fact  has  carried  on  farm  work  along 
the  most  progressive  lines.  In  connection  with 
the  tilling  of  the  soil  he  raises  full  blooded  Jersey 
cattle  and  has  some  fine  stock  upon  his  place. 
The  farm  embraces  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
acres  of  land  and  is  an  excellent  property,  which 
from  pioneer  times  has  been  in  possession  of  the 
family. 

In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Clifton  is  a  demo- 
crat and  has  been  elected  and  served  in  several 
local  offices.  In  1906  he  was  chosen  supervisor 
bv  a  good  majority  in  a  strong  republican  town- 
ship and  against  a  prominent  re]niblican  farmer, 
and  his  election  was  certainlv  an  indication  of  his- 


iRoQL'ois  rorxTV.  iii  i\<>i< 


«3 


pcrsiinnl  pii])iilarit\'  antl  ilu-  con(i<k'ncc  uimim-iI  in 
him  by  his  fdlovvmcn.  lie  has  also  Ixcii  noniinci; 
of  his  party  for  sheriff  of  lro(|iiois  couiitv.  As  a 
member  of  the  board  of  siiiH-rvisurs  he  is  sirvinj^ 
on  the  road  and  bridge  cnniiniltce  and  also  on 
the  cnnnty  farm  committee.  Mrs.  Clifton  and  her 
daii|;hters  are  mend)ers  of  the  McthiMlist  ICpiscfi- 
pal  cluirch  and  the  family  is  well  known  in  this 
locality.  Thomas  Clifton  lias  a  wide  actpiaint- 
ance  in  Watseka  and  throujihout  the  county  where 
he  has  spent  his  entire  life,  and  he  has  a  host  of 
warm  friends.  He  is  a  man  of  ).;ood  business 
ability,  of  exemplary  habits  and  ui>ri}j^ht  charac- 
ter, is  worthy  the  trust  of  his  fellownien  and  fully 
merits  the  good  will  which  is  uniforndy  extended 
him. 


JOHN'  FROBISH. 


.Among  the  residents  of  Onarga  who  are  now 
living  retired,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest  after 
many  years  of  active,  earnest  and  honorable  toil. 
John  Frohish  is  numbered.  He  was  in  fornn'r 
years  identified  with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Iro- 
quois and  Livingston  counties.  He  is  moreover 
a  native  son  of  this  state,  having  been  born  in 
Marshall  county,  near  Lacon,  on  the  28th  of 
March,  1864.  His  father,  John  M.  Frobish, 
was  a  native  of  Gennany  and  was  reared  and 
educated  there.  Coming  to  the  new  world,  he 
located  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  and  was  mar- 
ried there  to  Elizabeth  Krunnner,  a  native  of 
Switzerland,  in  which  land  she  spent  her  girl- 
hood days  and  with  her  parents  came  to  the  new 
world,  settling  first  in  Wheeling,  West  \'irginia. 
It  was  in  the  year  i86j  that  Mr.  Frobish  cainc 
to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  aljode  in  Marshall  coun- 
ty, where  he  0|X'ned  up  a  new  farm,  upon  whicli 
he  believed  for  five  years.  It  was  during  that  pe- 
riod that  the  birth  of  our  subject  occurred.  lie 
afterward  removed  with  his  family  to  Livingston 
county,  locating  about  ten  miles  west  of  Pontiac, 
where  he  purchased  and  improved  a  large  tmct 
of  land,  adding  to  it  many  modern  equipments 
and  accessories.  There  he  died  five  years  later, 
or  in  1869.  His  wife  survived  him  and  cai)ably 
reared  the  family,  spending  her  last  days  upon 
the  old  homestead.    She  was  the  mother  of  seven 


Suns    and    three    daughters,   ui    whom    five    siin> 
and  the  daughters  are  yet  living. 

John  Froi)ish,  reared  to  manhood  in  Livingston 
County,  enjoyed  oidy  common-schi«il  advantages 
in  his  youth.  He  was  trained  to  the  active  work 
of  the  fann  and  remained  with  his  mother,  as 
did  the  other  members  of  the  family,  until  all 
were  of  age.  Mrs.  Frobish  was  a  woman  of  su- 
perior l)usincss  ability  and  iirit  only  paid  oflf  a 
large  indel)tedness  u|)on  the  farm  and  reared  her 
family,  but  was  also  enabled  to  place  good  im- 
provements upon  the  land.  Under  her  direction 
the  farm  was  tiled  and  fenced  and  she  success- 
fully managed  the  financial  interests  of  the  busi- 
ness until  success  resulted.  Wherever  known 
she  was  esteemed  for  her  ability  and  enter])rise 
and  she  had  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all. 
.Subsapient  to  attaining  his  majority  John  l-'ro- 
bish  traveled  for  the  greater  |)art  of  a  year,  go- 
ing east  to  Ohio  and  Wheeling,  West  N'irginia. 
also  to  Pittsburg  and  .Allegheny  City,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  then  returned  home  and  for  one  year 
engaged  in  operating  a  part  of  the  old  home- 
stead farm.  The  estate  was  then  divided,  after 
which  he  operated  his  own  and  his  mother's 
share  and  later  his  eldest  brother  bought  out  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  and  has  one  half  of  the 
homestead.  For  four  years  John  Frobish  carrie<I 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  there,  or  until 
the  death  of  his  mother,  after  which  the  remain- 
der of  the  estate  was  sold'  and  Mr.  Frobish  came 
to  Iroquois  county.  After  farming  for  seven 
years  he  bought  land  seven  miles  southeast  of 
Onarga  on  section  36,  Onarga  township,  thus 
becoming  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
He  located  thereon  and  at  once  Ixgan  the  further 
development  and  improvement  of  the  jilace.  He 
has  since  added  to  and  remodeled  the  residence, 
has  built  a  liarn.  cribs  and  granary  and  has  laid 
some  eighty  thousand  tile  on  the  place.  He  has 
also  fenced  the  fields  and  set  out  a  young  or- 
chard. Thus  year  after  year  the  work  of  im- 
provement was  carried  forward  along  modern 
lines  of  agricuhuml  progress.  Mr.  Frobish  re- 
mained on  the  place  for  nine  years,  on  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  he  rented  his  land  and  took 
uj)  his  alxide  in  Onarga,  purchasing  a  lot  on 
which  he  erected  a  commodious  modern  resi- 
dence, heated  with  furnace.  lighted  by  eli-ctricity 
and  supplied  with  water.    This  is  one  of  the  1h-.i 


«4 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


residences  of  the  town  and  would  be  a  credit  to 
any  city  of  much  larger  size. 

It  was  on  the  12th  of  January,  1888,  in  Living- 
ston county,  that  Mr.  Frobish  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Ida  Alice  Dutoit,  who  was  born  in 
that  county.  Four  sons  graced  this  marriage: 
\\'alter  E.,  Ralph  E.,  Charles  L.  and  Bert  E..  but 
the  second  son  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
months. 

Fraternally  -Mr.  Frobish  is  connected  with  the 
Odd  Fellows,  having  joined  the  order  in  Onarga, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  arc  identified  with  the 
Rebekah  degree.  His  political  allegiance  is 
given  to  the  republican  party  and  for  eight  years 
he  served  on  the  school  board  while  residing 
upon  the  farm.  He  has  also  been  district  clerk 
and  while  residing  in  Livingston  county  he  filled 
the  office  of  township  collector.  He  was  also  a 
delegate  to  \^rious  county  conventions  at  Pon- 
tiac  and  was  known  as  one  of  the  stalwart  advo- 
cates of  republican  principles.  In  the  manage- 
ment of  his  business  affairs  he  has  shown  keen 
discernment  and  sagacity,  being  rarely  at  fault 
in  a  matter  of  business  judgment.  The  value  of 
industry  and  close  application  he  has  fully  under- 
stood and  by  reason  of  the  exercise  of  these 
qualities  he  has  advanced  in  his  agricultural  and 
financial  undertakings  until  his  success  makes 
him  one  of  the  prosperous  retired  residents  of 
■Onarga. 


CHARLES  D.  DISOSWAY. 

Charles  D.  Disosway,  living  just  outside  the 
corporation  limits  of  Sheldon,  has  a  beautiful 
Ikiiiic.  standing  in  the  midst  of  five  acres  of 
ground.  The  house  and  all  of  the  surroundings 
and  cfjuipments  constitute  a  most  attractive  pic- 
ture in  the  landscape.  Pleasantly  situated  in  life 
Mr.  Disosway  was  fornn-rly  actively  (.n.Liaged  in 
farming  and  his  toil  and  labor  brought  to  him  the 
capital  that  now  enables  him  to  (.-ujoy  a  well 
earned    rest. 

He  was  born  in  ninwiddic-  couiitN,  \'ii-ginia. 
April  16,  1851.  and  is  a  son  of  M.  R.  lJis(jsway. 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Xew  York  city  in  1818. 
l-roin  the  nietrojiolis  he  removed  to  .\e\v  Jersey 
and  1,-iter  to  \irginia.     He  was  a  farmer  b\-  oc- 


cupation and  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  joined 
the  Confederate  army  and  advocated  the  south- 
ern cause.  In  1867  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
first  in  ^larshall  county,  where  he  lived  until 
1876.  That  year  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Iro- 
quois counts-,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land,  residing  thereon  until 
1890.  He  had  then  retired  and  removed  to  Shel- 
don, where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  in  February,  1901.  His  widow  still  sur- 
vives and  is  living  in  Sheldon,  at  the  age  of 
eightv  vears.  Thev  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  six  are  yet  living,  namely : 
Charles  D..  whose  name  introduces  this  record; 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Gantz,  a  resident  of  Wenona,  Illi- 
nois: Airs.  Willie  A.  Wright,  residing  in  N'arna, 
this  state;  Mrs.  Letitia  B.  Slife,  residing  near 
Milford,  Illinois;  Alark  Randolph,  who  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Sheldon  and  is  mentioned  on  another 
page  of  this  work;  and  Mrs.  Louisa  Turner,  a 
resident  of  Piper  City,  Illinois.  The  father  gave 
his  political  allegiance  to  the  democracy  and  his 
fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
abilitv.  called  him  to  several  local  offices.  He 
served  as  supervisor  of  Sheldon  township,  being 
the  first  democrat  elected  to  that  office  in  years, 
lie  s\as  also  a  member  of  the  school  lioard  and 
gave  loval  support  to  many  measures  and  move- 
ments for  the  general  good.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  faithful  members  of  the  Alethodist 
Episcopal  church,  living  in  harmony  with  their 
professions. 

Charles  D.  Disosway  acquired  his  education  in 
the  common  schools  of  \irginia  and  through  in- 
struction received  from  his  mother  during  the 
])eriiid  of  the  war.  He  afterward  attended  the 
common  schools  of  Marshall  county  but  is  largely 
indebted  to  his  mother  for  his  intellectual  ac- 
c|uirements.  Mrs.  Disosway  being  a  lady  of  su- 
perior culture  and  attainments.  Farm  work 
largely  occupied  his  attention  through  the  period 
of  his  boyhoinl  and  youth  and  he  worked  at  home 
while  in  .Marshall  county.  After  coming  to  Iro- 
(|uois  county  he  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
which  he  still  owns.  This  jiroved  the  nucleus 
of  his  present  extensive  jjossessions,  for  as  the 
vears  have  come  and  gone  he  has  added  continu- 
allv  to  his  pro])erty  interests  until  he  has  six  hun- 
dred and  forty-five  acres  of  fine  land  in  Sheldon 
and  C"oncord  townships.     There  is  no  richer  land 


OF  IHf 


^.  H).  3. 


'/t4^/U/ 


C 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE 


IROOrolS  COrXTY.  II.I.I.\')1: 


89 


ill  all  the  cuiintry  tliaii  in  Illinois  and  thus  his 
proptTty  is  very  valuable.  He  has  made  all  of 
the  iini>rovenients  and  erected  all  of  the  build- 
ings on  his  two  famis,  together  with  the  build- 
ings at  the  place  where  he  now  resides.  These 
stand  as  monuments  to  his  thrift,  enterprise  and 
labor,  and  his  persistency  of  purpose  and  unfal- 
tering diligence  constitute  the  secret  of  his  suc- 
cess, and  enabled  him  to  advance  from  an  humble 
position  to  one  of  affluence.  He  retired  in  1898 
and  took  up  his  abode  at  his  present  home,  a<l- 
joining  the  corporation  limits  of  Sheldon.  While 
.on  the  farm  he  raised  cattle,  hogs  and  horses  ami 
was  widely  known  as  a  successful  stockman, 
making  a  specialty  of  fine  horses. 

Mr.  Disosway  was  married  January  1,  1884,  to 
Miss  Hulda  1!.  Slife,  of  Huntington  county,  In- 
<liana,  and  they  have  three  sons.  Mark  D.  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Sheldon  high  school  and  will 
complete  the  niechanical  engineering  course  in  the 
University  of  Illinois  with  the  class  of  KpJ. 
Dan  S.  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school  of  Shel- 
■don  and  of  the  Quincy  (Illinois)  Business  Col- 
lege, and  for  one  year  was  a  student  at  the  State 
University.  Charles  Wilbur  is  now  in  his  second 
year  in  the  Sheldon  high  school. 

Mr.  Disosway  is  a  republican,  and  he  keeps 
well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the 
■day  and  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  the  principles 
in  which  he  believes.  He  was  elected  supervisor 
of  Sheldon  township  in  1902  and  served  for  one 
tcnn.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
education  since  taking  up  his  abode  in  the  city 
and  he  previously  served  on  the  school  board 
while  living  upon  his  farm.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Coinpany 
at  Sheldon,  and  in  community  affairs  is  deeply 
interested  to  the  extent  of  giving  hearty  support 
and  co-operation  to  many  movements  which  have 
direct  bearing  ujion  the  welfare  and  ujibuilding 
of  the  county.  He  and  his  wife  and  their  young- 
est sons  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  The  family  home  is  a  fine  two-story 
residence.  On  the  place  is  a  large  barn  and  he 
keeps  two  horses  for  driving  purposes.  There 
is  also  nnich  small  fruit  upon  the  place.  Their 
home  is  one  of  comfort  and  hospitality,  and  their 
friends  greatly  enjoy  the  entertainment  which  is 
furnished  them,  noth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Disosway 
have  a  large  circle  of  friends  who  esteem  them 
5 


highly  for  their  many  good  qualities.  Without 
sjiccial  advantages  at  the  outset  of  his  career  Mr. 
Disosway  has  put  ilue  valuation  upon  life's  opjxjr- 
tunitics,  has  utilized  his  advantages  to  the  best 
of  his  ability  and  is  now  enabled  to  live  retired, 
surrounded  by  many  of  the  comforts  of  life  and 
some  of  the  luxuries. 


THO.M.VS  J.  McM.MlOX. 

liusiness  records  are  largely  the  standards  by 
which  men  are  judged  today.  This  is  a  utili- 
tarian age  and  the  pmminent  man  is  he  who  suc- 
cessfully establishes  or  controls  growing  enter- 
pri.ses  which  contribute  to  general  development 
and  prosperity  in  the  community  in  which  he  lives. 
.\n  able  representative  of  the  business  life  of  Che- 
banse  is  Thomas  J.  McMahon,  assistant  cashier 
of  the  State  Uank  and  a  real-estate  dealer,  and 
in  the  control  of  his  interests  he  lias  not  only 
shown  an  aptitude  for  successful  management  but 
also  has  closely  followed  methods  which  neither 
seek  nor  require  disguise. 

His  life  record  began  in  Chebanse  township, 
October  17,  i?/Ct~.  his  parents  being  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Maloney)  McMahon.  He  pursued  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  the  village,  of 
which  he  is  a  graduate  an<l,  entering  commercial 
life,  he  was  for  three  years  employed  as  a  clerk  in 
the  general  store  of  Hickey  Brothers  of  Chebanse. 
He  afterward  went  to  Chicago,  where  for  two 
vears  he  was  a  salesman  in  the  establishment  of 
11.  R.  Eagle  &  Company,  wholesale  and  retail 
grocers,  and  on  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
returned  to  his  native  townshi]).  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  until  March.  i8(>3.  In  March. 
1893,  he  took  charge  of  the  general  store  of  Mrs. 
Porter  in  Chelwnse  and  served  as  manager  for 
ten  years.  When  that  decade  had  passe<l  he 
turned  his  attention  to  the  real-estate  and  insur- 
ance business,  in  which  line  he  has  since  l)een 
very  successful,  negotiating  annually  many  ini- 
|)ortant  realty  transfers  and  at  the  same  time 
writing  a  large  amount  of  insurance  each  year. 
In  (October,  njo6,  he  closed  the  largest  deal  in 
real  estate  ever  consummated  in  the  county — the 
sale  of  five  hundred  and  thirty-seven  acres  of  land 
in  Chebanse  township,  for  which  sixty-two  thou- 


90 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


sand  dollars  cash  was  paid.  Mis  commissions, 
because  of  the  iiuniher  and  matjnitiide  of  his  sales. 
have  been  larjje  and  gratifying-  and  he  has  made 
judicious  investment  in  property,  so  that  he  now 
owns  a  good  farm  near  Heron  Lake.  Minnesota, 
together  with  a  house  and  lot  in  Chebanse.  He 
also  holds  forty  shares  in  the  State  Bank  of  Che- 
banse, in  which  he  is  filling  the  office  of  assistant 
cashier.  He  was  the  organizer  of  this  institution, 
which  is  proving  of  great  value  in  the  business 
life  of  the  town. 

Mr.  McMahon  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  lead- 
ers in  the  local  ranks  of  democracy  and  in  1892 
he  served  as  tax  collector  in  Otto  township,  Kan- 
kakee county.  Illinois,  while  living  upon  the 
farm.  In  1902- 1903  he  was  collector  of  taxes 
in  Chebanse  township.  He  served  as  a  member 
of  the  village  council  for  six  years  and  at  the 
present  writing  is  a  member  of  the  central  com- 
mittee of  Chebanse  township.  He  keeps  thor- 
oughly informed  concerning  the  questions  and  is- 
sues which  divide  the  two  great  parties  and  is  in 
thorough  s}-mpath\-  with  those  political  ideas  and 
plans  which  constitute  the  platform  of  democracy. 

Mr.  Mc^Iahon  is  identified  with  various  frater- 
nal and  civic  societies,  belonging  to  ^Modern 
Woodmen  camp,  No.  994,  of  Chebanse,  to  St. 
Man-'s  Court,  No.  485,  of  the  Catholic  Order  of 
Foresters  at  Chebanse,  to  the  Royal  Arcanum  at 
Chicago,  to  the  Knights  of  Columbus  at  Bour- 
bonnais  Grove.  Illinois,  to  the  Illinois  Central 
Land  Agents  Association  and  to  St.  Mary's  and 
Joseph's  Catholic  church  of  Chebanse.  In  these 
different  organizations  he  has  won  warm  friend- 
ship of  nianx'  who  recognize  his  genuine  persona! 
worth  as  well  as  his  business  ability  and  his  public 
spirit. 


THOMAS  JOHN. 


The  name  of  John  has  figured  in  connection 
with  the  history  of  this  county  for  a  period 
equalled  by  few,  for  when  Indians  still  inhabited 
this  section  of  the  state,  when  the  homes  of  the 
white  settlers  were  very  widely  scattered  and  the 
work  of  developing  the  land  for  the  uses  of 
civilization  had  scarcely  begun,  Lemuel  John, 
father  of  our  subject,  took  up  his  abode  in  Mil- 
ford  township,  and  the  work  which  he  instituted 


is  now  being  carried  forward  by  Thomas  John,, 
who  is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists   of    the    county. 

Lemuel  John,  a  native  of  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
was  born  May  8,  1807.  and  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
and  Nancy  John.  His  childhood  and  youth  were 
spent  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads  of  that 
period  and  locality  and.  while  he  had  the  oppor- 
tiniitv  of  attending  the  common  schools,  his 
advantages  in  that  direction  were  somewhat  lim- 
ited, because  of  the  inferior  condition  of  the 
schools  at  that  time.  Thinking  that  it  would 
not  be  so  difficult  to  obtain  a  farm  upon  the 
frontier,  yet  realizing  fully  the  hardships  and 
difficulties  which  he  would  meet  in  a  pioneer  lo- 
cality, Lemuel  John  came  to  Iroquois  county 
when  twenty-four  years  of  age,  and  entered  a 
claim  from  the  government.  This  was  in  1831, 
and  his  land  lay  in  !Milford  township.  He  at 
once  began  to  develop  the  farm,  which  up  to  this 
time  was  entirely  destitute  of  improvements  and 
after  living  upon  the  place  for  some  years  he 
sold  out  to  Air.  \'ennum  and  removed  to  Bel- 
mont township.  In  the  latter  township,  about 
1836,  he  married  Aliss  Catherine  Williamson,  a 
native  of  Adams  county,  Ohio,  and  they  became 
the  parents  of  three  sons  and  two  daughters : 
William,  who  died  in  childhood  ;  Sarah,  the  wife 
of  George  Wilson,  of  Nebraska:  Nancy,  the  wife 
of  Robert  Clifton,  a  resident  farmer  of  Ash 
Grove  township;  Thomas;  and  Samuel,  who  is 
living  retired  in  Woodland.  As  the  years  passed 
Mr.  John  reared  his  familv  and  carried  on  the 
work  of  the  farm,  advancing  by  reason  of  his 
intense  and  well  directed  industry  from  a  humble 
financial  position  to  one  of  affluence.  In  the 
early  days  the  family  endured  all  the  hardships, 
privations  and  trials  incident  to  the  establish- 
ment of  a  home  upon  the  frontier,  and  at  the  time 
of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  they  were  forced  to 
flee  to  the  fort  in  Danville  for  protection.  The 
father  died  in  Belmont  township,  November  30, 
1847,  at  the  age  of  forty-one  years,  while  the 
mother  survived  until  the   loth  of  May.  1867. 

The  old  homestead  farm  in  Belmont  township 
was  the  birthplace  of  Thomas  John  and  his 
natal  day  was  October  29,  1841.  His  environ- 
ment in  youth  was  such  as  is  usually  met  on  the 
frontier.  When  but  a  small  boy  he  began  w^ork 
in   the  fields,   for  he   lost  his   father  when  only 


TIIu.MAS   JOIIiW 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILUNOIS 


IROgiUlS  c.  ilXTV,  11,1. 1.\i  >\ 


03 


six  years  of  age.  and  as  his  years  aiul  .^tniijiili 
increased  more  and  more  of  the  work  of  the 
farm  devolved  upon  liim  and  wlien  still  (|nite 
younp  he  assumed  its  entire  manajjemenl.  With 
the  assistance  of  his  mother  he  carried  on  tiie 
farm  and  attended  to  all  of  the  business  interests. 
He  has  never  sought  to  change  his  occupatiim 
but  has  always  carried  on  the  work  of  the  fields 
and  also  raised  stock.  He  owns  today  four 
hundred  and  forty-five  acres  of  valuable  land. 
A  commodious  and  attractive  residence  and  sub- 
stantial barns,  sheds  and  cribs  are  leading  fea- 
tures of  the  place  and  the  farm  is  one  of  the 
desirable  properties  of  Belmont  township,  with 
its  richly  cultivated  fields  and  good  grades  of 
stock. 

On  the  ^3d  of  October.  1867.  Mr.  John  was 
united  in  marriage,  in  Milford  township,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  \'.  Webster,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  J.  Webster,  who 
came  with  their  family  to  Illinnis  from  Indiana. 
Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  were  born  six  children. 
Elizabeth  \'.,  the  wife  of  Guy  Davis,  was  for 
some  time  prior  to  her  marriage  a  successful 
teacher.  She  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-one  years, 
leaving  two  children,  Lavern  and  Elizabetli. 
The  oldest  living  member  of  the  family  is  Cath- 
erine Edith,  now  the  wife  of  Isaac  Kirby.  a 
resident  fanner  of  Scotland  county,  Mis.souri. 
Lillian,  who  also  engaged  in  teaching,  is  the 
wife  of  Ed  Hawk,  a  farmer  of  Iroquois  town- 
ship. Eloise  is  the  wife  of  Louis  Benson,  a 
farmer  of  Belmont  township,  who  is  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Sarah  Maud  is  the 
wife  of  C.  .\.  Long,  a  railroad  contractor  at 
Dayton.  C)hio.  Lemuel  C.  a  graduate  of  ( )nar- 
ga  Seminary,  is  operating  the  home  farm.  The 
mother  died  March  30.  1891,  at  the  age  of  forty- 
five  years  and  Mr.  John  and  his  son  Lemuel  em- 
ploy a   housekeeper   to   take  care   of  the   home. 

With  the  exception  of  one  year  spent  in  the 
Idaho  gold-fields.  Mr.  John  has  continuously  re- 
sided in  Iro(|uuis  county,  and  the  pioneer  home  of 
the  family,  a  log  cabin  of  a  typical  character,  is 
now  in  possession  of  the  Old  Settlers'  .Association 
of  Watseka.  He  has  cleared  land  and  s])lit  rails 
for  fences.  The  old  homestead  stood  on  Sugar 
creek  and  as  was  the  custom  in  pioneer  times, 
the  cabin  was  built  near  the  water.  They  suf- 
fered  much    from    fever   and    ague   rather   than 


brave  the  wiiuers  on  the  prairies.  The  wi>rk 
of  development  and  cultivation  has  been  carried 
forward  with  the  advancing  years  according  to 
modern  ideas  of  agricultural  progress.  There 
is  today  fifteen  hundred  rods  of  tile  on  the 
place  and  the  farm  is  well  fenced  and  ecjuipiu'd 
with  the  latest  improved  machinery. 

Mr.  John  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  democ- 
racy but  votes  independently  at  local  elections. 
He  served  his  township  as  highway  commis- 
sioner for  seven  years  and  was  school  director 
and  trustee  for  over  twenty  years.  He  i.^  a 
valued  member  of  the  ( )dd  I'ellows  society,  at 
Woodland,  and  the  Masonic  lodge,  at  Watseka. 
and  is  trustee  of  the  W<Midland  Methodist  h'pis- 
copal  church.  His  life  has  been  characterized 
by  honorable  principles  and  manly  conduct,  by 
faithfulness  to  duty  in  frieiidslii])  and  by  trust- 
worthiness in  his  business.  The  family  name 
lias  ever  been  a  resjU'Cted  one  of  this  county, 
where  from  the  earliest  period  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  locality,  the  naine  has  been  known. 
The  life  record  of  Thomas  John  is  in  harmony 
with  that  of  others  of  the  name  and  as  a  repre- 
sentative citizen  we  ])resent  his  record  to  our 
readers. 


JOH.X    1).   WEBSTER. 

John  D.  Webster  is  one  of  the  active  business 
iiien  of  Woodland,  where  he  is  engaged  in  deal- 
ing in  grain,  lumber  and  coal.  He  has  thus 
been  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  town 
for  the  past  four  years  and  previously  he  was 
classed  with  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Milford 
townshiji  for  more  than  four  decades.  His  long 
residence  in  the  county  makes  him  one  of  its  old 
settlers  for  here  he  has  lived  since  1861.  .Mr. 
Webster  was  born  in  Ireland  and  came  to  the 
new  world  with  his  father  and  his  family,  settling 
first  in  (  )hio,  while  subsecpiently  they  removed 
to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  locating  near 
Crawfordsville.  In  1861  they  came  to  Ir<K|uois 
county,  Illinois,  and  the  father  purchased  a  farm 
upon  which  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  passing 
away  on  the  old  home  j)!ace  on  the  29th  of  Octo- 
ber, i<)Oi.  His  wife  had  died  some  years  he- 
fore. 


94 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


John  D.  Webster,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  but  a  younsj  lad  when  brought  to  the 
United  States,  and  in  Indiana  he  was  reared.  He 
received  only  common-school  advantages  and  re- 
mained with  his  father  until  his  death.  His  train- 
ing at  farm  labor  was  not  meager,  for  at  an  early 
age  he  began  work  in  the  fields  and  soon  became 
familiar  with  all  of  the  duties  and  laljors  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  As  the  years 
passed  by  he  took  charge  of  the  farm  and  busi- 
ness and  in  due  course  of  time  succeeded  to  the 
old  homestead,  comprising  three  hundred  and  six- 
ty acres  of  rich  land,  in  the  midst  of  which 
stands  a  good  residence  and  substantial  barns 
and  outbuildings.  He  has  tiled  the  place  and 
thus  added  to  its  productiveness,  and  fenced  the 
fields,  while  several  artesian  wells  furnish  an 
exhaustive  supply  of  flowing  water  for  the  stock. 
At  one  time  he  was  also  the  owner  of  a  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  thirty-one  acres  two  .and  a  half 
miles  west  of  Milford.  Later  he  sold  that  place 
and  in  1902  he  put  aside  the  more  active  work 
of  the  fields  and  removed  to  Woodland,  where 
he  purchased  the  elevator,  lumberyard  and  coal 
business.  He  has  been  quite  successful  as  a  mer- 
chant and  has  secured  a  liberal  patronage  here 
which  makes  his  trade  a  profitable  one. 

Air.  ^^'ebster  was  married  in  1877  to  Miss 
Ella  Williamson,  who  was  Ijom  and  reared  here 
and  died  February  13,  1884.  There  were  four 
children  by  that  union,  three  sons  and  a  daughter : 
Nellie  Grace,  a  graduate  of  the  state  normal 
school  and  now  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools 
of  Decatur,  Illinois ;  Robert  P).,  who  is  now  con- 
nected with  mining  interests  in  Arizona ;  John 
Wesley,  who  is  the  manager  of  the  grain  and 
lumber  business  for  his  father :  and  George,  who 
is  married  and  carries  on  the  home  farm.  After 
losing  his  first  wife  Mr.  Webster  was  again 
married,  when  in  Milford  townshi]5,  in  i8gi,  he 
wedded  Miss  Mary  E.  Goodyear,  who  was  also 
born  and  reared  in  Iroquois  coiuuv.  'i'here  arc 
four  children  of  this  union,  of  whom  three  are 
living:  Alice  Mabel,  Jennie  D.  and  .Mary  llelen. 
They  also  lost  one  child,  Olive  G. 

Mt.  Webster  affiliates  with  Watseka  lodge 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  is  in  thorough  svmpathy  with 
the  teachings  and  tenets  of  the  craft.  He  is  un- 
faltering in  his  advocacy  of  republican  princii)les. 
believing    that    the    ])art\-    jjlatfurm    cnntains    the 


best  elements  of  good  government.  When  on 
the  farm  he  served  as  district  clerk  for  thirty 
years  and  he  is  a  stanch  advocate  of  the  public 
schools.  He  is  highway  commissioner  in  Wood- 
land, and  has  been  re-elected.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  continuous  activity,  in  which  has  been 
accorded  due  recognition  of  labor.  He  has  been 
practical  in  all  that  he  has  undertaken,  working 
toward  results  that  are  gratifying,  and  in  his 
business  life  has  manifested  a  spirit  of  devotion 
to  wearisome  details,  without  which  success  can 
never  be  achieved. 


ED\\'ARD  ELAIING. 


Although  born  in  Sweden  in  1863.  Mr.  Elming 
was  brought  by  his  parents,  Andrew  and  Bertha 
(Anderson)  Elming.  to  the  United  States  when 
he  was  two  years  of  age,  and  with  the  exception 
of  about  a  decade  has  resided  in  Iroquois  county 
since  that  time.  Coming  to  America  in  1866,  the 
father  located  in  Beaver  township,  Iroquois 
county  and  in  1874  purchased  a  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  14.  He  developed  and  cultivated 
the  farm,  made  all  of  the  improvements  upon 
the  place  and  followed  farming  and  stock-raising 
there  throughout  his  active  business  career.  His 
family  numbered  a  dau.ghter  and  two  sons,  name- 
ly:  Airs.  Emma  Swanson :  Edward,  whose  name 
introduces  this  record ;  and  Albert,  deceased. 
The  wife  and  mother  has  also  passed  away. 

As  stated,  Mr.  Elming  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica in  1866.  being  then  but  two  years  of  age. 
He  was  here  reared  and  educated,  remaining  with 
his  parents  until  twenty-two  years  of  age,  when 
he  went  to  Kansas,  and  later  to  Chicago,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  worked  for  one  year  at  the  under- 
taking business.  He  then  engaged  in  the  gro- 
cery business,  which  he  followed  for  nine  years, 
after  which  he  came  again  to  Iroquois  county 
and  took  up  his  abode  on  the  old  homestead  farm, 
which  he  rented  and  operated  tor  three  years. 
He  then  bought  an  improved  farm  of  eighty 
acres  on  section  14.  I'.eaver  township,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  cultivation  of  his  own  land  he  leases 
a  tract  of  eighty  acres  from  his  father,  thus  culti- 
vating altogether  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and 
sixtv   acres.      In   addition    to   raising  the   cereals 


IROOUOTS  COUNTY.  II.I.IN'OIS. 


95 


bi>i  a<lapti'd  to  soil  ami  climate  In  hkismsc  cn- 
pajii-s  in  the  raisinjj  of  cattle  and  hfijjs. 

It  was  (luring  his  residence  in  Chicago  that 
Mr.  Miming  met  ami  married  Miss  Minnie  I'os- 
tcr,  a  resident  of  that  city,  their  marriage  being 
celebrated  in  iS<>5.  They  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  two  children,  both  still  under  the  ])arenlal 
roof,  these  In-ing  .\lbcrt  Foster  and  Aura  Chris- 
tine. 

Mr.  l-;iming's  siuil\-  of  the  current  lojjics  and 
events  of  the  day  has  led  him  to  give  his  sup- 
port to  the  prohibition  party.  His  religious  faith 
is  indicated  by  his  mcmbershi])  in  the  Methodist 
church,  of  which  he  is  a  trustee  and  the  secretary, 
while  in  the  Sunday-school  he  is  now  acting  as 
superintendent.  Mr.  Elming  and  his  family  are 
highly  esteemed  in  the  community  where  they  re- 
side and  are  prominent  in  church  and  social 
circles. 


D.WTD  I..  PARKER. 


David  L.  Parker,  who  I>ecame  a  resident  of 
Iroquois  county  in  1876  and  made  his  home  here 
until  his  death  in  1889,  became  clo.sely  associated 
with  agricultural  and  manufacturing  interests 
and  in  his  business  career  manifested  those  traits 
and  qualifications  which  contribute  to  general 
commercial  progress  as  well  as  to  individual  suc- 
cess. All  who  knew  him — and  his  friends  were 
many — respected  him  and  thus  his  death  was 
the  occasion  of  deep  and  widespread  regret.  Born 
in  Jcflferson.  Indiana.  December  23,  1844.  he  was 
a  son  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Adelott)  Parker, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  state, 
whence  they  removed  to  Indiana  at  an  early  day. 
The  father  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land  near 
Jcflferson,  where  he  engaged  in  general  farming 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  when  he  was  at 
the  coinparatively  early  age  of  thirty-eight  years. 
His  widow  also  died  there. 

Having  mastered  the  branches  of  learniuR 
taught  in  the  common  schtxils.  David  L.  Parker 
continued  his  education  in  the  high  school  of 
Jefferson  and  was  thus  well  qualified  for  the 
practical  and  res[)onsihle  duties  of  business  life. 
As  his  |)arents  died  when  he  was  quite  young 
he  was  reared  by  his  uncle.  David  Parker,  upon 
a  farm  near  Linden.  Indiana,  and  from  him  re- 


C'  \  hill)    wen- 

"'i  c<l  with  his 

uncle  until  after  the  inauguration  of  hostilities 
iK'tween  the  north  and  the  south  am'  !k- 

latter  part  of  the  war,  when  alioul  ci};i .ira 

of  age,  Davi<l  L.  Parker,  of  this  review,  enlisted 
in  the  <  hie  Hundred  .ind  Thirty-fifth  Indiana 
Regiment,  with  which  he  serveil  for  a  short  time. 
His  cominny  was  in  no  engagcnH*nts  but  while 
they  were  in  the  south  Mr.  Parker  was  taken 
fll  and  did  not  recover  his  health  until  after  his 
return  liome.  He  was  honorably  discliargcd  at 
Indiaiia])oIis,  Indiana,  in  1865. 

l-ollowing  the  close  of  hostilities  he  located  iti 
Lafayette,  Indiana,  where  he  began  the  manu- 
facture of  brooms  and  while  residing  there  he  was 
married.  He  wedded  Miss  Eva  Tunkey.  a  na- 
tive of  that  state  and  a  daughter  of  William  an<l 
Angeline  (Gould)  Tunkey.  the  former  a  native 
of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  the  state  of  New 
York.  Mr.  Tunkey  removed  to  I^fayctte,  In- 
diana, at  an  early  day  and  there  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  for  many  years  or  until  his 
death,  while  Mrs.  Tunkey  died  at  the  home  of 
her  son.  at  Ash  Grove,  Illinois. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  ami  .Mrs.  I'arker 
resided  in  I-afayettc  for  three  years  and  in  1876 
removed  to  Irrxpiois  cojmty.  He  iK-gan  f.inning 
on  what  is  known  as  the  old  James  farm,  east 
of  W'atseka.  where  he  resided  for  two  years,  and 
then  took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  near  Crescent 
City  in  this  county,  where  he  continued  in  active 
agricultural  pursuits  for  a  few  years,  but  failing 
health  caused  him  to  abandon  that  liiK  of  work 
and  he  removed  to  W'atseka.  locating  in  the  west- 
ern |>art  of  the  town,  where  he  again  engaged 
in  the  maimfacture  of  brooms.  He  employed 
several  men  and  diti  an  extensive  business  in  that 
line,  continuing  in  the  trade  throughout  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life. 

I'nto  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Parker  were  Ixirn  five 
children:  Harry  C,  who  married  .Myrtle  Davis 
and  resi<k's  in  W'atseka..  is  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  the  town,  being  the  senior  part- 
ner in  the  retail  slux"  store  of  Parker  &  .\sh.  1  Ic 
is  alsMJ  engaged  in  the  n-al-estate  and  insurance 
business.  Charles  H..  who  married  Miss  Helen 
I  lenning.  is  manager  for  the  Bell  Telephone  Com- 
pany, at  W'atseka.  Laura  L..  who  <lied  at  the 
age  of  twenty-two  years,   was  the   wife  of   Dr. 


96 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Fred  E.  Corless,  a  dentist  of  Chicago.  Fred, 
who  resides  with  his  mother,  is  a  rural  mail  car- 
rier. Robert,  also  at  home,  is  connected  with 
the  telephone  business  in  Watseka.  The  first 
death  in  the  family  was  that  of  the  husband  and 
father,  who  passed  away  June  16.  1889,  and  he 
was  laid  to  rest  by  the  Grand  Army  Post  of  Wat- 
seka, of  which  he  was  a  valued  member.  He 
was  always  very  much  interested  in  political 
questions  and  gave  stalwart  allegiance  to  the 
republican  party.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  For  ten 
years  Mr.  Parker  was  in  ill  health  but  he  con- 
tinued in  business  to  the  last,  and  the  persever- 
ance, energy  and  enterprise  which  he  displayed 
in  his  business  affairs  won  him  the  admiration 
and  respect  of  all.  In  his  death  the  community 
lost  a  good  citizen,  his  associates  a  faithful  friend 
and  his  family  a  devoted  husband  and  father, 
who  always  reserved  the  best  traits  of  his  char- 
acter for  his  own  fireside.  Mrs.  Parker  now 
owns  a  nice  residence  at  502  North  Third  street, 
where  she  and  her  two  sons  reside. 


DAVID  BRUiMBACK. 

David  Brumback,  supervisor  of  Danforth 
township,  is  serving  for  the  twenty-fourth  year 
in  that  office  and  is  the  present  chairman  of  the 
board  of  Iroquois  county.  No  higher  testi- 
monial of  his  capability  and  trustworthiness 
could  be  given  than  the  fact  that  he  has  been 
so  long  continued  in  this  office,  and  the  county 
numbers  him  among  its  leading  and  valued  resi- 
dents. He  makes  his  home  on  section  20,  Dan- 
forth townsliip,  where  he  owns  a  half  section  of 
valuable  land  and  elsewhere  in  the  county  he  has 
fine  farms,  liis  ])osscssions  aggregating  over  six 
Inuidred  acres  of  land.  He  is  still  interested  in 
the  care  of  .grass  lands  but  leases  some  of  his  till- 
able land  and  from  this  he  derives  a  gratifying 
income. 

Mr.  Brumback  is  one  of  the  native  sons  of 
Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Sangamon 
county,  August  31,  1832.  His  parents  were 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Pitzer)  Brumback,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from   Newark,   Licking  countv. 


Ohio,  and  settled  in  Ottawa,  La  Salle  county,  irt 
1829.  The  father  was  born  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley,  ^'irginia,  and  removing  to  Ohio  at  an 
early  date,  made  his  home  in  Licking  county, 
where  he  was  married.  The  journey  westward 
to  Illinois  was  made  with  an  o.k  train  with  a 
party  of  twenty-nine  pioneer  families,  only  one 
of  whom  is  now  living, — Jesse  Green,  of  Ottawa. 
They  drove  through  Iroquois  county  and  took 
up  their  abode  in  La  Salle  county.  During  the 
Indian  troubles  Henry  Brumback,  like  many 
other  settlers,  took  his  family  to  Sangamon  coun- 
ty because  of  the  more  numerous  population  there 
that  offered  better  protection  against  the  red  man 
and  there  it  was  that  David  Brumback  first 
opened  his  eyes  to  the  light  of  day.  When  the 
danger  from  the  Indian  outbreak  was  over  his 
parents  returned  to  La  Salle  county  and  lived 
about  nine  miles  east  of  Ottawa  until  they  were 
called  to  their  final  home.  The  old  homestead 
is  now  in  possession  of  two  of  the  brothers  of  our 
subject,  .^s  soon  as  the  land  came  into  market 
the  father  secured  claims,  paying  a  dollar  and 
a  quarter  per  acre  for  his  homestead,  and  as  the 
y'ears  passed  he  converted  the  property  into 
richly  productive  fields  and  assisted  materially 
in  the  substantial  development  and  improvement 
of  the  locality  in  which  he  made  his  home.  His 
death  ocurred  June  24,  1885,  when  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  eighty-three  years,  three 
months  and  thirteen  days,  for  he  was  born  on  the 
nth  of  March.  1802.  His  wife,  whose  birth  oc- 
curred in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  August  11.  1805. 
passed  away  September  19,  1869. 

They  were  the  parents  of  nine  cliiUlren,  of 
whom  the  eldest  two  died  in  infancy,  while 
Richard,  who  was  born  in  1827,  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  years.  The  eldest  daughter, 
Elizabeth,  whose  natal  day  was  February  13, 
1829,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Rutland 
township.  La  Salle  county,  Illinois.  She  was 
married  in  that  county,  January  22,  1855,  to 
Franklin  Bruner,  and  pas.sed  away  October  10, 
1896.  David  Brumback  is  the  next  of  the  fam- 
ily. Jacob,  born  December  28,  1837,  in  La  .Salle 
county,  died  there  January  3,  1877.  Elton,  born 
November  26,  1844.  '^  living  retired  at  Mar- 
seilles. LaSalle  county.  Tie  was  married  Jan- 
uary 3,  1867,  to  Cordelia  Cate.  Theodore,  born 
July  22,  1846,  resides  with  his  sister,  .\lmira,  on 


^^^^X^r:^  ( 


OF  THE 

UMivEftsiry  OF  laiNois 


IROQL'ot^  rnr-XTV.  II  F  IV'-IS 


W 


the  old  homestead.  She  was  born  July  S.  ii<4\), 
and  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 

David  Urumhack  was  reared  in  La  Salle  coun- 
tv  amid  pioneer  surroundings  anil  enviroinncnts 
and  his  memory  compasses  a  period  in  the  early 
development  in  this  portion  of  Illinois.  His  pre- 
liminary e<lucation  was  acquired  in  the  public 
schools  and  he  afterward  spent  one  year  as  a 
student  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  In  his  youth 
lie  was  trained  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  assist- 
ing in  the  task  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvest- 
ing, and  after  reaching  nian"s  estate  he  carried 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  in  La  Salle  coun- 
ty until  his  removal  to  IrcKjuois  county.  For 
the  past  thirty-nine  years  he  has  resided  at  his 
present  home,  which  is  a  finely  improved  prop- 
erty, situated  on  section  20.  Danfortli  township. 
He  owns  the  south  half  o{  this  section,  and  a 
glance  at  the  place  indicates  his  careful  supervi- 
sion and  practical  methods,  for  it  is  neat  and 
thrifty  in  appearance,  and  gives  every  evidence 
of  progressive  management.  He  also  owns  other 
farms  in  Douglas  and  Danforth  townshijis,  his 
holdings  embracing  altogether  six  hundred  acres 
of  rich  and  valuable  land  of  Iroquois  county. 

On  the  2d  of  .March,  1858,  in  La  Salle  county, 
was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  David  Hrumback 
and  Miss  Helen  G.  Barnes,  who  was  born  in 
Westmoreland,  Oneida  county.  New  York,  March 
12,  1841,  a  daughter  of  Hider  V.  and  Lucia  M. 
(Goodwin)  Barnes.  The  father  was  born  in 
Lanesboro,  Massachusetts,  and  the  mother's  birth 
occurred  near  Hartford,  Xew  York.  They  came 
west  in  1856,  arriving  in  Illinois  on  the  20th 
of  March,  at  which  time  they  took  up  their  abode 
in  La  Salle  county  and  later  si)ent  the  evening  of 
their  days  in  Iroquois  county,  making  their  home 
with  our  subject.  The  father  died  July  18,  1881, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years,  five  months 
and  two  days,  and  the  mother's  death  occurred 
February  20,  1888.  when  she  was  seventy-two 
years  of  age.  Mrs.  Brumback  was  their  only 
child,  and  by  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  .\llcn,  the  eldest, 
born  .April  25,  18^)3,  is  now  residing  in  Califor- 
nia. Lucia  R.,  born  November  17,  1867,  is  the 
wife  of  C.  E.  Bogardus.  and  lives  in  Seattle, 
Washington.  Their  children  are  .Mmon  E..  born 
September  28,  i8<^5;  Wallace  D.,  born  Deccmlx'r 
21,  1896:  and  Helen  E..  January   17,   i8<>«>.      \1- 


mun    Brumback,    the    youngest    member   of    the 
family.  l)orn  May  8,   1874,  is  at  home. 

Mr.  Brumback  is  an  active  factor  in  comimi- 
nity  affairs  and  interests.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Iro«|Uois  I-'armcrs  .\gricultural 
Institute  and  its  president  for  a  great  many  years. 
He  is  president  of  tiie  Farmers  Mutual  I''ire  and 
Lightning  Insurance  Company  at  Buckley,  Illi- 
nois, which  in  its  operations  covers  nine  town- 
ships and  has  over  two  and  a  half  millions  of 
insurance  in  force.  The  success  of  this  comjjany 
is  largely  attributable  to  the  efforts  of  careful 
planning  and  business  management  of  Mr.  Brum- 
back, who  in  his  farming  operations  also  has  dis- 
played keen  discernment  and  unllagging  enter- 
prise— qualities  which  always  constitute  a  firm 
foundation  upon  which  to  build  the  superstruct- 
ure of  success.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat  with 
somewhat  independent  tendencies,  usually  voting 
for  the  men  and  measures  of  the  party  yet  not 
considering  himself  Ixjund  by  jiarty  tics.  He  has 
served  in  various  local  offices  of  the  township 
and  county  and  n<i  resident  of  this  part  of  the 
state  has  so  long  been  a  member  of  the  county 
board  as  has  Mr.  Brumback,  who  is  now  serving 
for  the  twenty-four  year.  In  his  official  capacity 
he  discharges  his  duties  with  i)roniptncss  and 
fidelity  and  with  a  public  spirit  which  indicates 
his  devotion  to  the  general  g<x)d.  In  political 
thought  and  action  he  has  always  Ix'cn  inde- 
pendent, carrying  out  his  honest  views  without 
fear  or  favor.  In  business  he  has  achieved  suc- 
cess through  honorable  effort,  untiring  industry 
and  capable  management,  and  in  private  life  he 
has  gained  that  warm  [K'rsonal  regard  which 
arises  from  true  nobility  of  character,  deference 
for  the  opinions  of  others,  kindness  and  geniality. 


ALMET  POWELL 


.Almet  Powell,  who  has  l)een  a  resident  of  Gil- 
man,  Iroquois  county,  since  1871,  has  had  marked 
effect  in  shaping  the  public  policy  and  in  promot- 
ing general  prosperity,  the  former  through  his 
service  in  jxilitical  circles  and  as  a  member  of 
the  state  legislature,  the  latter  as  a  business 
man  of  broad  activities  and  keen  discernment 
who  has  prf>moted  and  conducted  several  enter- 


lOO 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


prises.  Close  application  and  thoroughness  are 
strong  characteristics  of  his  in  every  department 
of  life  and  have  been  essential  elements  in  his 
advancement. 

^It.  Powell  was  born  in  Alljany  connty.  Xew 
York.  March  20.  1846.  and  was  bronght  to  Illi- 
nois when  nine  years  of  age  by  his  parents,  who 
settled  in  Peoria  county.  His  father.  Leander 
Powell,  was  engaged  in  merchandising  for  a 
number  of  years  in  that  coi.nity  and  eventuall_\' 
came  to  Iroquois  county  early  in  1871.  Here 
they  engaged  in  business  under  the  firm  name 
of  L.  &  A.  Powell,  general  merchants,  which 
connection  was  continued  for  several  years  in 
the  conduct  of  an  enterprise  that  proved  very 
successful.  After  the  withdrawal  of  the  father 
the  firm  became  Almet  Powell  &  Company,  with 
H.  C.  Mosher  as  a  partner,  and  in  1896  Mr. 
Mosher  retired  from  the  business  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  B.  B.  Powell,  a  son  of  our  subject. 
The  general  mercantile  store  in  Cilman  is  still 
conducted  under  the  firm  style  of  Almet  Powell 
&  Company,  while  a  second  commercial  interest 
is  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Oilman  Im- 
plement &  Transfer  Company,  incorporated.  Of 
this  A.  Powell  is  president,  B.  B.  Powell,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  and  John  H.  Gleason,  mana- 
ger. The  Almet  Powell  Bank  is  a  private  insti- 
tution, managed  largely  by  the  subject  of  this 
review.  The  bank  was  organized  in  1898  and 
the  implement  business  was  founded  in  1904. 
These  varied  interests  which  claim  the  time  and 
attention  of  Mr.  Powell  are  now  very  important 
elements  in  the  commercial  life  and  prosperity 
of  Oilman  and  no  one  has  been  more  closely  asso- 
ciated with  the  business  development  here  in  the 
past  third  of  a  century. 

It  is  but  natural  that  a  man  of  strong  mind 
and  broad  outlook  like  Mr.  Powell  should  1)e 
deei)ly  interested  in  those  questions  which  are 
guided  by  pulilic  legislation  and  which  have  such 
direct  and  important  bearing  upon  the  welfare 
and  prosperity  of  connty.  state  and  nation.  Mr. 
Powell  has  ever  kept  thoroughly  informed  con- 
cerning llie  issues  and  (|uestions  which  have  di- 
vided the  country  into  great  ]iolitical  organiza- 
tions and  has  never  faltered  in  his  allegiance  to 
republican  ]n-inci])les.  He  has  been  called  to  vari- 
ous positions  of  honor  and  trust,  having  been  a 
mem])er  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Illinois 


Eastern  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at  Kankakee, 
appointed  by  Governor  Tanner,  and  re-appointed 
by  Oovernor  Yates,  and  during  the  latter  part 
of  Oovernor  Yates'  administration  he  was  made 
])resident  of  the  board.  He  also  held  the  office 
for  a  vear  under  Governor  Deneen,  so  that  his 
incumbency  in  the  position  covered  seven  years. 
He  was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the 
fortieth  general  assembly  of  Illinois,  where  he 
served  on  a  number  of  important  committees  and 
took  an  active  interest  in  legislative  matters  dur- 
ing the  session. 

Mr.  Powell  married  Miss  Cordele  Borthwick, 
of  Albany.  Xew  York,  and  they  have  one  son, 
B.  P).  Powell,  who  is  now  closely  associated  with 
his  father  in  business.  In  his  fraternal  relations 
Mr.  Powell  is  an  exemplary  Mason  and  has  at- 
tained the  thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish 
rite.  He  is  now  a  member  of  Oilman  lodge.  X'o. 
591,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. :  Oilman  chapter,  X'o.  217, 
R.  A.  M. :  Ivanhoe  commandery,  K.  T..  of  Kan- 
kakee :  Oriental  consistory,  of  Chicago :  and  the 
Medinah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Chi- 
cago. He  has  thus  taken  the  degrees  of  York 
and  Scottish  rite  of  Masonry  save  for  the  thirty- 
third  or  last  degree  and  is  well  known  in  the  craft 
in  this  state.  He  comes  of  a  family  of  William 
Penn  Quakers  but  in  his  religious  views  is  lib- 
eral. He  is  not  in  anv  sense  an  office  seeking 
man  in  public  life  yet  he  has  nevertheless  exerted 
immeasurable  influence  in  the  city  of  his  resi- 
dence;  in  business  life  as  a  financier  and  promot- 
er of  extensive  commercial  enterprises ;  in  social 
circles  by  reason  of  a  charming  personality  and 
unfeigned  cordiality  :  in  politics  by  reason  of  his 
])ublic  s])irit  and  devotion  to  the  general  good 
as  well  as  his  comprehensive  understanding  of 
many  of  the  ([uestions  affecting  state  and  national 
welfare. 


WTl.T.IAM  XATIOX. 


\\'illiam  Xation.  who  for  many  years  figured 
as  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  successful 
business  men  of  Chebanse.  and  in  whose  death 
the  comnuniity  lost  a  valued  citizen,  was  born 
in  F.xeter,  Devonshire.  England.  June  j8.  1831, 
but  when  he  was  only  about  a  year  old  his  par- 
ents brought  their  familv  to  the  new  world  and 


^^B#^^  ^H 

H         ^^H 

W  II.LIAM  NATION. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNlVERSiry  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRugUUlS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


103 


settled  ill  Xcw  Vnrk.  Later  »1kv  removed  to 
Lajiorte.  Indiana,  and  lie  remained  un<ler  the 
jjarental  roof  until  about  1835.  when  at  the  a^e 
of  twenty-four  years  he  came  to  Chebanse  and 
l)re-em])ted  the  southeast  ([uarter  of  section  ly. 
Chebanse  townshi]).  l-'rom  that  time  he  owned 
real  estate  in  Iro(|nois  county,  and  much  of  ins 
fortune  was  made  throng^h  judicious  and  careful 
investment  in  property,  l-'or  thirty  years  he  was 
eiijiaj;ed  in  tlie  real-estate  business  in  Chebanse 
and  negotiated  many  imporlant  real-estate  trans- 
fers for  others,  at  the  same  time  improvinij  his 
opportunity  to  make  purchases  for  himself  tiiat 
promised  to  prove  profitable.  The  ra])id  settle- 
ment of  the  county  and  the  improvement  made 
upon  his  land  caused  the  substantial  ap])recia- 
tion  of  the  value  of  his  property  and  made  him 
one  of  the  most  prosperous  landowners  of  the 
county.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  residence 
here,  however,  he  was  actively  engaged  in  fann- 
ing and  converted  wild  land  in  productive  fields. 
He  continued  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  until 
1869,  when  he  put  aside  the  active  work  of  the 
farm  and  removed  to  Chebanse,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death,  save  for  the  vear  1897.  which 
he  spent  in  California  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health. 

Mr.  Nation  was  married  .March  16.  1865,  to 
Miss  .\nna  M.  Eason.  a  daughter  of  J.  D.  and 
Rliza  ( Carr  I  Lason  and  a  native  of  Williams- 
port,  Cumberland  county.  Pennsylvania.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nation  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Mrs.  G.  E.  Mc.Vfee.  who  is 
locatetl  at  Freei)ort.  Illinois,  her  husband  being 
an  official  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad:  W. 
( >..  a  farmer  of  Chebanse  towiishij):  Mrs.  J.  L. 
Morrison,  whose  husbanil  is  engaged  in  the  coal 
and  oil  business  at  Doddsville.  Wisconsin,  where 
they  reside:  J-  Leroy.  a  resident  of  Loveland. 
Colorado :  Ethel,  who  is  now  attending  the  Slate 
University  at  Champaign,  Illinois,  and  will  com- 
plete the  course  in  H)o8:  and  Eloise,  at  home 
with  her  mother. 

Mr.  Nation,  when  in  health,  regularly  attended 
the  services  of  the  Congregational  church  and 
was  always  a  contributor  to  the  support  of  the 
various  churches  in  Chebanse,  although  not  a 
member.  He  was  a  stalwart  adv<Kate  of  the 
republican  party  for  many  years  and  afterward 
was  equally   loyal  to  the  prohibition   party,   for 


he  was  a  strong  temperance  man  and  did  all 
in  his  power  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  the 
li(|uor  traffic.  He  p<jssessed  excellent  business 
(|ualifications,  keen  foresight,  indomitable  ener- 
gy and  executive  force,  and  the  success  of  his 
life  was  attributed  to  his  own  efforts,  nor  was  his 
pathway  strewn  with  the  wrecks  of  other  men's 
fortunes.  He  died  March  7.  icpi,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  years  and  ten  months,  at  his  home  at 
Chebanse,  and  the  community  and  his  family 
mourned  the  loss  of  a  progressive  citizen,  a 
capable  business  man  and  a  devoted  husband 
and  father.  ^Irs.  Nation  still  makes  her  home 
in  Chebanse,  where  she  has  gained  many  warm 
friends  during  the  long  years  of  her  residence 
here. 


THOM.AS  TEMPLE. 


Thomas  Temple  is  living  a  retired  life  in  Buck- 
ley, but  for  a  half  century  was  an  active  repre- 
sentative of  business  interests  as  a  contractor  and 
builder  of  Iroquois  and  Ford  counties.  Since 
1867  he  has  occupied  the  home  which  is  now  his 
])!ace  of  residence  and  therefore  he  is  well  known 
in  r»uckley  and  throughout  this  iX)rtion  of  the 
state.  His  natal  day  is  .\pril  2.  1830,  and  the 
|)laco  of  his  birth  Chester  county.  Pennsylvania. 
His  father.  Richard  Temple,  was  also  a  native 
of  that  county  and  a  son  of  Thomas  Temple,  who 
was  likewise  born  in  that  locality  and  who  served 
as  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Tem- 
ple family  is  of  Ivnglish  lineage  and  was  founded 
in  America  during  the  earliest  epoch  in  the  colo- 
nization of  the  new  world.  William  Temple,  the 
first  of  the  name  in  this  country,  braved  the  dan- 
gers incident  to  an  ocean  voyage  at  that  period 
and  became  a  resident  of  Massachusetts.  Later 
members  of  the  family  were  pioneer  nsidcnls  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Richard  Temi)le.  father  of  our  subject,  was 
reared  in  the  Keystone  state  and  was  married 
there  to  Miss  Mary  Hart,  who  was  Ix)rn  in  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  daughter  of 
Barney  Hart.  He,  too,  was  one  of  the  heroes  of 
the  war  for  independence  and  two  of  his  sons 
likewise  served  as  members  of  the  .\merican  army 
ill  the  Revolution.  Richard  Temple  was  a  farm- 
er by  occupation  and  followed  that  pursuit  in  his 


I04 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


native  county  until  1844.  when,  at  the  age  of  thir- 
t}'-six  years,  his  life's  labors  were  ended.  His 
wife  survived  him  for  about  half  a  century  and 
reared  their  family.  Three  sons  yet  survive : 
John,  who  resides  in  Chester  county.  Pennsyl- 
vania; Thomas,  of  this  review  :  and  Richard,  who 
is  also  living  in  Chester  county. 

Thomas  Temple  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his 
nativity.  He  is  practically  a  self-educated  as 
well  as  self-made  man,  for  in  his  youth  he  had 
few  advantages,  owing  to  his  father's  early  death 
and  the  limited  financial  circumstances  in  which 
the  family  were  left.  When  nineteen  years  of 
age  he  began  learning  the  trade  of  a  carpenter 
and  joiner,  serving  a  four  years'  apprenticeship. 
He  then  followed  the  trade  in  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia for  sixteen  years  and  throughout  his  en- 
tire business  life  he  carried  on  building  operations. 
Undoubtedly  one  of  the  strong  elements  in  his 
success  is  the  persistency  of  purpose  which  he 
displayed  in  following  that  pursuit  in  which  he 
embarked  as  a  young  tradesman.  He  thereby 
gained  a  mastery  and  efficiency  in  business  that 
secured  him  a  liberal  patronage. 

While  still  living  in  Philadelphia  Air.  Temple 
was  married  on  the  2d  of  July,  1856,  to  Miss 
Anna  Elizabeth  West,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  that  city  and  was  a  daughter  of  Richard  West, 
a  native  of  England.  In  1867  Mr.  Temple  re- 
moved with  his  family  from  Philadelphia  to  Iro- 
quois county,  Illinois,  settling  at  Buckley,  where 
he  purchased  ten  acres  of  land.  He  built  a  house 
there,  where  he  now  resides,  upon  what  was 
then  the  open  prairie.  The  town  contained  but 
two  .small  stores  and  a  few  residences.  Mr.  Tem- 
ple began  his  building  operations  here  and  as  a 
contractor  did  an  extensive  business  in  Trcxinois 
and  Ford  counties  for  thirty  years.  In  many 
localities  are  seen  evidences  of  his  skill  and  handi- 
work and  he  gained  an  excellent  reputation  in 
building  circles  by  reason  of  his  fidelity  to  the 
terms  of  a  contract  and  the  excellent  work  that 
was  done  under  his  direction.  At  length  he  de- 
termined to  retire  to  private  life,  and  all  ac- 
knowledge that  his  rest  has  been  well  won. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Temple  were  the  ])arcnts  of 
seven  children,  of  wliom  three  sons  arc  living: 
Edwin  F.,  who  is  married  and  lives  on  a  farm  at 
Longview,  Texas;  Frank,  a  carpenter,  who  is 
married  and  resides  in  P.ucklev.  where  he  is  now- 


engaged  in  the  'conduct  of  a  lumber  business  ;. 
and  Rev.  X.  M.  Temple,  a  minister  of  the  IMeth- 
odist  Episcopal  church,  now  acting  as  pastor  at 
South  Bend,  Pacific  county,  Washington.  They 
also  lost  four  children,  of  whom  Thomas  died  in 
Philadelphia  in  infancy.  Professor  Richard  Tem- 
ple was  a  graduate  of  the  Xorthwestern  Uni- 
versitv  at  Evanston,  Illinois,  and  became  a  teach- 
er in  ancient  languages,  holding  that  chair  in 
Fayette,  Iowa,  and  later  at  Grand  Junction,  Colo- 
rado, where  he  died  in  1886,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
nine  years,  ^^'illiam  was  a  lawyer  by  profession- 
and  engaged  in  practice  at  San  Antonio,  Texas. 
Anna  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years. 

Politically  Mr,  Temple  is  a  republican  with 
strong  prohibition  principles,  giving  earnest  sup- 
port to  the  cause  of  temperance,  although  he  does 
not  believe  its  adoption  can  be  secured  through 
political  measures.  He  and  his  wife  are  devoted 
members  of  the  Methodist  church,  with  which 
they  have  both  been  identified  for  more  than  a 
half  century.  Mr.  Temple  is  a  ^Master  Mason, 
having  become  one  of  the  charter  members  of 
Buckley  lodge,  X^o.  634.  He  and  his  wife  cele- 
brated their  golden  wedding  July  2,  1906.  when 
most  of  their  children  and  grandchildren  gath- 
ered at  their  home,  together  with  numerous 
friends.  Many  substantial  and  beautiful  tokens 
of  esteem  were  given  and  congratulations  and 
good  wishes  were  extended  to  them  by  many 
friends  who  could  not  be  present  on  that  occasion 
but  who  sent  the  message  in  writing.  For  nearly 
fortv  vears  this  worthy  couple  have  been  resi- 
dents of  Iroquois  county  and  they  are  most  wide- 
ly and  favorably  known.  His  life  has  been  one 
of  great  activity  and  usefulness  and  through  his 
diligence  and  labor  he  has  done  much  to  develop 
and  inijirove  the  county.  His  life  has  been  exem- 
plary in  many  resjoects,  being  guided  by  high 
])rincii)Ies  and  exevniilifying  honorable  purposes. 


AUGUST  ^kfUEHLEXPFORDT,  M.  D. 

Dr.  August  Muehlenpfordt.  engaged  in  the 
])ractice  of  medicine  and  surgery  and  in  the  con- 
duct of  a  drug  business  at  .Xshkum,  has  been 
activeh'  connected  with  the  citv  in  these  lines  of 
business  for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  busi- 


IR(')OUOIS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


'05 


ness  man  of  the  vil!at;c.  He  was  burn  at  Kairde, 
(icrnianv.  Soptcntbtr  i<>.  iSv),  a  son  of  Auiiusl 
and  Minnie  .\L  Muehlcnptordt.  LilK-ral  oliica- 
tional  privilt'Kfs  were  afforded  him,  for  after  ac- 
qiiirinj,'  his  early  eihicalion  in  the  common  schools 
he  attendeil  Georjjia  Augerstine  University  at 
Hanover,  of  which  he  is  a  graduate.  He  came 
to  the  I'nited  States  in  i8<>7  when  about  twenty- 
eijiht  vears  of  ape,  and  located  at  reolone,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  entered  upon  the  practice  of  med- 
icine. The  followini;  year  he  removed  to  .\sh- 
kum  and  established  a  dru},'  store,  which  he  has 
since  conducted  in  connection  with  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surij;ery.  He  is  the  oldest  busi- 
ness man  in  years  of  consecutive  connection  in 
Ashkum  and  from  the  beginning  of  his  residence 
here  has  occupied  a  foremost  position  in  profes- 
sional and  commercial  circles.  He  has  a  well  ap- 
pointed store,  carries  a  carefully  selected  stock 
and  in  his  professional  life  he  has  kept  abreast 
with  progressive  thought  and  invention  whereby 
the  efficiency  of  the  medical  fraternity  has  been 
so  greatly  increa.sed  in  the  ])asl  third  of  a  century. 
Dr.  Muehlenpfordt  was  married  in  Monee, 
Illinois,  in  1868,  to  Miss  Henrietta  Kruse,  a  na- 
tive of  Oldenburg,  Germany,  and  their  family 
numbered  six  children:  .\ugust  H..  who  is  pro- 
prietor of  a  furniture  and  undertaking  estab- 
lishment in  .\shkum :  Emma,  the  wife  of  Henry 
Morrell.  of  the  firm  of  Morrell  &  Company,  gen- 
eral merchants  of  .\shkum  and  of  Clifton.  Illi- 
nois; Adele,  who  is  a  graduate  of  Grand  Prairie 
Seminary  at  Onarga  and  is  now  a  music  teacher 
living  at  home ;  I'rieda.  the  wife  of  I'raiik  .Meents. 
cashier  in  the  bank  of  M.  R.  Meents  &  Sons  at 
Clifton;  Johanna,  deceased:  anil  Carl,  who  oc- 
cupies a  clerical  position  in  a  bank  which  has  a 
capital  of  three  million  dollars,  at  Mitchell,  South 
Dakota. 

Since  becoming  a  naturalized  .\merican  citizen 
Dr.  Muehlen|)fordt  has  given  unfaltering  al- 
legiance to  the  democracy,  believing  that  its  plat- 
form contains  the  best  elements  of  good  govern- 
ment. He  served  as  postmaster  of  .Vsiikum 
under  President  Cleveland's  second  administra- 
tion but  on  account  of  the  stress  of  business  and 
professional  duties  he  turned  the  management  of 
the  postoffice  over  to  his  daughters,  who  ])roved 
to  be  very  efficient  assistants,  discharging  the 
<luties  of  the  office  in  such  a  painstaking  way  as 


to  give  perfect  satisfaction  to  the  public.  1  >r. 
.Miielilenpfordt  has  also  served  as  sciiool  director 
and  township  trustee  at  various  times  and  has 
i)een  a  member  of  the  board  of  health  for  the 
past  ten  years.  He  regards  it  as  the  duty  as  well 
as  the  ]>rivilcge  of  every  true  American  citizen 
to  iiromote  the  interests  of  his  community  to  the 
extent  of  his  ability  and  he  has  therefore  been 
a  co-t)perant  factor  in  many  ])lans  and  measures 
for  the  general  good.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
(lerman  Lutheran  church  of  .\shkum  and  has 
reared  his  family  in  that  faith.  The  years  have 
brought  him  a  gtKxily  measure  of  prosperity  and 
in  addition  to  his  professional  interests  and  com- 
mercial business  in  .\skum  he  is  also  the  owner 
of  a  quarter  of  a  section  of  land  on  sections  15. 
and  i(>.  .\shkum  township. 


L.  T.   HL'TCHI.VS. 


The  record  of  L.  T.  Hutchins  is  that  of  a  man 
who  has  by  his  own  unaided  efforts  worked  his 
way  upward  to  a  position  of  atYiuence  and  is  to- 
day a  prominent  representative  of  the  grain  tra<le 
in  Iro<|uois  county.  His  life  has  been  one  of 
industry  and  perseverance  and  the  systematic  and 
honorable  business  methods  which  he  has  fol- 
lowed have  won  him  the  sup|)ort  and  confidence 
of  many.  Without  the  aid  of  influence  or  wealth 
he  has  risen  to  a  position  among  the  i)roniinent 
men  of  the  county  and  his  native  genius  and  ac- 
f|uire(l  ability  are  stepping-stones  on  which  he 
mounted. 

Mr.  Hutchins  was  born  March  2,  1851,  in 
Richmond,  Indiana,  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Letitia 
Hutchins,  who  were  also  natives  of  that  state, 
the  former  of  English  descent  and  the  latter  of 
German  lineage.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  thus  provided  for  his  family.  In 
his  youth  L.  T.  Hutchins  of  this  review  attcndeil 
the  common  schools  and  worked  on  his  father's 
farm.  It  lias  always  been  the  greatest  regret  of 
his  life  that  he  was  unable  to  secure  a  college 
education  and  yet  it  is  a  well  known  fact  that  it 
is  under  the  pressure  of  adversity  and  the  stimu- 
lus of  opposition  that  the  best  and  strongest  in 
men  are  brought  out  and  developed  and  tints  ii 
has  been   in  the  case  of  Mr.   Hutcliins.      %\hen 


io6 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


.only  seventeen  years  of  age  he  began  teaching  in 
the  country  schools,  following  that  profession  in 
the  winter  seasons,  while  in  the  summer  months 
he  was  employed  at  farm  labor,  ^^'hen  eighteen 
years  of  age  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  and  se- 
cured a  school,  devoting  his  attention  to  teaching 
for  three  winter  seasons,  while  in  the  summer 
montlis  ho  labored  in  the  fields.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  took  up  the  study  of  teleg- 
raphy, was  employed  at  Middletown,  Indiana, 
rand  afterward  became  night  operator  at  Watseka 
on  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad. 
He  was  thus  engaged  for  almost  a  year,  after 
which  he  worked  for  R.  G.  Risser  for  eight  years, 
buying  grain  at  Donovan.  In  1885  he  came  to 
Sheldon,  where  he  was  also  in  the  employ  of  ?ilr. 
Risser  until  he  formed  his  present  partnership 
with  O.  G.  Smith  in  the  grain  trade.  This  is 
now  one  of  the  strong  firms  of  the  county,  oper- 
ating four  elevators — two  at  ^Milford,  one  at  Don- 
ovan and  one  at  Iroquois.  The  business  is  car- 
ried on  under  the  firm  style  of  L.  T.  Hutchins 
&  Company  and  the  trade  has  constantly  in- 
creased until  it  has  now  reached  an  extensive  vol- 
ume. 

On  the  26th  of  Xovember,  1879,  at  Donovan, 
Mr.  Hutchins  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Mary  Jones,  a  daughter  of  Anson  Jones,  one  of 
the  early  settlers  of  Kankakee  county,  Illinois. 
Their  children  are  Myrtle,  Laura  and  Verne. 
The   daughters   are   graduates   of   the   Woman's 

■College  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  for  Mr.  Hutch- 
ins, realizing  the  need  of  education  in  his  own 
life  has  provided  them  with  excellent  school  ])riv- 
ileges. 

His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  repub- 
lican party  and  for  eight  years  he  served  as  post- 
master at  Donovan,  filling  the  office  from  1875 
until  1883.  He  has  Ijeen  president  of  the  vil- 
lage board  of  Sheldon  for  three  years  and  trus- 

•tee  for  eight  years.  He  was  also  president  of  the 
board  of  education  for  four  years  and  its  secre- 
tary for  eleven  consecutive  years.  He  is  like- 
wise a  trustee  of  the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  at 
Onarga,  in  which  capacity  he  has  served  for  six 
years.  Thus  has  he  been  called  to  various  official 
positions  of  honor  and  trust,  slmwing  that  he 
occupies  a  high  position  in  public  regard  and 
enjoys  in  large  measure  the  confidence  of  his  fel- 
lowmen.     His  career  has  ever  been  such  as  also 


to  warrant  the  trust  of  the  business  world,  for 
he  has  ever  conducted  all  transactions  on  the 
strictest  principles  of  honor  and  integrity.  His 
devotion  to  the  public  good  is  unquestioned  and 
arises  from  a  sincere  interest  in  the  welfare  of 
his  fellowmen.  Sheldon  has  benefited  by  his 
efforts  in  her  behalf  and  he  is,  without  invidious 
distinction,  classed  with  her  foremost  representa- 
tives. 


JOSEPH  WARREX  COXARD. 

Joseph  \\'arren  Conard,  a  prosperous  citizen 
who  has  retired  from  active  farm  life,  now  lives  in 
Buckley  but  is  yet  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  valuable  farm  land  in  Artesia 
township.  Upon  this  there  are  two  sets  of  good 
buildings  and  he  also  owns  a  pleasant  home  in 
Buckley,  where  he  has  resided  for  four  years. 
His  real  estate  is  the  visible  evidence  of  a  life 
of  close  application,  energy  and  discriminating 
management.  Coming  to  Illinois  in  1847,  he 
located  in  La  Salle  county.  He  is  a  representa- 
tive of  one  of  the  old  families  of  Virginia,  where 
resided  his  grandfather,  David  Conard.  His  fa- 
ther, Anthony  Conard,  was  born  near  Richmond, 
\'irginia.  October  16,  1799,  and  was  reared  in 
that  state.  While  still  within  its  borders  he 
wedded  Xancy  Gregg,  who  was  likewise  born 
and  reared  there  and  was  a  daughter  of  George 
and  Elizabeth  Gregg.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conard  removed  to  Licking 
county.  Ohio,  casting  in  their  lot  with  its  early 
settlers.  There  Mr.  Conard  cleared  a  tract  of 
land  and  opened  up  a  farm,  upon  which  he  made 
his  home  until  1847,  when  he  brought  his  family 
to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  which  he  se- 
cured near  Ottawa  in  Rutland  township.  La  Salle 
county.  He  spent  his  remaining  da\s  there  and 
passed  away  in  185 1.  when  his  son  Joseph  W. 
was  a  lad  of  ten  years.  His  wife  died  in  La  Salle 
county  in  1847.  They  were  the  parents  of  four- 
teen children,  eight  sons  and  six  daughters,  and 
with  tlie  exception  of  one  of  the  sons  all  reached 
adult  age.  After  the  death  of  the  parents  the 
younger  children  went  to  live  among  strangers 
and  four  sons  and  one  daughter  of  the  familv 
vet  survive. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  o^  ILLINOIS 


^ 


.^ 


'S. 


n 


o 
o 

> 


LIBRARY 
OF  THE. 

uNivFRsiry  OF  Illinois 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.INOIS. 


1 1 1 


Josepli  Warren  Conard  was  born  in  l.ickinj,' 
•connty,  Ohio,  March  17,  1842,  hut  was  rearcil 
on  a  farm  in  La  Salic  connty.  He  was  al)lc  U> 
attend  school  only  abonl  lour  weeks  during  the 
year  from  the  age  of  eight  to  sixteen  years,  but 
he  improved  his  o])portunitics,  so  that  after 
reaching  early  manhood  he  was  well  i|ualiticd 
for  teaching,  and  followed  that  profession  in  Ui 
Salle  county  lH)th  ])rior  to  and  after  the  Civil 
war.  He  had  no  other  thought  during  the  strug- 
gle, however,  than  to  aid  his  country,  for  his 
spirit  of  patriotism  was  aroused,  and  on  the  I4tli 
of  August.  1802.  he  offered  his  services  to  the 
government,  as  did  his  brother,  William  H.  Con- 
ard. .Another  brother.  Ceorge  Conard,  served  in 
the  Mexican  war  and  also  entered  the  Civil  war 
from  California.  The  subject  of  this  review  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  K,  One  Hundred 
and  Fourth  Illinois  \'olunteer  Infantry,  the  regi- 
ment being  raised  in  La  Salle  county.  He  went 
south  to  Kentucky,  arriving  at  Louisville,  and 
thence  proceeded  on  the  raid  after  John  Mor- 
gan. The  entire  regiment,  however,  was  caji- 
tured  at  Hartsville  by  the  Confederates  under 
General  Morgan  and  |)rior  to  that  time  had  lost 
one  hundred  and  .sevent\-five  of  its  men.  .\fter 
being  held  for  about  a  week  the  Union  troops 
were  jiaroled  and  were  thus  out  of  active  service 
fi>r  about  three  months,  .\fter  returning  to  duty 
Mr.  Conard  was  wounded  at  C'hickamauga  on 
the  20th  of  September.  i8f>.V  :i"<l  after  being  in 
the  hospital  for  a  time  was  sent  home  on  a  fur- 
lough, being  away  from  his  regiment  for  aliout 
nine  months.  When  able  to  rejoin  his  commanti 
he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Kenesaw  Mounl;iin 
and  Peach  Tree  Creek,  also  the  Atlanta  com- 
paign.  and  assisteil  in  the  ca])ture  of  Jonesboro 
anil  .\tlanta.  He  went  with  .Sherman  on  the 
march  to  the  sea  and  on  the  campaign  througii 
the  Carolinas  and  on  to  Richmond,  while  subse- 
quently he  ])roceeiled  northward  to  Washington 
and  there  participated  in  the  grand  review  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  being  honorably  disch:irged 
in  the  capital  city.  June  5.  18^)5.  after  which  he 
returned  to  Oiicago,  where  he  was  mustered  out. 
He  carries  a  scar,  the  result  of  a  gimshi.t  wouinl. 
in  his  left  shoulder,  and  he  was  aUo  hit  with  a 
sjtent  ball  in  the  forehea<l.  although  this  rlid  not 
prove  a  serious  wound.  The  long  marches,  h.ird 
campaigns,  the  privations  <if  army   lif-      'H   1"- 


came  familiar  t>i  bim  iliirinir  bi-.  :ictivc  service 
at  the  front. 

Mr.  Conard  returned  to  La  .^alle  county  and 
subsequently  |)urchased  a  farm  there  in  .Mien 
township  comprising  eighty  acres,  which  he  cul- 
tiv.-ited  an«l  improved  until  1874.  He  then  sold 
that  propert\  \.u  his  brother  and  removed  to  Ar- 
tesia  township,  Irrxpiois  ccninty,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land, 
lie  then  l>roke  this  and  opened  u()  the  farm. 
Later  he  erected  go<.>d  buildings  and  tiled  and 
fenced  his  land.  He  also  extended  the  bound- 
aries of  his  |)roperty  by  additional  purchase  from 
time  to  time  until  he  was  the  owner  of  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres,  all  of  which  was  cultivated 
and  im])roved  un<ler  his  ininiediate  su])crvision. 
The  years  passed  and  success  came  to  him,  owing 
to  his  careful  management  of  his  farming  in- 
terests and  the  excellent  crops  which  he  raised 
owing  to  the  care  anil  labor  which  he  Ixjstowed 
upon  the  fields.  He  has  since  disposed  of  some 
of  his  land  and  now  owns  a  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  which  is  a  well  improved 
propertv.  there  being  two  sets  of  good  farming 
buildings  upon  it.  He  continued  actively  in 
f.inn  work  until  about  i«p2.  when  he  put  aside 
the  more  arduous  cares  of  business  life  and  is 
now  living  retired  in  Buckley. 

Mr.  Conard  was  married  <  )ctol)er  i>.  iS<)7.  to 
Miss  Ada  T.  Tucker,  a  native  of  I-'reedom  town- 
ship. La  Salle  connty,  where  she  was  reared  and 
educated,  .^he  was  a  teacher  prior  to  her  mar- 
riage. I  ler  father,  Levi  Tucker,  was  a  native  of 
New  Ham|ishire  and  an  early  settler  of  La  Salic 
counlv.  where  he  weilded  Mary  lieem.  an  ( )hio 
lad\.  Unto  .\Ir.  and  .Mrs.  Conard  have  been 
born  seven  children,  of  whom  five  are  living,  h'l- 
len.  who  became  the  wife  of  John  .'^troup.  of  Iro- 
quois county,  died  in  igo.V  leaving  a  daughter, 
Cdadvs.  and  since  that  time  Mr.  Strouj)  has  mar- 
ried again.  \'ina  became  the  wife  of  (Jcorge 
Moore  and  is  also  deceaseil.  The  living  meml>ers 
of  the  family  are:  Mary  N.,  the  wife  of  Wal- 
lace Moore,  of  Columbus,  Ohio;  Ceorge  .\..  a 
farmer,  who  is  married  and  resides  at  Lennox, 
Iowa:  Rosa,  the  wife  of  George  Hull,  a  farmer 
living  near  I'nckley  :  Charles  W..  who  owns  and 
operates  a  farm  in  Artesia :  and  Josephine,  the 
wife  of  Charles  M.  Crane,  who  operates  the  Con- 
ard f.irm. 


112 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Mr.  Conard  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
church  and  is  serving  on  the  board  of  trustees. 
He  also  belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  post.  His 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  democracy 
where  national  issues  are  involved  but  at  local 
elections  he  regards  only  the  capability  of  the 
candidate  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the 
olifice.  He  has  served  as  township  school  trustee 
and  highway  commissioner  and  has  been  a  school 
director  for  many  years.  He  has  a  wide  ac- 
quaintance in  Buckley,  Watseka  and  Iroquois 
county  and  has  manifested  in  his  life  many 
traits  of  character  which  have  commended  him 
to  the  friendship  and  regard  of  those  with  whom 
he  has  come  in  contact.  Almost  his  entire  life 
has  been  passed  in  Illinois  and  he  is  known  as  a 
valued  and  representative  citizen.  It  is  usually 
found  that  a  veteran  is  ever  loyal  and  progres- 
sive, for  the  sacrifice  which  he  made  in  days  of 
war  for  his  country  brought  to  him  a  realiza- 
tion of  the  value  of  patriotism  and  a  love  of  coun- 
try and  he  ever  continues  true  to  the  old  flag. 


ALBERT  ECKER. 


Albert  Ecker,  a  prosperous  merchant  of  Wood- 
worth,  carrying  a  complete  line  of  hardware, 
buggies,  wagons  and  all  kinds  of  farm  imple- 
ments and  undertakers'  supplies,  is  a  native  of 
Germany,  his  birth  having  there  occurred  April 
8,  1870,  a  son  of  August  Ecker,  likewise  a  na- 
tive of  the  fatherland.  He  followed  farming  in 
that  country  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Au- 
gusta Wagner,  and  in  the  spring  of  1871  the 
family  emigrated  to  the  new  world,  hoping  to  en- 
joy better  business  advantages  in  this  country. 
They  made  their  way  direct  to  Iroquois  county, 
where  the  father  purchased  one  hundred  and 
five  acres  of  land  in  Loda  township,  and  he  there 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  thus  providing 
a  good  living  for  himself  and  family.  He  added 
many  valuable  improvements  to  his  land  and 
thereon  built  a  good  house  and  reared  a  family 
of  six  children,  of  whom  our  suljject  is  the 
eldest.  Both  the  parents  are  still  living  and  now 
make  their  home  in  the  village  of  Buckley. 

.Albert  Ecker  was  less  than  a  vear  old  when 
brought  by  his  parents  to  this  country.     He  was 


reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  assisting  his 
father  in  the  work  of  the  fields  during  his  boy- 
hood and  vouth,  and  when  not  busy  in  the  fields, 
he  pursued  his  studies  during  the  winter  months 
in  the  district  schools  near  his  father's  home,  and 
later  attended  the  schools  of  Watseka  for  two 
terms,  thus  acquiring  a  liberal  education  which 
fitted  him  for  carrying  on  business  when  he  la- 
ter started  out  in  business  on  his  own  account. 
During  the  period  that  he  was  pursuing  his  stud- 
ies in  \\'atseka.  he  was  employed  outside  of 
school  hours  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  ?.r  that  place. 
He  then  returned  home  and  secured  employment, 
as  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Fred  Meyer,  at  Wood- 
worth,  with  whom  he  remained  during  the  suc- 
ceeding four  years.  In.  1887  he  and  Henry  Mun- 
stermann  purchased  the  stock  of  goods  belonging 
to  Mr.  Mever,  the  relationship  being  continued 
for  two  years,  when  Mr.  Ecker  purchased  his 
jiartner's  interest,  and  has  conducted  the  business 
alone  since  that  time.  He  carried  a  complete  line 
of  hardware,  buggies,  wagons  and  farm  imple- 
ments, and  in  addition  to  this  has  a  stock  of  fur- 
niture, and  is  also  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business,  having  a  full  line  of  caskets,  and  he- 
owns  one  of  the  finest  funeral  cars  in  Iroquois 
countv.  He  employs  four  men  in  his  establish- 
ment the  year  round,  and  has  built  up  a  large- 
and  increasing  patronage  in  his  mercantile  enter- 
prise, for  he  is  ever  found  honorable  and  straight- 
forward in  all  his  business  dealings.  His  serv- 
ices are  also  in  great  demand  all  over  the  county 
in  connection  with  burial  services,  for  he  is  well 
fitted  for  conducting  a  business  of  this  char- 
acter. 

Mr.  Ecker  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  Miss  Mary  Weber,  their  wed- 
ding being  celebrated  June  6,  1897.  She  was. 
born  in  Artesia  township,  Iroquois  county,  a 
daughter  of  Fred  Weber,  a  native  of  Germany,, 
whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
Mrs.  Ecker  died  in  1898,  and  on  the  6th  of  Octo- 
ber, iQoi,  ]\Ir.  Ecker  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Miss  Clara  Hartman, 
a  native  of  this  county  and  a  daughter  of  John 
Hartman,  a  native  of  Will  county,  this  state, 
and  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship, Tro(|uois  county.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ecker 
have  been  born  an  interesting  little  son  and 
dausrhter,  Leonard  and  Elma. 


AIJ'.KRT  ECKER. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQL'dlS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


I  i: 


In  his  political  views  .\lr.  I-'ckcr  is  a  stalwart 
re|iiiblican  but  lias  never  been  active  in  local  po- 
litical atTairs.  preferrinj;  to  >jive  bis  niidivideil 
attention  to  bis  business  interests,  in  wbicti  be 
bas  met  witb  tiratifvinjj  success.  Tbe  only  pub- 
lic office  be  bas  ever  belt!  was  tbat  of  notary  jnil)- 
lic.  servinjj  in  tbat  capacity  for  six  years,  llotb 
be  and  bis  wife  are  value<l  members  of  the  <  icr- 
man  Lutberan  cburcb  of  W'oodwortb. 

KnterinLj  Inisiness  life  in  tbe  bunilile  capacity 
of  a  clerk.  .Mr.  Rcker  bas  worketl  bis  way  stead- 
ilv  upward  to  tbe  topniost  round  of  tbe  ladiler 
and  is  now  conductinj^  a  good  payinsj  business 
in  tbe  village  of  W'oodwortb.  where  be  is  a.'- 
counted  one  oi  tbe  leading  citizens  in  mercantile 
life.  lie  possesses  those  <|ualities  .if  industry 
and  worth  of  character  which  are  ever  to  be 
found  in  the  (ierman  race  ami  both  be  and  his 
wife  arc  highly  esteemed  in  the  community 
where  thev  make  their  home. 


geok(;e  m.  sa.m.moxs. 

The  ])rogress  and  prosperity  of  a  town  or  city 
depend  u]>on  its  commercial  and  industrial  activity 
and  the  real  promoters  and  ui)buil(kTs  of  a  com- 
munity therefore  are  they  who  are  actively  con- 
cerned in  its  business  life,  in  which  connection 
Mr.  Sammons  is  well  known  in  .Milford.  having 
for  ten  years  figured  prominently  in  mercantile 
circles.  He  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  tbat  tbe 
neighboring  state  of  Indian^  has  furnished  to 
IrrK|uois  county.  Me  was  born  in  .Newton 
county.  .Vugust  2-t.  1864.  and  con:cs  of  Canadian 
ancestry,  for  his  jiarents.  .Nicholas  D.  and  Mar- 
garet (  Woolnnugb  )  Sammins.  were  both  natives 
of  Canada.  The  father  was  reared  and  td'.icated 
in  that  country,  after  which  he  came  to  lllir.ois. 
spen<ling  about  a  year  in  Kar.kakec  coi;r.ty.  He 
then  removed  to  Newton  countx.  Indiana,  where 
he  followed  farming  and  engaged  in  otlur  lin. 
of  business  for  several  years.  .\l;iuit  1SS5  be  n 
turned  to  Illinois  and  jiurcbased  a  restaurant  in 
which  business  he  co;Uinued  for  tb.ree  or  four 
years  in  the  village  of  Milford.  and  then  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business,  being  an  active  representa 
tive  of  business  life  in  the  town  for  some  years. 
Thus   bis   death    was   tlu    occa.'si^in   of   deep  a;ul 


widis])read  regret  when  in  .\pril.  m;<j«i.  bis  labors 
were  ended  ami  he  was  calleil  from  this  life. 
His  wi<!ow  survives  him  and  vet  resides  in  .Mil- 
ford. and  of  their  family  of  four  cl'.ildren,  three 
sons  and  a  daughter,  all  arc  yet  livinfj  with  tbe 
exception  of  one  soil.  II.  I,.  Sammons.  the  young- 
est of  the  family,  is  a  resident  of  Kentland,  Inili- 
ana.  while  tbe  sister,  Mrs.  !")arnjcb,  is  also  living 
there. 

( ieorge  .M.  .*>annnons  spent  tbe  first  seventeen 
years  of  his  life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  and 
during  tbat  i)iriod  devoieil  nuicb  of  bis  time  to 
the  master\  of  the  studies  taught  in  the  |)ublic 
schools.  In  1S84  he  came  to  .Milford  witb  bis 
jiarents  and  worked  on  a  farm  until  18S8,  when 
Ik  went  to  Chicago,  being  in  tbe  employ  of  Wil- 
liam IXering  &  Company  until  itp».  He  then 
returned  to  .Milford,  where  be  clerked  for  .Mar- 
-Inll  iS:  Mogg  for  about  four  years.  .\t  the  end 
of  tbat  time  be  cmljarkcd  in  business  for  himself, 
establishing  a  dry-goods  and  grocery  store,  in 
which  he  placed  a  new  stock,  valued  at  alK>iit  two 
tbofsand  tlollars.  This  was  tbe  beginning  of  bis 
prestnt  large  and  profitable  mercantile  enterprise. 
.\.s  his  trade  has  increased  he  bas  added  to  his 
stock  from  year  to  year  until  it  is  now  valued 
at  ten  or  twelve  thousand  ilollars.  The  store  is 
commodious,  is  neatly  and  tastefully  arranged, 
and  he  well  merits  the  liberal  ])atronage  which 
is  accorded  bim  because  he  puts  forth  cirnest 
efforts  to  please  bis  patrons,  is  reasonable  in  bis 
prices  and  honoral)le  in  his  dealing.  .Mert  and 
enterprising,  be  is  watchful  of  every  indication 
])ointing  to  success  and  his  efforts  are  discern- 
ingly directed  along  well  defiiH'd  lints  of  labiT. 

.\  ]ile;i  f  life  for  Mr.  Sammons  began 

in  Iro;|i-iis  I. .miiy  on  tbe  tjtb  of  .May.  i8</), 
when  was  celebrated  his  marriage  to  Miss  Helen 
Pruitt,  a  daughter  of  |ose|)h  Pruitt.  Sr.,  who  is 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  She  was 
born  near  W'ellirgton.  Irocp-ois  county,  ami  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  who  in  her  girl- 
1  days  w:ls  afforde<l  liberal  educational  privi- 
.■^he  presides  with  gracious  and  cordial 
hospitality  over  their  pleasant  home  and  in  sv 
ciri!  circle>  botb.  .Mr.  and  Mrs,  Sammons  occupy 
;n  er\"':iMc  i>!ace. 

1 1  lb  tbe  democracy  ami,  as  every  true 

.\m>  '     ''!  <lo,  keeps  well  informed 

on  :1  n  of  the  cotmtr\.  \et  bas 


ii6 


I'AST  AXU  PRESEXT  nP 


no  aspiration  for  office.  However,  he  is  now  serv- 
ing on  the  town  board  as  one  of  the  trustees. 
He  has  attained  the  degree  of  a  Master  Mason 
in  Milford  lodge  and  is  an  exemplary  representa- 
tive of  the  craft,  being  in  hearty  sympathy  with 
its  teachings  and  its  principles.  He  is  adaptable, 
accords  to  all  the  courtesy  of  an  interview,  and 
while  leading  a  busy  life  yet  finds  time  to  devote 
to  the  public  welfare,  so  that  in  his  business  and 
social  relations  he  has  maintained  a  character  and 
standing  that  has  impressed  all  with  his  sincere 
and  manly  purpose  to  do  by  others  as  he  would 
have  others  do  l)v  him. 


CAPTAIX  GEORGE  WEST. 

When  growth  and  development  have  been  car- 
ried forward  to  a  condition  which  is  worthy  of 
note  it  is  always  of  interest  to  look  back  and 
learn  something  of  the  begining  of  things — the 
establishment  of  those  plans  and  movements 
which  have  resulted  in  the  progress  and  develop- 
ments bringing  about  existing  conditions.  The 
pioneer  history  of  a  community  is  always  one 
which  awakens  attention,  standing  as  it  does  in 
marked  contrast  to  the  elements  of  life  as  found 
at  the  present  time.  It  was  during  the  pioneer 
epoch  in  the  history  of  Iroquois  county  that 
Captain  George  West  became  identified  with 
this  section  of  the  state,  settling  here  about  1848. 
He  was  closely  associated  with  early  industrial 
and  agricultural  life  here  as  a  millwright  and 
farmer  and  when  the  great  struggle  for  the  su- 
])remacy  of  the  L'nion  involved  the  couutrv  in  a 
mighty  war  he  demonstrated  his  loyalt\-  by  ])Ut- 
ting  aside  all  business  and  ])ersonal  considerations 
and  serving  as  a  captain  in  defense  of  the  stars 
and  stripes. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Champaign 
county,  May  2y,  iSuj.  his  ])arents  being  John  and 
.\zuga  (Wilson)  West.  'i"he  father,  a  native  of 
Georgia,  became  a  resident  of  Champaign  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  when  it  was  a  frontier  district  and  there 
engaged  in  farming  until  1S33,  when  be  removed 
to  Warren  county,  Indiana,  where  he  carried 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death. 
His  wife  also  ])assed  away  in  th;U  luealily. 


Captain  West  of  this  review  began  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  county 
and  continued  his  studies  in  Warren  county, 
where  he  acquired  a  good  education.  Putting 
aside  his  te.xt-books,  he  began  preparation  for 
a  business  life  by  learning  the  millwright's  trade, 
it  being  arranged  that  he  should  work  only  on 
the  wheel  parts.  He  entered  the  employ  of  a 
Mr.  Dunlap  at  Rainsville,  Indiana,  and  subse- 
quently was  with  Eli  HavVkins,  with  whom  he 
began  building  mills  throughout  that  part  of  In- 
diana. He  assisted  in  the  construction  of  the 
old  and  well  known  Parker  water  wheel  and  was 
employed  at  his  trade  at  various  places  until  his 
removal  to  Iroquois  county  about  1848.  This 
was  largely  an  undeveloped  section  of  the  coun- 
try, with  only  here  and  there  a  pioneer  cabin 
or  a  little  group  of  houses  to  show  that  the  work 
of  progress  and  improvement  had  been  begun. 
Captain  West  took  up  his  abode  in  the  village 
of  Texas,  in  .Middleport  township,  where  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Joseph  Thomas. 
He  purchased  the  old  Courtright  gristmill  and 
began  its  operation.  As  the  county  became  more 
thickly  settled  their  business  developed  and  in 
1855  and  1856  they  built  two  sawmills,  which 
they  conducted  in  addition  to  the  gristmill.  Dur- 
ing this  period  Captain  W>st  also  engaged  in 
building  mills  throughout  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, his  handiwork  Iseing  seen  in  sixteen  differ- 
ent structures  of  that  character. 

It  was  while  he  was  engaged  in  the  milling 
business  that  the  Civil  war  was  inaugurated  and 
his  spirit  of  patriotism  prompted  his  enlistment 
as  a  member  of  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and 
Thirteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  first  cap- 
tain of  a  ccimpan\-  with  Colonel  Hoag,  of  Kanka- 
kee. Illinois,  in  command  of  the  regiment.  Not 
long  after  his  enlistment  Captain  West  became 
ill  and  was  therefore  assigned  to  guard  duty. 
I  le  suffered  a  severe  attack  of  typhoid  pneu- 
monia, which  necessitated  his  resignation  in  May, 
i8f)_^.  after  which  he  returned  to  Iroquois  county, 
lie  never  again  enjoyed  the  robust  health  which 
had  been  his  prior  to  his  military  service,  .\gain 
locating  in  Texas,  he  continued  in  the  milling 
business,  operating  both  the  grist  and  saw  mills 
until  18^)6.  when  he  sold  out  and  ])urchased 
a  tarni  in  Middleiinrt  township  about  four  and 
a    half    miles    northeast    of   Watseka.     There   he 


7  f  c  '  '/  (  /y^c 


y' 


LiL 

Of  int 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRugLtjLs  HJUMV.  ILLINOIS. 


ii<> 


carried  on  general  agriciiltiiral  pursuits  for  more 
than  twenty  years,  brinj^ini;  his  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  also  successfully 
conducting  stock-raising  interests,  liis  manage- 
ment of  his  farm  showed  keen  discernment  and 
marked  business  enterprise  and  the  work  of  till- 
ing tile  soil  and  raising  stock  claimed  his  undi- 
vided attention  until  April  19.  18S7.  when  on 
account  of  ill  health  he  retired  from  hii-iiuss  lifi- 
and  took  up  his  abode  in  Watscka. 

Captain  West  was  married  twice.  In  Ja.ipcr 
county,  Indiana,  he  wedded  Miss  Rachel  J.  Marl. 
a  native  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  born  August 
30,  1830,  a  daughter  of  Phillip  and  Mary 
(Hawkins)  Earl,  the  former  a  native  of  Xew 
Jersey  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  At  an  early 
period  in  the  settlement  of  Indiana  Phillip  liarl 
became  a  resident  of  Jasper  county,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years.  He  after- 
ward removed  to  Wayne  county,  that  state,  where 
he  also  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits. 
His  wife  died  there  in  i<%()  and  he  afterward 
wedded  Mrs.  Lydia  Hawkins,  who  is  also  de- 
ceased. Mr.  Earl  continued  to  make  his  home 
upon  a  farm  in  Xewton  county  and  during  his 
old  age,  while  on  a  visit  at  the  home  of  Captain 
West  in  Watseka.  he  passed  away  at  the  vener- 
able age  of  eighty-eight  years.  In  1849  Cai)tain 
West  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his 
first  wife,  who  died  in  Middleport  township  on 
the  4th  day  of  November  of  that  year.  There 
had  been  but  one  child  of  that  marriage,  Henry, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen  months.  On  the 
-8th  of  June,  185 1,  Captain  West  married  Miss 
Phebe  Ann  Earl,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife  and  a 
native  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  born  June  6, 
1832.  There  was  one  child  of  this  marriage, 
Thomas  W.,  who  was  born  March  2-j,  1852,  and 
married  Ruth  A.  Moore.  They  resided  on  a 
farm  in  Middleport  township  until  his  death 
May  30,  1888,  when  he  was  thirty-seven  years 
of  age.  They  had  one  child.  Ray.  who  was 
accidentally  killed  in  the  grain  elevator  in  Wat- 
scka. The  widow  of  Thomas  West  afterward 
became  the  wife  of  John  Zuwalt,  a  retired  farmer 
now  living  in  Watseka. 

The  death  of  Captain  West  occurred  Novem- 
ber 25,  1890,  and  he  was  laid  to  rest  with  military 
honors  in  Oak  Hill  cemetery,  the  interment  Ixring 
in  charge  of  the  Grand  .\rmy  post  of  Watseka. 


He  had  served  for  one  term  as  township  su|)er- 
visor  of  Middleport  township,  was  road  Cllmnli^- 
sioncr  for  two  and  a  half  years  and  had  helil 
other  township  offices,  rendering  active  and  ca- 
])able  service.  He  took  much  interest  in  ]>oliiical 
ipiestions  anil  was  well  informed  on  those  issues 
which  divided  the  two  great  parlies.  His  study 
of  the  i>olitical  situation  of  the  country  led  him 
to  give  an  earnest  sui)iK)rt  to  the  republican 
party.  In  addition  to  his  meml)ershi|)  in  tiie 
(irand  .\rmy  post  he  was  identified  with  the  <  ><ld 
I-'ellows  lodge-  at  Watseka.  anil  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  devoted  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  taking  an  active  and  helpful  part  in  its 
work. 

His  long  residence  in  the  county  made  him 
widely  known  and  no  man  was  more  closely  as- 
sociated with  the  industrial  development  in  early 
days  than  he.  He  also  figured  prominently  for 
many  years  as  an  agriculturist  but  shortly  before 
his  death  .sold  his  farm.  His  business  interests 
had  been  carried  on  in  accordance  with  progres- 
sive ideas  and  his  success  was  the  legitimate  out- 
come of  his  perseverance,  close  application  and 
capable  management.  In  all  life's  relations  he 
manifested  those  sterling  traits  of  character  which 
in  every  land  and  clime  awaken  confidence  and 
resjiect  and  his  life  was  of  such  signal  service 
to  his  fellownien  in  many  directions  that  his 
death  came  as  a  personal  bereavement  to  many. 
Mrs.  West  still  resides  in  Watseka.  owning  and 
occupying  a  nice  home  at  the  corner  of  Fifth 
and  Oak  streets. 


THEOPHILE  GERBER. 

The  spirit  of  diligence  ;md  perseverance  which 
dominates  Theophile  Gerber  has  made  him  one 
of  the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  .Ash  Grove 
township,  where  he  owns  a  fann  of  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  his  home  Ix-ing  situated 
on  section  24.  He  is  one  of  the  more  recent 
arrivals  in  Iroquois  county  but  had  been  here 
ff>r  only  a  brief  peril  k1  when  he  demonstrated  his 
right  to  be  classed  with  the  i)rogressive  agricul- 
turists of  the  community.  .\  native  of  i'rance, 
he  was  born  near  Paris,  February  17,  i8r'>3.     He 


I20 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


reached  adult  age  in  that  country  and  was 
afforded  good  school  advantages  in  both  the 
French  and  (ierman  languages.  He  emigrated 
to  the  new  wnrld  in  1883,  when  a  young  man  of 
twenty  years,  and  came  at  once  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  I^eoria  county.  His  capital  was  very 
limited  and  as  it  was  necessary  to  obtain  imme- 
diate employment  he  began  making  fence  rails, 
thus  following  the  illustrious  example  of  our 
Lincoln.  Subsequently  he  engaged  in  ditching 
in  the  summer  months  and  in  the  fall  he  w^orked 
in  a  Peoria  distillery,  continuing  there  for  three 
winters.  Saving  his  earnings,  he  resolved  to  en- 
gage in  farming  on  his  own  account  by  renting 
land  in  Woodford  county,  where  he  tilled  the 
soil  for  three  years. 

^Ir.  Gerber  was  married  in  Peoria  in  1889 
to  ]\Iiss  Julia  Bach,  also  a  native  of  France,  and 
for  four  years  thereafter  he  continued  to  follow 
farming  in  Woodford  county.  In  1894  he  came 
to  Iroquois  county  and  has  since  been  identified 
with  agricultural  pursuits  in  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship. For  the  first  five  years  he  was  upon  a 
rented  farm  in  that  township  and  subsequently 
cultivated  rented  land  in  Artesia  township  for 
five  years,  but  during  that  time  he  carefully  hus- 
banded his  resources  antl  in  1902  he  made  pur- 
chase of  two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  on 
section  24.  .\.sh  (Jrove  township.  Locating  there- 
on at  a  later  date,  he  at  once  began  to  further 
develop  and  improve  the  property  and  has  r.>- 
cently  erected  a  pleasant  home.  There  is  also 
a  good  barn  which  he  built  and  he  has  tiled  and 
fenced  the  land  and  put  up  a  granary  and  coi-u 
crib.  I'ruit  has  lieen  set  nut  b\'  him  and  the  wnrk 
of  the  farm  is  carried  forward  along  pr<igressivc, 
modern  lines,  so  that  he  is  deriving  therefrom  an 
excellent  income  and  has  worked  his  way  up- 
w^ird  until  he  is  accorded  recognition  as  one  of 
the  substantial  and  leading  farmers  of  Iroquois 
county.  His  present  financial  position  is  in 
marked  contrast  to  his  condition  wlun  lie  came 
to  the  new  world.  1  lis  onlv  capil  il  tlun  w;is  a 
strong  bean  and  willing  hands,  and  he  tmik  up 
any  work  tliat  would  yield  him  an  honest  living. 
.\s  the  years  have  gone  b\  he  has  prospered 
and  may  wi'll  be  ])roud  of  what  he  has  acCDUi- 
])lished.  In  addition  tn  his  home  projx'rty  he 
also  owns  one  humlred  and  sixty  acres  of  lanrl  in 
Kansas. 


L'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Gerber  have  been  born 
nine  children:  Emily.  Oscar,  Minnie,  Louis, 
Emil,  Nettie.  Ernest,  Ethel  and  Theophile.  Po- 
litically Mr.  Gerber  is  a  stanch  republican.  He 
was  elected  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  also  as  highway  commissioner,  and 
in  the  discharge  of  his  pul)lic  duties  has  mani- 
fested  his  loyalty   and  progressive   spirit. 


HENRY  L.   MEYER. 


Henrv  L.  Meyer,  one  of  the  prominent  Ger- 
man fanuers  of  Middleport  township,  is  a  native 
of  Cook  county,  Illinois.  His  parents,  Louis  and 
.\llwina  Meyer,  were  German  emigrants  and 
were  among  the  pioneers  of  Cook  county.  There 
were  only  a  few  houses  in  Chicago  when  they 
arrived  and  the  city  gave  little  evidence  of  fu- 
ture greatness.  Although  natives  of  Germany 
thev  were  married  in  Cook  county,  in  1862,  and 
the  subject  of  this  review,  who  was  their  first 
child,  was  born  there,  .\pril  2^.  1864.  Later 
other  children  were  added  to  the  family,  namely: 
Louis,  Emma,  Fred,  ^^'illianl,  Alma  and  .\nna. 
The  mother,  now  a  widow,  still  occupies  the  old 
family   homestead. 

.Mr.  Mever  was  married  February  9,  1890,  to 
Miss  Meta  Degner,  a  daughter  of  Charles  and 
Marv  Degner,  both  of  German  descent,  while 
the  later  was  a  native  of  the  fatherland.  Their 
marriage  was  celebrated  on  the  anniversary  of 
the  bride"s  birth,  which  occurred  February  9, 
18O7,  and  before  the  end  of  the  month  in  which 
thev  were  married  in  1890  they  removed  to  the 
site  of  their  present  home  in  Iroquois  county. 
While  Mr.  Meyer  did  not  h;ive  money  enough 
to  pay  for  the  land,  both  he  and  his  wife  were 
strong  and  energetic  and  resolutely  set  about 
making  a  home.  Today  they  have  a  fine  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres  of  well  ini- 
l)roved  land,  all  under  si)lendid  cultivation.  .Mr. 
Mever  also  does  all  of  his  own  mason  and  car- 
penter work  and  every  year  does  a  great  deal 
of  ditching.  He  has  lived  a  life  of  unremitting- 
toil  and  diligence  but  in  the  end  success  has 
crowned  his  labors.  While  he  was  keei)ing  up 
the  interest  and  making  ]ra\nients  on  his  land 
he   found  it  necessary  to  practice  rigid  economy 


IRuyLUlb  COLMA.   ILLINOIS. 


121 


but  alter  lie  had  cleared  tlie  first  tract  ol  indebted- 
ness he  purcliased  other  land  and  now  has  a 
beautiful  country  lionie.  He  realized  tlie  truth 
of  the  old  adage  that  a  penny  saved  is  a  penny 
earned  and  his  dilij,'eiice  was  therefore  su]>ple- 
niented  by  frujjality.  He  i)ractices  croj)  rota- 
tion in  the  cultivation  of  his  fields  and  tlnis  en- 
hances tiicir  productiveness.  He  raises  stock 
each  year  and  also  sells  grain  in  the  market,  as 
do  most  of  the  Iroquois  county  farmers.  I-'cono- 
niy  and  tlirift  Iiave  been  characteristics  of  the 
home  life  and  Mr.  .Meyer's  ability  in  mechanical 
lines  as  well  as  in  the  <lepartment  of  agriculture 
has  been  an  element  in  his  success.  His  wife 
too.  has  been  a  most  able  helpmate  to  him.  Ix-ing 
particularly  skilled  with  the  medle  as  well  as  in 
the  management  of  the  household  affairs.  They 
keep  a  herd  of  dairy  cattle  and  ship  crean\  to 
Chicago,  finding  it  more  jirofilable  than  manu- 
facturing butter  and  selling  it  in  the  local  market. 
The  children  in  the  Meyer  family  are:  .\11- 
wina.  born  November  7.  i8<p:  Louis,  born  June 
7.  1892:  Lydia,  who  was  born  December  7.  1898. 
and  died  (October  23.  i8i>j:  Lina.  who  was  born 
December  31.  njoi  :  and  Lillian.  Ixirn  .\ugust  25, 
1906.  The  elder  children  all  com])leted  the  dis- 
trict-schtKjl  work  and  they  have  attendctl  a  Cier- 
man  school  in  Cook  county.  The  ])arents  ex- 
pect to  give  all  of  their  children  the  same  educa- 
tional advantages.  Mr.  Meyer  votes  with  the 
republican  jiarty  and  he  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  (jcrman  Lutheran  church  at  .\sh 
Grove.  He  deserves  much  credit  for  what  he 
has  accomplished  in  a  business  way.  owing  his 
success  entirely  to  his  own  labors  and  well  di- 
rected etTorts  supplemented  by  the  able  assist- 
ance of  his  wife. 


H.  S.  rJOSS.XRT.  -M.  1). 

Dr.  H.  .S.  liossart.  one  of  the  active  and  pro- 
gressive jihysicians  of  Iroquois  county,  who  for 
the  past  si.vteeii  years  has  ])racticed  in  l'.nckle>. 
was  born  in  Voungstown,  Pennsylvania.  January 
29.  iSCit,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  the  Keystone  state.  His  iiaternal 
grandfather.  Henry  ISos.sart,  wl;o  was  born  in 
Penn.sylvania,  drove  a  stage  coach    from    Malti- 


more  to  Pittsburg  l)eff)re  the  era  of  railroad  build- 
ing and  travel.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1S12  and  was  a  noted  figure  in  the  early 
history  of  the  locality  in  which  he  lived  and 
labore<l.  His  death  occurred  when  he  had 
reached  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-four  years. 
The  I'.ossarts  came  of  (jerman  ancestry  but  the 
family  has  Ix-en  represente<l  in  Pennsylvania 
through  many  generations. 

Paul  Bossart,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was 
also  a  native  of  Peimsylvania,  where  the 
days  of  his  Ixnhood  and  youth  were  passed. 
He  was  there  married  in  1854  to  .Miss  Mary 
Kuhns,  of  (jerman  ancestry,  who  was  Ixjrn  in 
the  Keystone  state  and  was  a  daughter  of  I'hilip 
Kuhns.  Mr.  IJossart  was  a  farmer  by  occupation 
and  has  s|Knt  almost  his  entire  life  in  I'nity 
townshi]).  Westmoreland  county.  He  has  re- 
sided uiion  one  farm  since  his  marriage  an<l  in 
1904  he  and  his  wife  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding.  He  served  as  a  musician  in  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  and  he  is  now  about  eighty 
years  of  age.  His  family  numlx-red  ten  children, 
five  sons  and  five  daughters. 

Dr.  I'ossart  was  reared  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  received  liberal  e<luca- 
tional  advantages  in  the  common  and  higher 
schools  at  that  locality.  He  entered  upon  his 
]jrofessional  i)rcparation  in  the  Pliiladel))hia 
.School  of  Pharmacy,  where  he  took  his  first 
course  of  lectures  in  18K3,  but  determining  to  en- 
gage in  the  practice  of  medicine  rather  than 
pharmacy  he  matriculated  in  JefTerson  Metlical 
College  at  Philadelphia  and  was  graduated  with 
the  class  of  iSSTi.  He  is  also  registere<l  pharma- 
cist, having  been  licen.sed  by  both  the  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  Illinois  boards,  .\fter  com|)Ieling 
his  course  in  the  me<lical  college  he  did  hospital 
wurk  in  Philadelphia  for  two  years,  putting  his 
iheorttical  knowledge  to  the  practical  tcNt  and 
greatly  promoting  his  efficiency  through  the 
broad  and  varieil  experience  that  comes  in  hos- 
pital work.  He  ]>racticed  medicine  in  Philadel- 
phia for  five  years  and  on  the  expiration  of  that 
|ieri'irl  came  to  P.nckley.  making  a  permanent 
iMcatimt  here  in  |8</J.  He  is  now  the  oldest  prac- 
titioner of  the  town  and  the  most  succcssfid, 
although  he  has  had  eight  Competitors.  He  pur- 
sued a  post-graduate  course  at  Phihulelphia  and 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Sricictv  of  Kailwav  Sur- 


122 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


geons.  He  keeps  thoroughly  abreast  with  the 
profession  in  the  progress  that  has  characterized 
the  medical  fraternity,  especially  during  the  last 
quarter  of  a  century,  and  his  practice  covers  a 
wide  territory  in  Iroquois  and  l-'ord  counties. 
He  owns  an  automobile,  which  he  uses  in  making 
his  professional  visits  through  the  country  and 
thus   he   greatly    economizes    time. 

Dr.  Bossart  was  married  in  Indiana  county. 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1887,  to  Miss 
Ida  M.  Alter,  a  native  of  that  state  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  James  .\.  Alter,  who  belonged  to  one  of 
the  old  families  there.  Four  children  have  been 
■burn  unto  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bossart :  La  Rue  R.,  a 
machinist  at  Greenville,  Pennsylvania ;  Emil  S., 
who  for  three  years  has  been  a  student  in  the 
Paxton  high  school ;  and  Raymond  and  Leola, 
both  at  home. 

Dr.  Bossart  has  been  a  lifelong  republican 
■and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  English 
Lutheran  church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
promoters  and  founders.  Fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  and  is 
examining  surgeon.  He  is  also  examiner  for 
some  of  the  old-line  insurance  companies  and  is 
one  of  the  physicians  for  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road Company,  having  acted  in  this  capacity 
for  ten  or  twelve  years.  He  has  built  up  a  large 
and  increasing  practice  and  is  a  well  known  and 
successful  physician.  Great  have  been  the 
changes  which  have  occurred  with  the  passing  of 
time  and  nothing  more  plainly  illustrates  this 
than  the  fact  that  his  grandfather  drove  a  stage 
coach  between  I'.altimore  and  Pittsburg  before 
the  advent  of  railmads,  while  the  Doctor  now 
travels  over  the  country  in  his  i)rivate  motor  car, 
covering  a  distance  which  would  have  seemed 
miraculous  two  generations  a,go.  He  is  a  man 
■of  good  business  ability  as  well  as  a  learned  and 
alile  physician  and  thus  is  meeting  with  success. 


R(  )I1KRT  CALDWELL. 

Robert  Caldwell,  one  of  Sheldon's  most  high- 
ly respected  citizens,  is  deserving  of  mention  in 
the  history  of  Iroquois  county,  where  for  forty- 
five  years  he  has  been  in  public  service  as  jus- 
tice of  the  peace.     In  public  office  and  in  busi- 


ness life  he  has  made  a  reputation  alike  unas- 
sailable, for  he  has  been  true  to  every  principle 
that  workeil  lor  honorable,  upright  and  strong 
manhood. 

Born  near  Circleville,  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
on  the  22d  of  February,  183 1.  he  is  descended 
from  Irish  ancestry  though  of  a  somewhat  re- 
mote i)erio(l.  The  Sheldon  Journal  in  a  recent 
article  concerning  Mr.  Caldwell  said :  "The 
name  Caldwell  comes  down  throu,gh  traditional 
history  as  eminating  from  an  officer  among  the 
Huguenots  in  France  during  the  early  crusade 
for  the  Protestant  religion.  This  officer  used 
neither  trunipet  nor  horn  in  directing  the  maneuv- 
ers of  his  army,  relying  on  nothing  more  than 
his  own  natural  Inud,  high-keyed,  powerful  voice. 
The)^  said  of  hini :  'He  called  well.'  The  two 
words  were  subsequently  combined  and  this  offi- 
cer was  known  as  'Caldwell,'  the  legendary  his- 
torv  fixing  him  as  the  remotest  antecedent  of 
the  now  numerous  Caldwell  family.  There  were 
certain  characteristics  in  this  ancestor  that  corre- 
spond with  those  existing  in  the  Caldwells  of 
the  present  day.  The  term  'Huguenot'  was  ap- 
plied in  derision  by  the  Roman  Catholics  of 
France  and  elsewhere  to  those  who  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Protestant  religion,  particularly  to 
those  who  followed  the  teachings  of  Galvanism. 
The  Caldwells  were  of  the  European  class  known 
as  'landed  nobility,'  were  in  good  circumstances 
and  had  a  coat  of  arms  as  a  mark  of  distinction 
for  financial  responsibility  and  honor.  Mr. 
Caldwell's  .great-grandfather,  Joseph  Caldwell, 
and  his  brother,  Jonathan,  were  captains  in 
Colonel  Patterson's  re.giment  in  the  Colonial 
.\rmy,  and  were  members  of  the  "Flying  Canip,' 
an  organization  of  soldiers  similar  to  that  of  the 
'Rough  Riders'  in  the  Spanish-American  war. 
In  passing  through  Kent  county,  Delaware,  they 
appropriated  a  coop  of  chickens,  consisting  of 
an  old  blue  hen  and  a  large  brood  of  blue  chicks. 
These  they  carried  along  on  the  march  for  the 
amusement  they  aoti'rded  when  in  camp.  In 
time  Captain  Caldwell's  company  came  to  be 
known  as  the  'lUue  Hen's  Chickens.'  No  doubt 
exists  as  to  the  origin  of  the  nickname  given  to 
the   state   of   Delaware." 

John  e'aldwell,  the  father  of  Robert  Caldwell, 
was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pe!insylvania, 
Februarv  5,   1800,  and  when  only  eight  vears  of 


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OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  0(    !!  I INOIS 


iixi  )()!■(  u^  CiM'xry   HI  iv.li>. 


3^1'  accnmpanifd  his  parents  on  tlicir  rviiioval 
to  Ohio,  where  land  was  entered  from  the  ^ov- 
emmcnt  and  the  farm  whicli  was  there  devel- 
0|>ed  remained  the  liume  n|  the  }jran<lparents  of 
our  snhject  tlirmif^hout  tlieir  suhseijuent  vears. 
After  attaining  his  majority  Jolm  Caldwell  was 
married  in  i82'>,  to  Miss  IClizalKth  Moimett,  wln' 
was  horn  in  (  )hio.  of  iVench  parentage.  Her 
father  was  one  of  the  jjioneers  of  the  Uncke\e 
state  and  served  as  a  captain  in  the  war  of  iSu. 
Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Caldwell  became  the  parents  of 
six  children:  Elizaheth  jane,  the  wife  of 
Dwight  Lalhoun.  now  of  Minneapolis,  Minne- 
sota; Isaac  .M.,  who  died  at  .Memphis.  Teimesscc. 
in  i8<)3.  while  serving  in  the  Civil  war;  William 
I...  who  died  on  the  old  homestead  farm  in  (  thin, 
July  8,  iS/f);  .\mos.  who  resides  at  X'ermilion. 
Illinois:  John  W..  of  Chicago:  and  Robert,  of 
this  review.  The  mother  departed  this  life  June 
22.  iS^S.  and  the  following  year  John  Caldwell 
was  married  to  Rebecca  McClellai.d.  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  by  whom  he  had  one  daughter. 
Anna  .Maria,  now  the  wife  of  \V.  If.  rrankum. 
of  .Marysville.  .Missouri.  The  father  died  in 
August.  1884.  He  was  a  valued  member  and 
active  worker  in  the  Methodist  I'piscopal  church 
and  was  a  very  highly  resi)ccted  citi/en.  Trinr 
to  the  war  he  was  a  stanch  abolitionist  and  was 
among  the  first  to  become  interested  in  the  un- 
dergromul  railroad. 

Robert  Caldwell  enjoyed  the  ailvantages  of  a 
ciimmon-school  education.  ;ind  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen years  starterl  out  in  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count by  selling  mercbaiulise.  Me  has  since  de- 
pended entirely  upon  his  own  resources,  and  the 
success  which  he  has  achieved  is  the  merited  re- 
ward of  his  laljor,  diligence  and  capable  manage- 
ment. He  may  justly  be  pmud  of  what  he  has 
accom])lishe<l.  for  he  lias  worked  bis  way  steadily 
upward  from  a  humble  tinancial  {position  to  one 
of  affluence,  and  thmughout  all  the  years  has 
maintained  an  imassailable  reputation  for  busi- 
ness integrity,  enjoying  the  confidence  and  ad- 
miration of  his  contemporaries.  He  cau'e  to 
Iroijuois  county  in  1852  in  com])any  with  his 
brother  Isaac,  and  for  one  \car  was  a  resident 
of  the  village  of  "nunkuin."  now  IpX|uois.  He 
then  ma<le  his  way  to  .'^heldon  and  took  up  his 
alx)clc  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  the  Har«lesty 
I'.rothers,  southwest  of  the  town.     .\s  a  farmer 


lie  was  very  successful,  and  for  twenty-two  yearn 
he  has  resi<lcd  on  what  became  known  as  tlie  .>ld 
homestead  pro|)crty.  his  attention  U-ing  devnted 
to  the  tilling  of  the  soil  and  to  the  raising  of 
crops.  Those  who  are  familiar  with  his  enter- 
prising spirit  will  readily  understand  without  Ih.-- 
ing  told  that  through  those  years  he  brought  his 
farm  un<ler  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and 
eipiippetl  it  with  all  modern  accessories  and  con- 
veniences. .\t  length,  retiring  from  the  active 
work  of  the  fields,  he  t(Kik  up  his  abode  in  Shel- 
don in  the  fall  of  1878.  an<I  began  dealing  in 
grain.  Twenty  years  were  devoteil  to  that  busi- 
ness and  he  met  with  an  equal  measure  of  suc- 
cess as  he  had  in  his  farming  operations.  He 
then  retired  from  commercial  pursuits  and  has 
since  given  his  attention  to  office  work,  In-ing  a 
notary  [>ublic.  conveyancer,  dealer  in  real  estate 
and  collection  agent. 

-Mr.  Caldwell  regards  as  pcrhajjs  the  most  mi- 
ixirtant  event  in  his  life  that  which  iKXurred  <in 
the  12th  of  .\ugust.  iS>Sf>.  when  Miss  Cynthia 
.\.  I'imu'o  became  his  wife.  She  was  Ixirn  in 
SjiringfieM.  Clark  county.  Ohio,  February  4, 
1837,  a  daughter  of  Getirge  and  Katie  ( liarnett) 
I'inneo.  who  were  natives  of  N'ermont,  and  in 
1S55  remove<l  from  Ohio  to  Ir(K|Uois  county, 
Illinois,  settling  on  a  farm  three  miles  northwest 
of  Sheldon,  which  property  is  known  as  the  .\s- 
bury  (."lark  farm.  .\lr.  and  .Mrs.  Caldwell  Ik;- 
c.ime  the  parents  of  four  children.  Orlando  itcn- 
ton  is  now  in  Colorado,  where  he  owns  a  ranch 
and  is  there  also  engagerl  in  dealing  in  horses  in 
comiection  with  Dr.  Hartman,  of  Columbus, 
(  )liio.  His  f.imily,  however,  are  residing  in  Chi- 
cago. John  I-eroy  is  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  for  the  Cleveland 
Cirain  ("ompany.  F.Imer  (i.  die<l  in  infancy. 
(  )live  C.  is  the  wife  of  Or.  V.  t'.  W'arne.  now  of 
Giicago. 

Mr.  C.nldwell  .-innbutes  iiuich  of  his  success 
to  the  assistance  and  encouragenient  which  be 
rcceiveil  from  his  estimable  wife.  Ff>r  a  half 
century  they  have  travelecl  life's  journey  happily 
together,  sharing  with  each  other  its  joys  an<l 
sorrows,  its  a<lvcrsity  an<l  its  success.  <  )n  the 
nth  of  .\ugiist,  ii^/i.  they  celelirate<I  their  gold- 
en wedcliiig.  which  was  ;i  memorable  event  in 
their  history  an<l  in  Sheklon  as  well.  As  the  an- 
niversarv  fell  on  Stnidav  thev  chose  to  celebrate 


126 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


it  on  Saturday.  It  was  first  planned  to  send  out 
personal  invitations  but  when  it  was  considered 
that  every  person  in  this  vicinity  was  a  wann 
friend  of  this  worthy  couple,  the  attair  was  made 
public  and  young  and  old,  rich  and  poor  to  the 
number  of  five  hundred  gathered  to  take  their 
part  in  the  festivities  and  to  wish  for  ^Ir.  and 
]Mrs.  Caldwell  many  happy  returns  of  the  day 
with  all  the  blessings  and  jileasures  that  life  can 
bring.  The  event  was  also  notable  in  the  fact 
that  it  was  the  tenth  wedding  anniversary  of  Mr. 
and  JMrs.  J.  L.  Caldwell,  their  son,  of  Galesburg, 
Illinois,  who  were  present,  and  that  on  this  date 
at  the  home  of  his  grandparents  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Frank  Eugene  Caldwell,  son  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orlando  Caldwell,  of  Denver,  Colo- 
rado, and  Miss  Edith  Foster,  of  Chicago,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  his  grandfather, 
Robert  Caldwell.  The  home  was  most  beauti- 
fully decorated  in  gold  and  white,  with  many 
wedding  bells.  The  reception  was  held  in  the 
afternoon  and  again  in  the  evening  hours,  when 
the  lawn  was  decorated  with  Chinese  lanterns. 
The  occasion  was  one  never  to  be  forgotten  by 
those  who  participated  therein.  ]\Iany  reminis- 
cences of  the  olden  times  were  called  up  and 
music  was  a  delightful  feature  of  the  occasion, 
both  through  the  afternoon  and  evening  hours. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Caldwell  have  so  endeared  them- 
selves to  all  who  know  them  that  most  sincere 
were  the  wishes  for  their  continued  life  and 
happiness.  Many  congratulatory  letters  were  re- 
ceived from  those  who  could  not  be  present,  in- 
cluding one  from  Hon.  Joseph  G.  CanudU. 
speaker  of  house  of  congress. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Caldwell  is  con- 
nected with  the  Patriotic  Order  of  the  .Sons  of 
America,  ^\'hcn  age  conferred  ujion  him  the 
right  of  franchise  he  cast  his  first  ])residential 
vote  for  General  \\'inficld  .S.  Scott,  the  old  whig 
candidate,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  repub- 
lican party  he  supported  John  C.  I<"rcniont,  and 
has  voted  for  each  republican  ncimince  at  the 
head  of  that  ticket  since  that  time.  He  is  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  prominent  party  leaders  in 
Iroquois  county  and  had  the  honor  of  entertain- 
ing at  his  home  Hon.  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  who  ad- 
dressed a  great  political  meeting  in  Sheldon. 
September  21,  1906.  Mr.  Caldwell  has  never 
been  a  politici.'ni  in  the  commonlv  acce])ted  sense 


of  the  term  and  yet  he  has  frequently  responded 
to  the  desire  of  his  fellow  citizens  that  he  should 
hold  office.  He  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  oldest 
justices  in  Illinois  in  years  of  continuous  service, 
for  he  has  acted  in  that  capacity  for  forty-five 
years.  Xo  word  of  eulogy  could  more  strongly 
indicate  his  capability  in  office  and  the  fairness 
and  impartiality  of  his  decisions  than  the  fact 
that  by  popular  suffrage  he  has  been  called  again 
and  again  to  this  ofiice.  He  has  also  served  as 
school  director  for  man\-  years  and  the  cause  of 
education  has  greatly  benefited  by  his  co-opera- 
tion in  its  behalf.  He  has  ever  been  a  liberal 
contributor  to  the  churches,  aiding  every  church 
in  Iroquois  county.  His  membership  is  with  the 
]\Iethodist  church,  to  which  his  wife  also  be- 
longs, and  they  have  put  forth  every  effort  in 
their  power  to  promote  the  growth  of  the  church 
and  extend  its  influence.  Their  home  is  a  beau- 
tiful brick  residence  in  Sheldon,  in  addition  to 
which  Mr.  Caldwell  owns  some  good  farming 
propertv  in  this  coimty.  He  is  a  man  of  fine 
personal  appearance,  a  gentleman  of  the  old 
school,  courteous,  genial  and  considerate,  and  is 
a  most  entertaining  companion.  He  talks  flu- 
ently and  most  interestingly  of  the  olden  times 
as  well  as  of  modern  events,  and  he  keeps  in 
touch  with  the  trend  of  modern  thought.  Hon- 
ored and  respected  by  all,  in  the  comnnmity 
where  he  lives  he  has  that  warm  personal  re- 
gard which  one  may  term  friendship  or  love,  and 
which  is  expressed  whenever  an  individual 
speaks  of  Robert  Caldwell.  One  who  has  known 
him  long  and  intimately  wrote  "Tod  nuicli  gdiul 
cannot  be  said  of  him."  and  what  higher  praise- 
can  man  desire  than  to  be  so  regarded  by  the 
people  among  win  mi  his  years  of  active  lifi.  have 
been  |iassed. 


JOHN  W.  MEIER. 

All  well  merited  and  honorable  prosperity 
conies  as  the  direct  result  of  individual  effort. 
The  ijathway  that  John  ^^^  Meier  has  trod  has 
not  been  strewn  with  the  wrecks  of  other  men's 
fortunes,  for  in  all  his  business  affairs  he  has 
liecn  straightforward  and  reliable,  griining  suc- 
cess bv  honorable  methods,  through  close  appli- 
cation and  unremitting  diligence,  and  it  is  there- 


^    H^bi^Jiyi 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVn<SIT>  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRDOl'olS  COrXTY.  11.1. 1N(  lis. 


tj>) 


fore  a  iiiattiT  oi  iinij^ratiilaiion  that  lie  is  IimI.in 
the  owner  of  three  humlred  and  twenty  acres  ol 
Ko<m1  farming  land  on  section  3,  Ash  (jrovc 
township.  His  birth  occurred  in  Will  county, 
Illinois,  June  22,  1849. 

Mis  father,  John  O.  Meier,  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  was  there  reared,  comin}.;  to  this 
country  when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years.  He 
made  his  way  at  once  to  Chicago,  when  thai 
city  was  a  small  village,  aiul  subsctjuently  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Will  county,  where  ho 
bought  wild  land  and  developed  a  farm.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  to  buy  and  settle  upon  the 
prairie  and  he  began  with  eighty  acres  of  land, 
to  which  he  added  from  time  to  time  until  his 
holdings  embraced  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres, 
constituting  a  well  improved  farm,  owing  to  the 
modem  resources  and  equipments  which  he 
placed  upon  it.  He  was  married  in  Chicago  to 
Miss  Anna  Rinnc,  a  native  of  Germany,  and 
both  parents  died  in  Will  county.  Their  family 
numbered  five  sons  and  eight  daughters,  and 
five  of  the  number  are  yet  living:  William  and 
Henry,  who  remain  upon  the  old  home  place ; 
Sophia,  the  wife  of  Henry  Wasman,  of  W'ill 
county;  and  Mary,  the  wife  of  William  I'eipen- 
bring,  of  Will  county. 

The  other  member  of  the  family  is  John  W., 
of  this  review,  who  was  reared  in  the  county  of 
his  nativity  and  is  indebted  to  the  public  anfl 
jjarochial  schools  for  the  educational  privileges 
that  he  enjoyed.  He  worked  in  the  fields  from 
the  time  of  early  planting  until  crops  were  har- 
vested in  the  late  autumn  and  continued  to  as- 
sist his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home  farm 
until  twenty-five  years  of  age.  .Xbout  that  time 
he  was  married  and  started  out  in  life  on  his 
own  account.  On  the  9th  of  July,  1874,  in  Will 
county,  he  was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Sophia 
Sheiwe,  with  whom  he  traveled  life's  journey 
happily  until  her  death  in  1888. 

They  removed  to  Iroquois  county  in  1874.  lo- 
cating on  land  which  his  father  had  previously 
purchased.  He  commenced  with  three  hundre<l 
and  twenty  acres  of  raw  prairie,  not  a  furrow 
having  been  turned  nor  an  improvement  made 
upon  the  place.  The  breaking  plow  was  soon 
at  work  and  the  seed  was  sown,  which  in  due 
course  of  time  brought  forth  rich  harvests.  Year 
after  vear  the  labor  has  1>ecn  continued  unremit- 


iingl\  ami  the  work  has  been  carried  lorward 
that  makes  a  valuable  farm  with  modern  equip- 
ments. Much  of  the  land  licing  low  and  wet, 
he  has  tiled  it  and  has  also  fcnce<l  it.  Cpon  the 
farm  he  erected  a  go<.Hl  two-story  residence  and 
afterward  built  a  large  barn  and  granary.  He 
has  set  out  an  orchard  and  nearly  the  entire 
jdace  is  fence<l  with  a  neat  and  well  trimmed 
hedge  of  his  own  planting.  In  1905  he  invested 
nearly  fourteen  hundred  dollars  in  tile  and  he 
now  has  one  of  the  Ik-si  improveil  .uid  inosi  ara- 
ble  farms  in  the  township. 

Mr.  .Meier  had  eight  children  In  his  lirst  mar- 
riage: John,  who  is  a  business  man  living  in 
Minneapolis.  Minnesota;  William,  a  fanner  of 
that  state;  Herman,  who  is  assix'iated  with  his 
brother  William  and  is  the  owner  of  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Minnesota; 
.Martin,  Henry  and  Otto,  who  assist  in  the  oper- 
ation of  the  home  farm;  Lena,  the  wife  of  J.  1). 
Meyer,  a  farmer  of  Ash  Grove  township;  and 
limma.  at  home.  .Mr.  Meier  was  again  married 
in  Will  County  on  the  9th  of  July,  1890,  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Freda  Daus.  a  native  of 
Gcnnany.  who  was  brought  to  this  country  by 
her  parents  when  two  years  of  age,  the  family 
locating  in  Indiana.  Five  children  have  been 
born  of  this  marriage.  Louisa  H.,  Fdward  (.'., 
Walter  T.,  .\ll>ert   .A.  and  .Mice   Ruth. 

When  age  conferred  upon  Mr.  Meier  the  right 
of  franchise  he  allied  his  interests  with  the  re- 
publican party  and  has  supported  each  of  its 
presidential  nominees  since  casting  his  first  bal- 
lot for  General  Grant  in  1872.  In  local  jxilitics 
he  has  lieen  particularly  interested  and  has  l>een 
recognized  as  a  leader  in  the  ranks  of  his  party. 
He  has  been  elected  and  re-elected  supervisor  of 
his  township  until  his  service  has  covered  eight 
consecutive  years.  He  serve<i  on  the  finance 
committee,  equalization  committee,  printing  and 
other  committees.  He  has  l)ecn  and  is  now  the 
township  school  trustee  and  at  a  former  day  he 
was  for  two  years  .assessor.  He  has  likewise 
l)een  justice  of  the  peace  for  six  years  and  his 
decisions  were  fair  and  impartial,  being  baseil 
upon  the  law  and  the  equity  in  the  case.  He  and 
his  wife  were  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and 
arc  now  members  of  the  Woodworth  Lutheran 
church.  Mr.  Meier  has  long  l>een  regarded  as 
one  of  the  popular  men  of  .'\sh  Grove  township. 


13° 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


his  services  having  been  of  the  utmost  vakie  in 
the  promotion  of  community  interests.  He  has 
made  a  faithful  and  efficient  officer  and  has  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  community.  His 
business  affairs  have  been  carefully  conducted 
and  at  all  times  he  has  shown  himself  worthy  of 
the  trust  which  is  unifornilv  accorded  him. 


PETER  DTSRIEX. 


Peter  O'Brien  is  one  of  the  venerable  citizens 
of  Iroquois  county,  who  for  many  years  followed 
general  agricultural  pursuits  but  since  1900  has 
lived  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  rest  which 
he  has  truly  earned  and  richly  deserves.  He  was 
born  in  Kings  count}'.  Ireland,  in  1830.  His  fa- 
ther. Darby  O'Brien,  was  a  native  of  Ireland 
and  a  farmer  by  occupation.  Thinking  to  enjoy 
better  business  opportunities  in  the  new  world 
he  started  for  America  but  died  while  on  the 
voyage.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Bridget  White,  was  also  born  on  the  Emerald 
Isle,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  came  together  to  the  United 
States  but  only  one  is  now  living. 

To  this  family  belonged  Peter  O'Brien,  who 
has  been  a  resident  of  the  new  world  since  1849. 
He  went  first  to  Chicago  and  afterward  to  \M11 
count\ .  Illinois,  where  for  thirteen  years  he 
rented  land  from  the  John  Davison  estate.  In 
I  1872  he  removed  to  Sheldon  township,  Iroquois 
county,  and  purchased  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  on  section  ^S-  of  which  one  hun- 
dred and  twentv  acres  had  been  imjiroved.  He 
put  all  the  buildings  upon  the  place,  however, 
including  a  comfortable  dwelling,  good  barns  and 
corn  cribs.  He  has  likewise  laid  many  rods  of 
tile  and  has  divided  his  place  into  fields  of  con- 
venient size  by  well  kept  fences.  Thus  he  carried 
on  the  work  of  improving  the  farm  but  he  has 
never  made  his  home  on  that  place.  In  1874  he 
])nrchased  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
securing  eighty  acres  from  David  Caldwell  on 
section  3,  Sheldon  township.  This  had  been  im- 
])rove(l  to  some  extent  but  the  buildings  now  seen 
upon  it  are  monuments  to  the  thrift  and  labor 
of  the  present  owner.  He  also  has  forty-two 
acres  on    section    2   in    his   daughter's   name   but 


rents  that  land.  He  continued  actively  in  farm- 
ing until  1901,  since  which  time  he  has  lived 
retired,  for  he  is  now  well  advanced  in  years. 
In  connection  with  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil 
he  has  raised  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs.  He  like- 
wise has  forty  acres  of  land  in  Concord  town- 
ship on  sections  20  and  21  and  his  diflferent 
holdings  indicate  his  life  of  thrift  and  industn.-, 
for  he  started  out  on  his  own  account  empty- 
handed,  so  that  whatever  success  he  has  achieved 
and  enjoyed  is  the  merited  reward  of  his  own 
labor.  His  political  views  are  in  accord  with 
the  principles  of  demoracy,  but  he  has  never 
sought  or  desired  office,  preferring  to  concentrate 
his  energies  upon  his  business  affairs. 

Mr.  O'Brien  was  married  in  Jasper  county, 
Indiana,  in  1876,  to  Miss  Pauline  Spitznagel,  a 
native  of  Germany.  They  have  two  children, 
Lula  and  Edward,  at  home. 


ORMAX   M.   MILLER. 

Ornian  M.  Miller,  one  of  the  few  surviving 
veterans  of  the  Civil  war  and  a  jirosperous  farm- 
er, owning  and  operating  a  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres,  situated  on  section  13,  Prairie 
Green  township,  dates  his  residence  in  Illinois 
from  185'),  and  in  Iroquois  county  since  1877. 
He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Hamilton  county, 
near  Cincinnati,  May  24,  1841.  His  paternal 
grandfather  was  Stanfield  ^liller,  who  was  bom 
in  (iermany  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Hamilton  county,  locating  there  when  Cincinnati 
was  only  a  crossroads  village.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  son,  George 
Miller,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  but  was 
reared  in  Hamilton  county  and  was  there  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Hannah  \'an  Blangan.  imd  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  Orman  'SI.  Miller  of  this 
review.  The  father  always  followed  farming  in 
order  to  provide  for  himself  and  faniilv.  and  his 
death  occurred  in  Hamilton  county,  after  which 
his  widow  removed  with  her  family  near  Toulon, 
in  Stark  county.  Illinois,  where  she  bought  a 
farm,  which  she  ojierated  by  the  assistance  of  her 
sons.  O.  M.  and  George.  Her  death  there  oc- 
curred in  lanuarv.  1861. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


'31 


Ornian  M.  Miller  was  reared  in  the  Buckeye 
•state  to  the  aj;c  of  fifteen  years  and  then  accom- 
panied his  mollier  t)n  the  removal  to  this  state, 
and  he  assisted  her  in  the  nianaKement  of  her 
farm  until  her  demise.  On  the  12th  of  .\u>;ust. 
1862,  his  patriotic  spirit  l)einj^  aroused  hy  the 
continued  attempt  of  the  south  to  overthrow  the 
L'nion.  he  enlisted  as  a  niemher  of  the  t  )ne  Hun- 
dred and  Twelfth  Illinois  N'oluntcer  Infantry,  un- 
der Colonel  J.  Henderson.  The  regiment  Ix'inp 
sent  to  the  south,  lie  participated  in  the  hattle  at 
Knoxvillc.  Tennessee,  and  was  captured  at  Cleve- 
land and  held  as  a  prisoner  of  war  for  six  months 
at  Richmond  and  Belle  Isle,  after  which  he  was 
exchanged.  He  rejoined  his  regiment  and  took 
part  in  the  fight  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  was  ir. 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  hattles  of  Nashville, 
Franklin.  Goldsboro.  and  Greensboro,  and  was 
later  mustered  out  at  the  latter  place,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Chicago,  in  July,  1865. 
He  then  returned  to  his  hcjme  in  Stark  county 
and  again  resumed  farming,  but  later  went  to 
McLean  county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm, 
whereon  he  made  his  home  for  a  decade,  when  he 
sold  that  projK'rty  and  in  1877  removed  to  Iro- 
quois county  and  purchased  the  farm  on  which 
he  has  made  his  home  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  here  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land,  and 
all  of  the  improvements  which  are  here  seen  have 
been  made  by  the  present  owner.  He  built  fences, 
tiled  his  land  and  soon  placed  the  fields  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation,  each  year  harvesting 
good  crops  in  return  for  the  care  and  labor  he 
had  lx;stowed  u()on  the  soil.  He  has  a  good  sub- 
stantial house,  bam.  cribs  and  other  outbuildings 
necessary  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  and 
ever\-thing  about  his  place  is  kept  in  gnod  rei)air 
and  the  place  in  its  neat  and  attractive  appearance 
indicates  the  careful  management  and  goo<l  busi- 
ness judgment  of  Mr.  .Miller.  In  addition  to  his 
agricultural  interests  he  also  raises  gocKl  grades 
of  stock  and  finds  this  to  be  a  profitable  source 
of  revenue. 

Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mi.<;s  Km- 
ily  Long,  their  wcd<ling  being  celebrated  in  Giari- 
ton,  Iowa,  March  9,  iSTx).  She  was  Iiorn  in  Ni> 
ble  county,  Indiana,  but  wtjs  reared  in  Stark 
county,  this  state,  from  the  age  of  seven  or  eight 
years.  I'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  l)een 
born  seven  chihiren :     Ernest  Rov,  who  is  mar- 


ried and  follows  fanning  at  Crab  Apple  Grove, 
Illinois ;  .\ll)ert  Lloyd,  wl»  is  also  married  ana 
is  a  resident  farmer  of  I^i  Grange  county,  Indi- 
ana; I'rank  and  .\rthur,  who  assist  their  father 
in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  home  fanii ;  Lillie, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Thompson,  a  resident  farmer 
of  BeiUoii  county,  Indiana:  Myrtle,  now  the  wife 
of  l-ifayettc  Jelt,  a  fanner  of  Prairie  Green 
township ;  and  Nora,  the  wife  of  Trank  Wilkin- 
son, who  resides  at  Wellington,  Illinois. 

.Mr.  .Miller  formerly  adhered  to  the  principles 
of  democracy  but  is  now  a  prohibitionist,  thus 
indicating  his  views  on  the  temperance  (picstion. 
He  is  a  lx*licver  in  gixxl  schools  and  comjKrtcnt 
teachers  and  has  lieen  a  memlx-r  of  the  school 
Iward  for  twelve  years  and  president  of  the  dis- 
trict for  several  years.  Both  lie  and  his  wife 
hold  memlx-rship  in  the  Christian  church,  in 
which  he  has  served  as  elder  for  the  past  twelve 
or  fourteen  \ears.  He  maintains  pleasant  rela- 
tions with  his  old  army  comrades  by  his  mcmber- 
shij)  in  the  Grand  .Army  |K)st  at  Hooj)eston.  He 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  IrcKjuois 
county,  and  has  been  a  valuable  assistant  in  much 
of  the  ])rogress  and  deveIo[)meiit  that  has  here 
been  made  in  the  line  of  agricultural  pursuits. 
He  is  a  progressive  and  well  known  farmer  and 
a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  and  is  honored  and 
respected  wherever  known. 


IloKACK  GIBSON,  .M.  D. 

Dr.  Horace  Gibson  has  gained  in  his  profession 
a  i)osition  of  prominence  among  the  representa- 
tives of  the  calling  in  Inxpiois  county  and,  more- 
over, he  is  concerned  in  practical  politics,  his 
worth  and  ability  leading  to  his  selection  for 
various  |n)Iilical  honors.  M  this  writing  he  is 
serving  as  mayor  of  Sheldon  and  as  supervisor 
of  Sheldon  township,  and  his  official  service  has 
ever  Ixen  of  a  character  that  is  proof  of  his  pub- 
lic spirit  and  his  sense  of  conscientious  obli- 
gation in  the  performance  of  all  the  duties  that 
thus  devolve  upon  him. 

Dr.  Gibson  was  l)om  in  F^ockport.  New  York. 
I'ebruar>-  5.  1858,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  Gib- 
son, who  came  to  this  coimty  in  18^15,  settling 
in    Sheldon.     He    was   a    fanner   by    occupation 


132 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


and  followed  that  pursuit  throughout  the  period 
of  his  active  business  career.  For  thirty-eight 
years  he  continued  a  resident  of  Sheldon,  where 
his  death  occurred  in  1903,  when  he  had  reached 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two  years.  He  was 
of  English  descent  and  became  a  resident  of 
Xew  York  in  1850.  In  early  manhood  he  wedded 
Jane  Pope  and  unto  them  were  born  seven  chil- 
dren, but  Dr.  Gibson  is  the  only  one  now  living. 

In  the  common  schools  the  Doctor  acquired 
his  early  education  and  worked  upon  the  home 
farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age.  He  after- 
ward spent  three  years  as  a  student  at  Onarga, 
Illinois,  and  subsequently  attended  Wabash  Col- 
lege in  huliana  for  one  year.  He  then  engaged 
in  teaching  at  Wabasha,  Minnesota,  for  three 
years  and  during  that  period  spent  the  summer 
seasons  in  Alinneapolis.  Desirous  for  further 
educational  advancement,  he  matriculated  in  the 
University  of  Wisconsin,  where  he  won  the  mas- 
ter degree,  after  which  he  taught  for  three  years 
at  Alayville,  that  state.  He  regarded  teaching, 
however,  as  an  initial  step  to  other  professional 
labor  and  at  length  found  opportunity  to  gratify 
his  ambition,  he  becoming  a  medical  student.  He 
entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from  which 
he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1892  and  was 
further  equipped  for  the  duties  of  the  profession 
by  hospital  work.  Dr.  Gibson  made  his  own 
way  through  college,  having  previously  earned 
the  money  necessary  for  his  tuition  and  the  ex- 
penses of  a  college  course.  Following  his  grad- 
uation he  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  engaged 
in  practice  for  three  and  a  half  years  and  on  re- 
turning to  Illinois  he  located  at  Sheldon,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  While  in  college  he 
made  a  specialty  of  the  diseases  of  children  and 
has  been  very  successful  in  his  practice  along  that 
line.  He  also  does  gynecological  work  and  has 
an  extensive  general  practice  indicative  of  the 
trust  and  confidence  reposed  in  him.  He  has 
constanti}'  broadened  his  knowledge  and  pro- 
moted his  efficiency  by  reading  and  in\-estigatiiin 
and  is  a  physician  and  surgeon  of  wide  erudi- 
tion and  practical  skill. 

Dr.  Gibson  has  been  married  twice.  He  first 
wedded  Cora  Merrill,  of  Minnesota,  who  died  in 
1894,  and  subsequently  he  married  Clara  Bush, 
of  Sheldon,  who  departed  this  life  in  Xovcmber, 
1905,   leaving  one   daughter,   Genevra.   now   five 


years  of  age.  The  family  home  is  a  beautiful 
residence  and  its  hospitality  is  one  of  its  attract- 
ive features. 

Dr.  iiibson  belongs  to  Sheldon  lodge,  Xo.  609, 
A.  ]•".  &  A.  M.,  and  is  a  man  of  influence  in 
local  political  circles.  He  votes  with  the  democ- 
racy where  state  and  national  questions  are  in- 
volved but  casts  an  independent  local  ballot  and 
holds  the  opinion  that  municipal  and  county  busi- 
ness would  be  better  performed  if  politics  was 
not  allowed  to  enter  into  the  selection  of  men 
for  office.  That  his  fellow  citizens  recognize 
his  fitness  for  leadership  and  appreciate  his  fidel- 
ity in  positions  of  public  trust  is  indicated  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  been  elected  and  re-elected  to 
the  office  of  mayor,  in  whicli  he  has  served  since 
1903.  He  has  also  been  supervisor  of  Sheldon 
township  since  that  time.  ( )f  limited  financial 
resources  in  youth,  he  has  throughout  his  life 
eagerly  availed  himself  of  the  opportunities  which 
have  presented  and  thus  has  advanced  steadily 
in  those  walks  of  life  demanding  keen  intellectual- 
ity, a  clear  vision  and  steadfast  purpose.  Both 
in  his  professional  and  political  life  his  efforts 
have  been  of  great  benefit  to  his  fellownien  and 
Sheldon  has  profited  by  his  progressive  citizen- 
ship and  his  skill  in  the  practice  of  medicine  and' 


T-  D.  RIGGS. 


J.  D.  Riggs  is  one  of  the  substantial  business 
men  of  Iroquois  county  and  his  eflforts  are  of 
material  benefit  to  the  city  of  Buckley,  in  which 
he  makes  his  home.  He  has  been  a  resident  of 
the  county  for  a  half  centur\,  ha\ing  located 
here  in  1856  when  a  youth  of  about  twelve  vears. 
He  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
-August  15,  1844,  a  son  of  W.  G.  Riggs,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  the  same  locality  and  who  was 
a  son  of  William  Ri,g.gs.  The  father  of  our  sub- 
ject was  reared  to  manhdod  in  I'emisylvania  and 
there  wedded  Miss  Mary  Davis,  also  a  native 
of  that  state.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner 
1)\  trade  and  cnnducted  otlicr  business  interests 
as  well.  In  1856  he  brought  his  family  to  Illi- 
nois, locating  first  on  a  farm  in  Iroquois  county, 
where  he  engagccl  in  the  tilling  of  the  soil  for 
a  few  \ears.     He  erected  the  first  business  house- 


I.  D.  KICCS. 


LIBRARy 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROUI  '  " 


^  TV.  11.1. INt  il>. 


«35 


in  lUicklev  in  1859,  put  in  a  stivk  of  jjchmIs  anil 
iKX-anic  the  first  merchant  of  the  town.  Tin- 
present  fine  two-story  hrick  business  lilock  of  |. 
D.  Kiujjs  occupies  the  site  u\Hm  which  the  father 
built  the  first  store.  The  latter  continued  in  ac- 
tive business  for  twenty  years  and  prospered  in 
his  undertakinps.  becoming;  one  of  the  well 
known  and  leadinjj  merchants  of  the  county.  He 
continued  to  reside  in  lUickley  until  calle<l  to  his 
final  rest  in  .April.  i8<j7,  his  wife  survivinp  him 
for  aliout  two  years  and  passin^j  away  in  Jan- 
uary, 1899. 

J.  D.  kigps  s|}cnt  the  first  twelve  years  of  his 
life  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  then  came 
with  his  parents  to  Illin«)is,  continnintj  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools  of  Irotpiois  comity 
and  in  ( Jnargn  Seminary.  In  March.  18/^14.  when 
not  yet  twenty  years  of  ape.  he  offered  his  serv- 
ices of  the  government,  joining  Company  E  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  \'oI- 
imteer  Infantry,  lie  was  then  sent  south  to  Ken- 
tucky and  was  kept  on  puard  duty.  Uecominp 
ill  he  was  granted  permission  to  return  home  on 
a  furlough  and  because  of  his  physical  disability 
was  honorably  dischargctl  in  the  fall  of  i8^>4. 

After  sufficiently  recuperating  Mr.  Riggs 
joined  his  father  in  business  and  assisted  him  in 
the  conduct  of  the  store,  receiving  practical  busi- 
ness training  during  that  ]ieriod.  He  was  thus 
engaged  for  several  years,  after  which  lie  became 
cashier  of  the  Muckley  I'.ank.  serving  for  aliout 
twenty  years.  I'rcvious  to  this  time,  however, 
he  had  acted  as  <ieputy  in  the  office  of  the  cir- 
cuit clerk  for  al>out  one  year.  He  t<x)k  an  in- 
terest in  his  father's  business  and  after  his  long 
Ijanking  experience  he  returned  to  the  store  and 
is  now  senior  partner  of  the  fimi  of  Riggs  &  Mc- 
Clave.  They  carry  a  large  stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise, including  hardware  an<l  implements. 
an<l  have  built  uj)  an  extensive  and  constantly 
increasing  trade,  lieing  known  as  substantial 
business  men  of  IrcKjuois  county. 

In  i8'')7,  in  .Xrtcsia  township,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Riggs  and  Miss  Mary  F. 
McClave.  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  in  i8<i4  Ik- 
camc  a  resident  of  this  county.  They  now  have 
two  living  children:  Lee  )..  a  well  educatol 
young  man  who  is  connected  with  the  railroad 
serv'ice  of  the  Illinois  Central;  an«l  William  T.. 
who  is  with  his  father  in  the  store.     The\   also 


lost  one  son,  Joe!  P..  who  reached  adult  ,nge  jmd 
died  in  July,  i8<;)3.  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
\ears. 

.Mr.  Riggs  votes  with  tlie  republican  party,  of 
which  he  has  Iwen  an  indexible  adv<H:ate  since 
casting  his  first  proidential  vote  for  (ieneral 
(irant  in  iW»8.  He  h.ns  never  missed  a  presi- 
dential election  and  at  each  has  given  his  alle- 
giance to  the  nominees  at  the  head  of  the  ticket. 
Without  aspiration  for  office,  he  has  nevertheless 
been  called  to  jMisitions  of  public  trust  by  his 
fellow  townsmen,  acting  as  town  clerk  and 
trustee,  as  schtM)!  treasurer,  as  township  clerk 
and  in  other  local  offices.  He  has  likewise  l>een 
a  delegate  to  numerous  county  conventions.  He 
and  his  family  are  meml)ers  of  the  .Methoilist 
l-'piscopal  church  of  Ituckley,  in  which  Mr.  Riggs 
is  now  serving  as  trustee  and  steward.  an<l  in  the 
work  of  church  and  Sunday-school  takes  a  most 
active  and  helpful  interest.  He  affiliates  with 
the  .Masonic  fraternity,  belonging  to  the  Knlge 
at  I'.nckley,  to  the  chapter  and  commandery  at 
I'axton.  while  his  wife  is  a  member  and  one  of 
the  officers  in  the  Mastern  Star  Imlge.  The  busi- 
ness record  of  .Mr.  Riggs  has  Ixrcn  characterized 
by  consecutive  |irogre-.s  and  by  a  spirit  of  en- 
ergv  and  perseverance  that  lias  enabled  him  to 
work  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now  one  of  the 
prosperous  nwrchants,  not  only  <if  lluckley  but 
f>f  this  rlistrict.  His  record  is  <Mie  which  any 
man  might  be  proud  to  possess,  for  he  has  never 
made  engagements  that  he  has  not  met  nor  in- 
curred obligations  that  he  has  not  discharge<l. 
Integrity  is  .snionymous  with  his  name  in  trade 
circles  in  this  l<K-ality  and  he  enjoys  the  respect 
and  admiration  of  his  contem|K)raries  and  the 
good  will  of  the  majority  of  those  who  know  him. 


TKt.t.K  IlKorilhKS. 


The  history  of  the  Tegge  family  is  clo.sely 
identified  with  the  busini-ss  and  social  interests 
of  i'apinerm.  Its  representatives  have  been  in 
Irtxpiois  county  for  almost  a  half  century  and  the 
name  has  figurerl  c(Mitinnously  in  connection  with 
the  business  life  of  the  town.  Tegge  I'irothers, 
now  engaged  in  general  merchandising  and  in 
the  grain  trade  in   Papineau.  are  well  known  in 


136 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


commercial  circles.  The  members  of  the  firm 
are  William  F.  and  Edward  J.  Tegge,  who  for 
ten  years  have  been  buying  and  shipping  grain 
and  live  stock  and  have  prospered  all  of  the  time. 
They  are  sons  of  Fred  Tegge.  who  was  born  in 
Germany  and  came  to  America  with  his  jmrents 
in  the  sjjring  of  1859.  settling  on  wild  land  in 
Martinton  township.  Irociuois  county,  llinois, 
where  lie  continued  to  live  until  the  fall  of  1875. 
lie  then  went  into  business  with  his  brother,  Wil- 
liam Tegge.  a  ])artnership  which  was  continued 
until  the  fall  of  18S7.  when  William  Tegge  re- 
tired from  the  firm  and  the  business  was  con- 
tinued by  F.  Tegge  until  the  time  of  his  death, 
which  occurred  January  25,  1895.  For  five 
\cars  afterward  it  was  conducted  as  his  estate 
and  then  the  present  firm  of  Tegge  Brothers 
came  into  existence. 

Fred  Tegge  was  born  in  Germany,  February 
27,  1847,  ^"fl  '"  i'*^5<^  crossed  the  Atlantic  to 
America.  It  was  in  Martinton  township,  on  the 
2d  of  July,  1870,  that  he  married  Miss  ^largaret 
Friendt,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany,  De- 
cember 21,  1848,  and  who  crossed  the  Atlantic 
about  1868.  Thev  began  housekeeping  in  Mar- 
tinton and  five  years  later  removed  to  Papineau, 
where  Airs.  Tegge  still  resides  in  a  comfortable 
home  amid  pleasant  surroundings.  The  children 
born  of  this  marriage  are  as  follows:  Emma, 
wh<5  was  born  .\pril  13,  187 1,  and  whose  death 
occurred  .\pril  30,  1902:  William  V..  who  was 
born  February  17,  1876;  Edward  J.,  born  .\o- 
vember  26,  1878;  and  Hattie,  July  26,  1889.  (  )f 
this  family  W.  !•".  Tegge  was  married  October 
1,  1902,  to  Miss  Bertha  Voss,  who  was  born 
.\pril  (S,  1878.  Thcv  had  two  children:  Leona, 
Ixjrn  Xoveiubcr  17,  1903 ;  and  Lawrence,  who 
was  born  June  13,  1905,  and  who  died  on  the 
7th  of  December  of  that  year.  E.  J.  Tegge  was 
married  .Se])tember  24,  1901,  to  Miss  Emma 
llahnke.  who  was  born  in  November.  1878.  and 
they  have  a  daughter,  Mildred,  born  Julv  14, 
i()03:  and  a  son,  Freddie,  born  December  23, 
1904,  the  father  frequenth-  commenting  on  the 
fact  that  he  was  a  most  acceptable  Christmas 
gift. 

Reared  in  Iro(|uois  county,  the  Tegge  brothers 
have  made  a  creditable  record  in  the  business 
circles  of  their  home  locality  and  ])rosperity  has 
followed   tluir   efforts.     Tlie\'   are   conducting  an 


excellent  store,  well  equipped  with  a  large  and 
carefully  selected  line  of  goods,  and  their  posi- 
tion in  commercial  circles  is  a  prominent  one. 
They  enjoy  the  entire  confidence  of  the  trading 
community  and  the  house  sustains  an  unassail- 
able reputation  for  business  integrity  and  fair- 
ness. The  labors  of  the  one  ably  suijplement 
and  round  out  the  labors  of  the  other  and  in  ad- 
dition to  general  merchandising  they  carry  on  a 
good  trade  as  shippers  of  grain  antl  live  stock, 
in  which  connection  their  business  has  assumed 
large  proportions  and  brings  them  a  gratifying 
profit.  They  also  deal  in  coal,  lumber  and  farm 
implements  at  Papineau  and  carry  on  a  grain, 
coal  and  implement  business  at  .St.  .\nne,  Illinois. 


WILLIAM  LLOYD  FASTBURX. 

\\'illiam  Lloyd  Eastburn  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  white  child  born  in  Irofjuois 
county  and  that  he  has  found  this  section  of  the 
state  an  attractive  place  of  residence,  affording 
good  opportunities  to  the  settlers  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  he  has  always  made  his  home  within 
the  borders  of  the  county.  His  birth  occurred 
in  Concord  township.  February  22.  1836.  His 
paternal  grandfather.  Jesse  Eastburn,  came  to 
Sheldon  in  1832,  and  there  made  his  home.  That 
was  the  year  in  which  the  Black  Hawk  war  oc- 
curred, which  practically  ended  the  Indian  do- 
main in  Illinois. 

Joseph  Barton  Eastburn,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Concord  town- 
shi])  by  wagon  in  1830.  He  entered  land  in 
Concord  and  .Sheldon  townships,  broke  the  virgin 
soil  and  carried  on  the  work  of  ini])rovement 
until  he  had  brought  the  fields  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  L'pon  his  farm  lie  built  a  cabin 
of  round  logs,  the  little  pioneer  home  being  only 
eighteen  by  twent\-  feet,  and  across  one  end  of 
the  room  was  ,'i  tlreidace.  In  that  primitive 
dwelling  the  family  li\-ed  for  a  number  of  \ears. 
In  those  early  days  oiled  ])aper  was  used  instead 
of  window  glass  in  log  houses  and  all  the  fur- 
nishings were  very  meager  and  ])riniitive.  while 
the  farm  iiii|)lenunls  were  extremely  crude  as 
comp;ired  to  the  improved  niachiner\-  used  at  the 


LIBRARy 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


^ 


IROQl' 


!  iJ.l.M.MS. 


"J«> 


])rcsciU  lime.  Cluirch  was  held  in  the  (lillerciit 
houses  wlieii  an  itinerant  minister  would  visit  the 
ncii^hborlux-xl,  and  scIickiI  was  conductid  on  the 
subscription  plan.  Une  winter  a  loy  chicken- 
house,  fourteen  by  sixteen  feet,  which  Mr.  Kast- 
burn  had  built,  was  used  for  school  ]»ur|H>ses  as 
no  other  buildin^j  could  be  secured,  in  those 
early  days  crops  had  to  Ik  hauled  to  Chica;;o  and 
other  distant  markets.  .\s  the  years  passed, 
however,  Joseph  U.  Eastburn  prospered  in  his 
undcrtakiiifjs  and.  investing;  in  land  from  time  to 
time  as  his  fuiancial  resources  increased,  he  ulti- 
mately became  the  owner  of  about  five  hundred 
acres,  which  he  had  in  his  possession  at  the  time 
of  his  death  in  lS<io.  His  wife,  who  in  her  maid- 
enhiMxl  was  .*>arali  Truitt.  was  a  native  of  ( )hio, 
and  they  were  the  |)arents  of  six  children  but  only 
three  are  now  livin;^:  William  Lloyd,  of  this 
review:  .Mien  Miner,  a  retired  farmer  livinj^  in 
Sheldon:  and  Parker  'P..  who  has  also  retired 
but  still  lives  on  his  farm  near  l-'aslburn  station. 
Those  deceased  arc  Jesse,  the  oldest  of  the  fam- 
ily, who  died  when  about  nineteen  years  of  a^e ; 
David,  the  younj^est,  who  died  at  his  home  in 
Kansas  in  nj02;  and  one  dauj;hter  who  died  in 
infancy. 

William  IJoyd  ICastburn  assisted  his  father  in 
the  work  of  the  home  fami  until  he  was  twenty 
years  (.)f  age.  when  he  Ix-fjim  business  life  on  his 
own  accoimt,  operatinjj  some  of  his  fatiier's  land. 
Later  he  boupht  a  quarter  section  in  Sheldon 
township  and  has  added  to  this  ])lace  until  he  now 
owns    tive    hundred    acres    there.     He    has    also 

'  fann  land  in  Concord,  Middleix^rt.  IJelmont  and 
Sheldon   townships,   and    his   landed   possessions 

;  apgrcjjate  seven  hundred  and  forty  acres.  He 
has  built  three  sets  of  buildings  on  his  land,  has 
tiled  the  entire  farm  and  has  added  many  other 
substamial  and  modern  imi>rovements  Through- 
out his  entire  life  he  has  carried  on  famiinp  and 
stock-raisinp,  and  has  alsii  boujjfht  and  ship|)ed 
cattle  and  hops.  In  1870  the  town  of  Eastburn 
was  establishal  and  nametl  in  honor  of  the  fam- 
ily, as  was  the  I-'astburn  I'nited  Mrethren  church. 
Ten  years  ago  W.  L.  Eastburn  retired  from  ac- 
tive farm  work  and  has  since  rented  his  land  to 
his  sons.  Five  years  apo  he  lK)npht  the  home  of 
Ci.  W.  Rrown  and  four  acres  in  Watseka  and 
has  resided  here  continuously  since,  enjoyiiiR  a 
well  carncfl  rest. 


Mr.  Eastburn  wa.s  married  in  Concord  town- 
ship. May  12,  1856,  to  Miss  Massi  Ho.ipland, 
who  was  Ixim  in  Coshocton  county,  t  >hio,  .March 
15.  1838,  a  daughter  of  Charlc&  Huagland,  who 
was  born  in  ( )hio,  and  came  l»y  wapon  with  a 
party  to  Concord  township  in  184^1.  Her  lather 
enteretl  s<.>nie  land  and  Ixutpht  more,  having  in 
all  eipht  hundred  acres.  His  wife,  who  Uire 
the  maiilen  name  of  Susan  Clark,  was  Imrn  in 
(Jliio  and  died  in  1848.  .Mr.  Hoapland  died  in 
iifx).  at  the  very  venerable  ;ipe  of  ninety->evcn 
\ears.  I>eiiip  the  oldest  resident  of  the  county  at 
that  time.  He  had  lived  lure  from  jiioneiT  <lays 
anil  had  a  very  wide  acipiaitttance  and  the  favor- 
able regard  of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  h^istburn  celebrated  their  golden 
we<ldiiig  on  the  iJth  of  .May,  I<KJ5.  Cnto  them 
have  been  l>orn  eight  children,  Charles,  Joseph, 
James.  .Mrs.  Ella  Mackkimpson,  (ic<irg«,  Mrs. 
-Maggie  I'leming.  Mrs.  Cynthia  Kelley,  and 
I'ark  W..  who  resides  on  the  home  fann. 

Mr.  Eastburn  has  served  as  road  commissioner, 
as  school  ilirector  and  treasurer  and  has  always 
been  interested  in  matters  pertaining  to  general 
jirogress  antl  improvemeiTt,  giving  his  support  to 
many  movements  for  the  general  go<xl.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Cnited  I'.rethren  church  and  his  life 
has  been  ever  honorable  and  upright.  As  the 
oldest  native  son  of  the  county  he  has  most  inti- 
mate knowledge  of  its  history  and  its  develop- 
ment. \'ery  few  evidences  of  civilization  could 
here  Ik.-  found  at  the  time  of  his  birth.  There 
were  still  many  traces  of  Indian  rule  here  and 
only  at  w  ide  intervals  was  to  be  found  a  home  of 
the  white  settler  to  show  that  the  seetls  of  civ- 
ilization had  Ix-en  |>lanted.  Much  of  the  land 
was  wild  and  swampy  and  the  prairies  were  un- 
cullivatetl.  Deer,  prairie  chickens  and  other 
wiM  game  were  j)Ientiful  and  many  wolves  were 
also  .seen.  Many  hardships  and  privations  were 
to  be  endured  in  the  early  days  Ix-cause  of  their 
remoteness  fn»m  towns  of  any  size,  where  they 
could  obtain  needed  sup|)lics.  The  only  way  they 
couM  get  shiH's  in  the  i-arly  days  was  to  have 
a  shoemaker  come  to  the  house,  when  he  would 
take  measurements  and  make  shoes  for  all  the 
family.  The  O'»oking  was  done  over  a  fireplace 
and  the  bread  was  \>akct\  in  pans  which  were 
covered  by  hot  coals.  In  sulxlning  the  wilder- 
ness  an<l   exten<ling   the    frontier    Mr.    Eastburn 


I40 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


bore  his  part  and  as  the  years  advanced  he  kept 
in  touch  with  the  steady  progress  made  along 
agricukural  Hnes.  He  is  now  one  of  the  pros- 
perous residents  of  the  county  with  large  landed 
holdings  and  his  property  interests  return  him  a 
very  gratifying  annual  income. 


ABRAHAr^r   R.   LA   BOUNTY. 

Abraham  R.  La  Bounty  is  the  owner  of  a  fruit 
farm  near  Crescent  City  and  a  life  of  industry 
and  thrift  has  brought  him  the  measure  of  suc- 
cess which  he  has  enjoyed.  His  life  record  be- 
gan in  Clinton  county.  New  York,  February  24, 
1850.  His  father,  Abraham  La  Bounty,  was  a 
native  of  that  county,  while  the  grandfather,  Jo- 
seph La  Bounty,  was  born  in  New  York  and  was 
of  French  lineage.  In  the  place  of  his  nativity 
Abraliam  La  Bounty  was  reared  and  having  ar- 
rived at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Sarah  Ray- 
mond, also  a  native  of  New  York.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  uf)on  a  farm  and  for  several 
years  the  father  carried  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  Empire  state,  but  thinking  to  enjoy 
better  business  opportunities  in  the  new  and  grow- 
ing middle  west,  he  came  with  his  family  to  Iro- 
quois county,  Illinois,  settling  in  Douglas  town- 
ship. There  he  carried  on  the  work  of  the  farm 
until  he  met  his  death  by  accidental  drowning 
in  Sugar  creek  in  May,  1869.  His  wife  still  sur- 
vives him  and  is  now  residing  in  Nebraska. 

Abraham  R.  La  Bounty  was  but  a  young  lad 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois  and  has 
since  remained  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  to  some  extent  and 
through  experience,  observation  and  reading  in 
later  years  has  added  largely  to  his  knowledge. 
His  training  at  farm  work  was  not  meager,  for 
from  an  early  age  he  assisted  in  the  work  of  the 
fields  from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  un- 
til crops  were  harvested  in  the  late  autunui.  His 
entire  life  has  been  devoted  to  agricultural  and 
horticultural  pursuits  and  he  remained  with  his 
mother  until  her  second  marriage  and  carried  on 
the  home  farm.  For  a  number  of  \cars  he  con- 
tinued to  operate  the  old  home  property  and  sub- 
sequently he  conducted  the  Lyman  farm  until 
February.   i8</i,   when   he  purchasoil   his  ])nseni 


home  in  Douglas  township.  Here  he  is  engagecf. 
in  general  horticultural  pursuits  and  annually 
gathers  good  crops  of  fruit. 

On  the  29th  of  August.  1888,  Mr.  La  Bounty 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Lyman,. 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  Lyman,  who  died  Septem- 
ber 28,  1890.  He  was  for  many  years  a  repre- 
sentative farmer  of  Martinton  township  and  was- 
a  native  of  Stark  county,  Ohio,  born  January  24,. 
1832.  He  was  a  representative  of  an  old  Penn- 
sylvania family  of  Dutch  descent  and  his  great- 
grandfather was  a  native  of  Holland,  whence  he- 
crossed  the  Atlantic,  becoming  one  of  the  first 
residents  of  the  Keystone  state.  John  Lyman, 
the  grandfather  of  Jacob  Lyman,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  and  Samuel  Lyman,  the  father,  was. 
born  in  Buffalo  \'alley.  Union  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1810.  In  1819  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  removal  to  Ohio  and  was  married- 
in  that  state  to  Mary  Schneider,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  had  come  to  the  United  States  when- 
sixteen  years  of  age.  After  living  for  some  years 
in  Stark  county,  Ohio,  Samuel  Lyman  removed' 
with  his  family  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  in 
1837  and  there  broke  the  prairie  and  developed  a. 
farm.  In  1850  he  removed  to  Martinton  town- 
ship and  developed  an  excellent  farm  whereon  he- 
made  his  home  until  his  death  in  October,  1877,. 
while  his  wife  died  in  February,  1868. 

Jacob  Lyman,  the  elder  of  their  two  sons  and 
the  father  of  Mrs.  La  Bounty,  was  only  five- 
years  old  when  in  1837  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents to  Iroquois  county.  Almost  his  entire  boy- 
hood and  youth  were  spent  on  the  home  fan-n. 
For  four  months  he  worked  elsewhere  in  the- 
neighborhood  but  returned  home  and  in  connec- 
tion with  his  brother  took  charge  of  the  father's 
farn-i  and  cared  for  his  parents  until  their  death. 
He  and  his  lirother  succeeded  to  the  ownership 
of  the  farn-i,  but  Jacob  afterward  purchased  his- 
brother's  interest  and  resided  thereon  almost  con- 
tinuously from  1850  until  his  death  almost  a 
half  century  later.  In  1867  he  married  Cather- 
ine A.  Ciibson,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daugli- 
ter  of  John  Gibson,  a  pioneer  resident  of  Iroc|uois 
cninitN.  Mr.  -md  Mrs.  Lyman  had  four  children, 
of  whom  Mrs.  La  liounty  is  the  eldest.  The- 
others  are  Martha  May.  Rachel  and  Jessie  Pielle 
Blanche.  They  also  lost  a  daughter,  Emma  Ber- 
tha .'-!ni>w,  who  died  in  infancv.     Mr.  Lvman  was- 


IROQLui.^  LOUNTV.  ILl.iMjl.^. 


14c 


a  stalwart  democrat  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Christian  church  and  were  most 
hiphly   respected  jK'ople. 

Tlic  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I-a  Bounty  has 
been  blessed  with  four  children:  Lyman  J..  lK)rn 
Septeniljer  10.  1889;  P.ertie  May  Itelle.  Iiorn  No- 
vember 17.  1893:  and  Oscar  Charles,  November 
II,  1895.  They  also  lost  one  child.  Hertha  Ra- 
chel, wlio  was  Iwrn  November  8,  i8<ji,  and  died 
September  5,  1893. 

Mr.  La  Bounty  jjives  his  |)oIilicaI  allegiance  to 
the  democracy  and  has  served  as  school  director 
for  the  past  four  years,  but  has  never  sought  the 
honors  nor  emoluments  of  public  office,  content 
to  do  his  duty  as  a  private  citizen.  He  has  lived 
a  life  of  activity  and  enterprise  and  both  he  anrl 
his  wife  are  representatives  of  prominent  pio- 
neer families,  wiiile  in  the  community  where  they 
live  their  sterling  personal  traits  of  character 
have  pained  for  them  warm  esteem  and 
friendship. 


ARR.\IL\M   RUNDI^E. 

Abraham  Rundle  has  reached  the  Psalmist's 
allotted  span  of  three  score  years  and  ten  and  is 
now  enabled  to  live  a  retired  life,  owing  to  his 
well  directed  and  unremitting  business  activity 
in  former  years,  for  during  three  decades  he  was 
classed  with  the  active  and  prosperous  farmers  of 
Pigeon  Grove  township.  For  a  long  period  he 
has  been  a  witness  of  the  changes  that  have  oc- 
curred in  northern  Illinois.  He  saw  Chicago  in 
the  days  of  its  early  development,  having  taken 
up  his  abode  there  in  1843.  and  his  memory  com- 
passes the  perio<l  when  much  of  this  portion  of 
the  state  was  an  undevelope<l  wilderness  or  un- 
improved tract  of  wild  prairie. 

Horn  near  Cornwall,  England,  .\ugust  15. 
1835,  he  was  brought  to  the  L'nited  States  when 
a  lad  of  eight  years  by  his  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  Rundle.  There  were  thirteen  in  the  family. 
and  continuing  their  journey  across  the  country 
after  reaching  the  eastern  coast  of  America  they 
became  residents  of  Chicago  in  1843.  the  father 
spending  his  remaining  days  there,  his  death  oc- 
curring about  1845.  His  wife  survived  him  un- 
til 1872. 


Nine  of  their  children  reached  afhilt  age  but 
Abraham  Rundle  and  his  brother  Thomas  are 
now  tlie  only  survivors  of  the  family.  The  latter 
ser>'ed  for  four  years  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war  an<l  sustained  two  severe  injuries.  He  is 
now  at  the  Soldier's  Home  at  Danville.  Illinois, 
but  for  twenty-five  years  was  a  farmer  of  Iro 
quois  county. 

.Abraham  Rundle  was  reared  in  Oiicago  and 
was  married  there  in  1856  to  Miss  Caroline 
Townsend.  a  (laughter  of  Ricljard  Townsend.  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  the  metroj)olis,  having  a 
homestead  at  Chicago  in  an  early  day.  Follow- 
ing his  marriage  Mr.  Rundle  engagc<l  in  farm- 
ing in  C(M>k  county  for  a  numlxrr  of  years  and  in 
1865  came  to  Irorjuois  county,  purcliasing  land 
ill  what  is  now  Pigeon  Grove  township.  He 
commenced  with  eighty  acres  and  began  to  farm 
and  further  improve  this  property,  afterward 
adding  to  it  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  adjoining. 
The  farm  Ix-came  the  scene  of  much  activity. 
GcKxl  buildings  were  erected  thereon,  ditches 
were  dug  in  which  many  rods  of  tile  were  laid 
and  fences  were  built  to  apportion  the  farm  into- 
fields  that  could  be  more  easily  worked.  An  or- 
chard was  also  set  out  and  the  farm  work  was 
energetically  carried  on  by  .Mr.  Rundle  until  1890^ 
when  he  rentetl  his  place  and  removed  to  Loda, 
pitrcliasing   a    residence   projierty    there. 

While  living  on  the  farm.  -Mr.  Rundle  lost  his 
first  wife,  who  died  February  28,  1869.  and  was 
laid  to  rest  in  Loda  cemetery.  There  were  four 
children  by  that  marriage:  Jane,  who  died  af 
the  age  of  fourteen  years;  Carrie  Laura,  the  wife 
of  Louis  Randolph,  of  Beatrice,  Nebraska;  .Nel- 
lie, the  wife  of  Perry  Divlebliss.  of  Zion  City, 
Illinois ;  and  Frank  C,  a  farmer  of  .Aurora,  Ne- 
braska. <  )n  the  I9lh  of  January.  1870  in  Pigeon 
(irove  township.  Mr.  Rundle  wedded  Mary  Wil- 
son, a  native  of  New  York,  who  was  reared  in 
Chicago,  a  daughter  of  John  Wilson,  who  re- 
moved from  the  metropolis  of  tlie  east  to  iK'come 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  metropolis  of  the 
west.  He  and  his  wife  were  of  F.nglish  birth 
an<l  lineage.  Into  the  second  marriage  of  Mr. 
Rundle  were  bom  four  children,  three  of  whoni 
survive:  Mary,  the  wife  of  Ora  C.  Mitchell,  of 
Irysial  I^ike,  Iowa:  Delia,  the  wife  of  Frank 
Hogg,  a  farmer  of  near  .\urora,  Nebraska ;  and 
.\.  G..  who  is  a  notetl  base  Iwll  player  and  is  al.so 


142 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OI- 


with  the  American  Radiator  Company,  in  Chi- 
cajjo.  They  lost  one  dau^-hter.  AHce.  who  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Rundle  is  a  republican  and  his 
first  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860. 
He  and  his  brother  Thomas  were  republicans, 
while  the  others  of  the  family  were  supporters 
of  the  democracy.  While  on  the  farm  Mr.  Run- 
dle served  on  the  school  board  for  six  years.  He 
and  his  wife  have  been  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  for  about  a  third  of  a  cen- 
tury and  for  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  on 
the  official  board.  It  is  within  his  memory  when 
Chicago  was  a  small  village  and  he  has  been 
much  interested  in  its  growth  and  development. 
He  lias  also  witnessed  the  wonderful  transforma- 
tion in  the  country  and  has  borne  his  part  in  the 
work  of  public  progress,  especially  along  agri- 
cultural lines.  His  work  has  been  a  resultant 
factor  in  the  acquirement  of  a  desirable  success 
and  now  he  is  enabled  to  enjoy  a  well  earned  rest, 
his  competence  gained  in  former  years  of  toil  be- 
ing sufficient  to  supply  him  with  the  comforts 
and  some  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 


WILLIA^I  AHLLER. 


Through  the  improvement  of  his  opjJDrtunities 
for  advancement  along  agricultural  lines  William 
Miller  has  won  for  himself  a  ])lace  among  the 
leading  and  prosperous  farmers  of  (3narga  town- 
ship. His  home  is  on  section  i .  not  far  from  Del- 
rey,  and  he  has  an  excellent  tract  of  land  of  one 
hundred  and  forty-eight  acres,  which  has  been 
brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  No 
history  of  this  part  of  the  state  would  be  complete 
without  mention  of  him,  for  he  is  one  of  its  oldest 
settlers,  having  made  his  home  within  the  borders 
of  Iroquois  county  since  May,  1834.  Great  have 
been  the  changes  which  have  occurred  in  the 
meantime,  for  pioneer  conditions  have  been  re- 
placed by  those  of  modern  civilization  and  the 
old  log  cabin  has  long  since  given  way  before 
the  comfortable  and  commodious  farm  residence, 
the  crude  farm  machinery  has  been  rejilaced  by 
modern  agricultural  implements  and  in  all  de- 
partments of  industrial  and  commercial  life  simi- 
lar ])rogress  has  been  instituted  and  carried  for- 


ward. .Mr.  -Miller  has  at  all  times  borne  his  full 
share  in  the  work  of  upbuilding  and  is  therefore 
an  honored  and  valued  pioneer  resident. 

Born  in  Covington.  Indiana.  May  3,  1833.  he 
is  a  son  of  John  Miller,  a  native  of  Augusta 
county,  \'irginia,  born  in  1801.  The  paternal 
grandfather  of  our  subject  was  born  in  Germany. 
John  .Miller  was  reared  in  the  CMd  Dominion 
and  was  married  there  to  Margaret  .Stewart,  also 
a  native  of  X'irginia.  Removing  westward  in 
tlie  fall  of  1829,  he  spent  the  winter  at  Mad  River 
and  in  the  spring  of  1830  became  a  resident  of 
Fountain  county.  Indiana,  where  he  lived  for 
about  four  years.  Two  children  had  lieen  born 
unto  him  and  his  wife  in  \irginia  and  two  were 
born  in  Indiana.  In  1834  they  came  with  their 
family  to  Illinois  and  were  the  second  familv  to 
locate  in  (.)narga  township.  Iroquois  county. 
The  father  entered  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
of  land  from  the  government,  whereon  his  son 
William  now  resides,  securing  a  part  of  this  for 
a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre  and  the  remainder 
for  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre.  He  broke 
the  raw  prairie  and  opened  up  the  farm.  Later 
the  Illinois  Railroad  divided  the  farm  into  almost 
equal  parts.  Before  the  building  of  the  road  Mr. 
Aliller  hauled  his  produce  to  Chicago  and  did 
his  marketing  there,  making  the  trips  to  and 
from  the  city  with  o.x  teams.  He  would  take  a 
load  of  oats  or  com,  selling  the  latter  for  four- 
teen cents  per  bushel.  Hardships  and  ]irivations 
innumerable  were  to  be  endured  because  of  the 
frontier  conditions  which  existed,  but  the  family 
resolutely  continued  the  work  of  developing  the 
farm  property  and  the  father  spent  his  entire  life 
thereon.  His  political  su]3port  was  given  to  the 
democracy  from  the  time  when  he  cast  his  first 
presidential  liallot  for  .Andrew  Jackson.  He  was 
a  wagonmaker  by  trade  and  after  coming  to  Illi- 
nois he  opened  up  a  blacksmith  and  wagonmak- 
ing  shop  and  followed  his  trade  to  a  large  extent, 
while  his  sons  carried  on  the  work  of  the  farm. 
Thus  all  were  busy  and  the  life  which  they  led 
was  a  most  useful  one,  results  being  soon  seen 
in  the  well  developed  farm  and  in  the  prosperity 
which  attended  their  labors.  Mr.  Miller  passed 
away  May  12.  1882,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-one  years  and  three  months.  His  first 
wife  died  in  1840  and  in  1853  he  married  Mrs. 
Liggett,     r.v  his  first  marriage  there  were  seven 


WILLIAM    .\iILLHk   AMJ   lAMII.V. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


US 


cliildri-ti.  tlircc  sons  and  fuur  clauKlitcrs.  win 
rcachi'il  adult  ajjc.  and  oi  this  nun)l)cr  \\  illian; 
Miller  and  three  of  his  sisters  are  yet  living.  The 
oldest,  .\ndrew.  married  and  died  in  tiiis  county 
in  1859.  while  Robert  passetl  away  in  early  nian- 
liood  in  1 85 J.  I'he  sisters  are  Mrs.  Jane  Reed, 
who  is  a  widow  and  is  now  livinj;  in  I'ord  comi- 
ty. Illinois,  at  the  ajje  of  eifjlity  years;  Matilda, 
the  wife  of  William  Swiber.  of  I'neblo,  Colo- 
ratio:  and  Mrs.  Catherine  (Juirk.  a  widow  who  is 
livint;  at  (irand  Crossinjj.  a  suburb  of  Chicago. 

William  Miller  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  n])on  the  home  farm  and  worked  with 
his  father  as  his  years  and  strenjjth  increa.sed 
and  as  the  father  pave  more  and  more  attention 
to  industrial  pursuits  William  .Miller  and  his 
brother  carried  on  the  farm  work.  In  early  days 
they  hunted  deer  all  over  this  jiart  of  the  statj 
and  saw  them  in  fjreat  numbers,  brinj^infj  back 
many  a  dish  of  venison  for  the  family  board. 
He  still  has  in  his  possession  his  old  rifle,  which 
is  over  fifty  years  old  and  was  made  in  Middle- 
port  by  Mr.  Tarry,  who  was  one  of  the  best 
ginismiths  in  whole  country.  He  killed  deer, 
wild  peese.  cranes  and  prairie  chickens  and  thus 
game  was  furnished  for  many  a  meal.  Mr.  Mil- 
ler bought  out  the  interest  of  one  of  the  si.sters 
in  the  home  farm  and  subse(|uently  purchascti 
forty  acres  adjoining.  He  built  thereon  a  resi- 
dence and  made  the  improvements  where  he  re- 
sides and  the  farm,  owing  to  his  careful  su|)er- 
vision  and  practical  management,  became  a  valu- 
able i)roperty. 

In  May.  i8<io.  in  Delrey.  .Mr.  .Miller  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Margaret  Lefrance.  who  was  of 
French  ancestry  and  was  burn  in  Canada.  Slu- 
died  July  23.  1870.  leaving  four  children.  The 
eldest,  Jane,  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  Raines, 
of  Crawford  county.  Kansas.  Marill  is  the  wife 
of  James  WtMMlard.  of  ( )narga :  Winfield  .'^.  is 
married  and  is  engaged  in  clerking  in  Delrey: 
and  Mrs.  Matilda  Kniver.  a  widow,  is  now  a 
traine(l  nurse  in  Chicago.  There  were  also  two 
children  by  the  first  marriage,  now  decea.sed. 

On  the  i8th  of  March.  1875.  Mr.  Miller  was 
again  marrie<l,  his  second  union  In-ing  with  ICliza- 
beth  Woodard.  who  was  harw  in  Indiana  but 
was  reared  largely  in  McLean  county.  Illinois. 
Of  this  marriage  there  are  five  living  children: 
Ries,  the  wife  of  John  Toin.  an  Englishman  by 


birth,  now  living  in  Indiana :  Kva,  who  <locs 
dressmaking  and  millinery  and  resides  at  home ; 
Illlen.  the  wife  of  Howard  .\ustin,  a  farmer  of 
I'ord  county :  John  S..  also  at  home ;  and  .Malx-I. 
the  wife  of  l-'iidey  I'oul.-on,  a  farmer  of  Iro- 
quois count).  There  were  two  children  of  that 
uiarriage  who  have  also  ])assed  away. 

.*^ince  age  conferred  upon  him  the  right  of 
franchise  Mr.  Miller  has  never  faltered  in  his 
support  of  the  democratic  party,  casting  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  James  ISnchanan  in  i85r». 
He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office  for  himself, 
but  has  always  manifested  those  traits  which 
characterize  the  public-spirite<l  citizen.  ( )ne  of 
the  earliest  residents  of  the  county,  he  has  for 
.seventy-two  years  resided  upon  the  same  farm 
and  has  seen  this  part  of  the  state  changed  from 
a  wilderness  an«l  swamp  into  one  of  the  most 
highly  develojx'd  and  richest  agricultural  dis- 
tricts of  the  I'nion.  He  has  helj)ed  to  improve 
and  make  the  county  what  it  is  tinlay.  When 
a  lad  of  ten  years  he  herded  cattle  over  the  broio 
prairies,  there  Ix-ing  no  fences  to  prevent  this  be- 
ing used  as  an  open  range.  He  has  .seen  the 
railroad  built  through  and  towns  spring  up  ani| 
develop  and  has  been  thoroughly  in  sym|)athv 
with  the  growth  and  j)rogrcss.  doing  all  in  h'.f 
])ower  to  promote  the  advancement  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state,  .\lthongh  he  had  comparative- 
ly little  opfK)rtunity  for  the  acquirement  of  an 
etlncation.  attending  private  and  subscription 
schools,  he  has  throughout  his  entire  life  studied 
and  read  broadly  and  is  a  well  posted  man.  H? 
is  also  active  and  well  ])reserved.  His  life  has 
been  ever  honorable  and  upright  and  wherever 
kni>wn  he  ctunmands  the  res|K'Ct  and  confidence 
of  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact.  From 
early  days  when  he  helped  to  subdut;  the  wilder- 
ness he  has  continuously  lieen  a  resident  of  the 
count V  atid  his  record  is  most  creditable. 


I.F.MUFI.  D.WFORTH  SNOW. 

Lenniel  Danforth  Snow,  cashier  and  the  pres- 
ent manager  of  the  I  tank  of  Sheldon,  was  liom 
in  Washington,  Illinois.  .April  20.  1873.  aixl  is 
a  son  of  the  Hon.  Herman  Walter  .^now.  who  is 
mentioned  on  another  i>age  of  this  volume.     In 


146 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


1875  his  parents  removed  to  Sheldon.  Illinois. 
The  strong  traits  of  his  character  arc  largely  in- 
herited from  his  maternal  grandfather  and  he  is 
known  as  a  cool,  cautious,  deliberate  and  far- 
sightetl  man.  He  accjuircd  a  common  and  high 
school  education,  and  in  1S90  he  removed  to 
Washington,  D.  C.  where  he  acted  as  ])rivatc 
secretary  to  his  father,  who  was  then  a  member 
of  congress.  In  1894  he  returned  to  Illinois  and. 
the  family  home  being  established  in  Kankakee, 
he  there  opened  au  insurance  and  real-estate  of- 
fice, continuing  in  that  business  until  after  his 
appointiTient  in  September,  1895.  by  Governor 
Altgeld  to  the  office  of  state  grain  inspector.  He 
acted  in  that  capacity  until  1897.  when  he  re- 
signed and  entered  the  Bank  of  Sheldon,  owned 
by  his  father  and  established  by  him  in  1875. 
This  bank  has  now  had  a  continuous  existence  of 
thirty-two  years  and  has  made  consecutive  and 
substantial  progress,  being  regarded  as  one  of 
the  safest  and  most  conservative  moneyed  insti- 
tutions of  Iroquois  county  and  this  part  of  the 
state.  In  1899  the  firm  name  of  the  bank  was 
changed  to  H.  W.  Snow  &  Son  by  the  admission 
of  L.  D.  Snow  as  a  partner,  and  the  Bank  of 
Sheldon  is  now  undei^  his  management,  while  his 
official  capacity  is  that  of  cashier. 

In  1898  occurred  the  marriage  of  Mr.  Snow 
and  Aliss  \^irgil  M.  Bishopp.  the  dau.ghter  of 
liarton  Bishopp.  of  Sheldon.  The  young  couple 
are  prominent  socially  and  have  many  friaids  in 
Sheldon,  while  Mr.  Snow's  position  in  business 
circles  is  among  the  foremost. 


CHARLES  X.  WAITV. 

Charles  X.  Waity  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  enterprising  farmers  of  Sheldon  township, 
lie  owns  a  very  tine  farm  in  the  midst  of  which 
stands  a  large  and  attractive  residence,  being 
e(|ualled  by  few  country  homes  in  the  entire 
countw  He  was  born  in  Sheldon  townsliij).  (  )c- 
tober  3,  1875,  and  was  reared  to  agricultural  pur- 
suits but  is  now  le;iving  tlie  active  work  of  the 
farm  to  others,  wliile  he  is  assisting  in  the  furni- 
ture .store  of  P.  \V.  Miner,  in  .Sheldon. 

Mr.  Waity  is  a  son  of  Nelson  II.  Waity,  who 
was  born   in    .X'cirwav,   and   canu'   to   the    I'nited 


States  in  1837.  His  people  were  among  the  tirst 
settlers  of  Sheldon  township.  Xelson  H.  Waity 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  after  coming  to 
the  United  States  spent  his  subsequent  years  in 
this  county.  He  worked  persistently  and  ener- 
getically to  obtain  a  start  and  to  promote  his 
business  interests  and  successes,  and  as  the  years 
passed  by  he  accumulated  an  estate  of  four  hun- 
dred and  ten  acres.  He  t(X)k  raw  land  which 
he  converted  into  rich  and  productive  fields  and 
as  the  \ears  passed  by  his  work  was  crowned 
with  a  measure  of  success  most  gratifying.  He 
died  upon  the  old  homestead  farm  April  16, 
1897.  when  seventy-one  years  of  age.  His  wife. 
who  in  her  maidenhood  was  Rosanna  Coughe- 
nour.  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  died  on  the 
3d  of  September,  1880.  In  the  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  were  six  children,  of  whom  three 
are  now  living,  namely :  Mrs.  Frank  Zumwalt, 
of  •  Sheldon ;  Charles  N.,  of  this  review ;  and 
Frank,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farming  in 
Sheldon  township. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Charles 
X.  Waity  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life 
record  of  one  wdio  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  this  part  of  Iroquois  county.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  Sheldon  school  and  his  time  w^as  di- 
vided between  the  duties  of  the  schoolroom,  the 
pleasures  of  the  playground  and  the  work  of  the 
fields  upon  the  farm.  After  putting  aside  his 
text-books  he  remained  upon  the  farm  until 
1902.  when  he  went  west  to  Colorado  for  one 
year.  He  also  spent  a  year  in  St.  Louis.  Mis- 
souri, and  since  that  time  has  been  in  Sheldon. 
He  secured  one  hundred  acres  from  his  father 
and  has  purchased  one  hundred  and  nineteen 
acres  adjoining.  He  likewise  has  good  build- 
ings upon  the  farm  and  his  home  is  a  most  com- 
modious and  beautiful  residence,  containing  four- 
teen rooms.  He  has  recently  erected  a  large 
barn  and  everything  about  his  place  ])resents  a 
well  kept  appearance  and  indicates  his  careful  su- 
])ervis(iii.  In  additinn  to  his  nther  business 
allairs  he  has  mining  interests  in  Colorado. 

Mr.  Waity  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
sup]iiirt  iii  the  men  and  measures  of  the  repub- 
lican party.  In  Masonry  he  has  attained  the 
thirt\-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  rite  and  he 
is  also  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Chi- 
cago.     He  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Pvthias. 


i£2^^1S£.  r-'^^^,-'  :- 


IRogLOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


•49 


at  Slicldon  and  the  Klks  at  Kniik;iki-c.  ami  is 
lH)i)iilar  with  his  brcthnii  i>f  these  tlilTcrcnt  far- 
temitics,  for  he  is  a  young  man  of  enterprising, 
progressive  spirit,  genial  in  disposition,  kindly 
in  manner,  winning  friends  wherever  he  goes. 


Mr.  Waity  gives  his  |jolitical  supjujrt  to  the 
repiililican  party.  In  his  fraternal  relntii^ms  he  is 
identified  with  the  Knights  of  I'ythias  and  tlie 
Mfxlem  Woodmen  of  America,  and  in  Uitii  tiiesc 
organizations  is  p<^pular  with  the  brethren  of  the 
craft. 


FRANK  WAITY. 


FKKD  W.  RANZ. 


Frank  Waity,  an  enterprising  young  fanner, 
owning  and  o|)crating  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  section  3.  Sheldon  township,  was 
born  on  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  July 
12,  1878.  The  family  was  founded  in  America 
by  Holson  Waity,  who  emigrated  from  Norway 
to  this  country  in  1837,  and  located  in  Heaver 
township.  Inxjuois  county,  lie  lived  but  two 
years  after  coming  to  the  new  world.  His  son. 
Nelson  Waity,  the  father  of  our  subject,  located 
tlie  tract  of  land  which  has  since  been  the  fam- 
ily homestead,  and  he  made  all  of  the  improve- 
ments which  are  here  seen.  The  first  home  was 
a  log  house,  which  was  later  replaced  by  a  more 
modern  and  substantial  frame  residence,  and  he 
also  erected  many  outbuildings  for  the  .shelter 
of  grain  and  stock,  and  placed  his  land  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  was  married  to 
Miss  Rosanna  Coughenour,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and 
the  father  followed  farming  until  1897.  when  he 
gave  the  property  to  his  son  Frank,  who  has  con- 
tinued the  work  of  improvement  and  cultivation 
which  was  begun  by  his  father,  up  to  the  present 
time,  and  today  it  constitutes  one  of  the  valua- 
ble tracts  of  Sheldon  township. 

Frank  \\'aity  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  near  his  fathers  home  and 
later  completed  the  high-school  course  at  Shel- 
don. He  was  early  trained  to  the  duties  of  the 
farm  and  gave  his  father  the  benefit  of  his  ser- 
vices until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  when,  as  stated,  he  inherited  the  home 
place  and  is  now  engaged  in  its  ojMiration  on  his 
own  account.  He  is  very  successful  in  all  that 
he  undertakes  and  follows  only  the  most  modern 
and  practical  methods  in  carrying  on  his  lalwrs 
and  is  today  accounted  one  of  the  leading  and 
progressive  young  fanners  of  this  part  of  Iro- 
quois county. 
8 


Fred  W.  Ranz,  who  for  seven  years  has  been 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade  in  Claylonville,  own- 
ing and  oiK-rating  the  elevator,  also  deals  in  coal, 
and  the  extent  of  his  operations  in  both  lines 
have  won  him  a  place  among  the  representative 
young  business  men  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
He  was  born  in  Muscatine,  Iowa,  Novanber  24, 
1866,  a  son  of  Joseph  I^nz,  who  with  his  family 
came  to  Ir<x|uois  county  in  1868  and  settled  u|x>n 
a  farm  in  Ash  Grove  township,  where  he  yet 
resides. 

Upon  the  old  homestead  fami  Fred  W.  Ranz 
spint  the  days  of  his  youth  and  in  the  district 
schools  acquired  his  preliminary  education,  which 
was  sup])lcmented  by  study  in  Grand  Prairie 
Seminary  in  Onarga.  Thinking  to  find  conuner- 
cial  ijursuits  more  congenial  than  agricultural, 
Mr.  Ranz  engaged  in  clerking  in  Crescent  City, 
where  he  remained  for  a  few  years  and  then 
went  to  Goodwinc,  where  he  took  charge  of  the 
Farmers  Elevator,  continuing  there  for  four 
years.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  elevator  at  Claylon- 
ville and  in  May,  1899,  took  charge  of  the  grain 
and  elevator  business  at  this  point.  He  also 
handles  coal  and  in  both  lines  has  built  up  a 
good  trade.  This  being  one  of  the  rich  agri- 
cultural districts  of  the  state,  there  is  excellent 
opportunity  offered  the  grain  merchant,  and  in 
the  conduct  of  the  business  Mr.  Ranz  annually 
handles  thousands  of  bushels  of  grain,  thus  fur- 
nishing a  market  to  producers  and  also  con- 
ducting a  profitable  business  for  himself. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  i8»;3,  at  Crescent  City, 
Mr.  Ranz  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida 
May  Kern,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that 
place.  They  now  have  five  daughters:  Hazel. 
I'reda,  Beatrice,  Ruth  and  Beulah.  The  parents 
arc  well  known  sociallv  in  Clavtonville  and  other 


ISO 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


parts  of  the  county  and  have  a  large  circle  of 
warm  friends.  Politically  Mr.  Ranz  has  fol- 
lowed in  his  father's  footsteps  and  is  a 
stanch  republican,  but  has  always  been  without 
aspiration  for  office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his 
energies  upon  his  business  interests  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  grain  and  coal  trade  he  is  also 
interested  in  the  breeding  of  Arabian  horses, 
while  formerly  he  was  engaged  in  the  breeding 
of  heavy  draft  horses.  He  is  a  great  lover  of 
fine  horsts  and  is  well  known  as  a  breeder  and 
dealer.  He  is  connected  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  lodge,  the  ^Modern  Woodmen  camp  and 
the  Fraterna.1  Insurance  Association,  and  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Christian  church.  He 
belongs  to  that  class  who  are  the  real  upbuilders 
and  promoters  of  a  community  by  reason  of  the 
business  activity  upon  which  the  growth  of  every 
town  and  city  depends  and  Claxtonville  therefore 
finds  in  him  a   leading  citizen. 


HON.  THOMAS  \'EXXU.M. 


No  adequate  memorial  of  the  Hon.  Thomas 
\'ennum  can  be  written  until  many  of  the  use- 
ful enterprises  with  which  In-  was  connected  have 
coiiipleted  their  full  measure  of  good  in  the  world 
and  until  his  personal  influence  and  example 
shall  have  ceased  their  fruitage  in  the  lives  of 
those  who  were  about  him  when  he  was  yet  an 
actor  in  the  busy  j^laces  of  the  world :  yet  there 
is  much  concerning  him  that  can  with  pnifit  he 
set  down  as  an  illustration  of  what  can  be  done 
if  a  man  with  a  clear  brain  and  willing  hands  but 
sets  himself  seriously  to  the  real  labors  and  re- 
sponsibilities of  life.  He  was  known  for  many 
years  as  a  successful  banker  but  it  was  not  alone 
through  his  business  interests  that  he  contril)- 
nted  to  the  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  coun- 
ty, for  in  man\-  ])rivate  ways  and  through  a  co- 
operation with  measures  instituted  for  the  public 
good  he  advocated  those  plans  and  purposes 
which  work  for  civic  virtue  and  civic  jjride.  He 
came  to  the  county  in  ])ioneer  times  and  frnm  its 
earliest  days  until  his  demise  was  an  active  factor 
in  its  growth  and  development. ^>'''^' 

His  birth  occurred  December  25,  1833.  in  Wash- 
ingtiin    county,     i'ennsylvania,    and    his    ])arents 


were  Christopher  C.  and  Rosanna  (Paul)  \'en- 
num.  The  spring  of  1835  witnessed  the  arrival 
of  the  family  in  Illinois,  the  journey  being  made 
down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Wabash  rivers.  The 
father  entered  land  from  the  government  on  sec- 
tion 4  in  what  is  n.ow  Milford  township,  Iroquois 
county,  and  later  by  additional  purchase  in- 
creased his  acreage  until  he  was  one  of  the  ex- 
tensive landowners  of  the  county. 

As  he  advanced  in  years  and  strength  Thomas 
X'ennum  aided  more  and  more  largely  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm  through  the  suminer  month.s, 
while  in  the  winter  seasons  he  attended  the  jjublic 
schools  and  thus  qualified  for  the  performance  of 
life's  daily  duties.  Furthermore  he  spent  one 
year  as  a  student  in  \\'ashington  College  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  also  attended  Asbury  University, 
now  De  Panw-  University,  at  Greencastle,  In- 
diana. Farm  work  continued  to  occupy  his  time 
and  attention  when  not  busied  with  the  work  of 
the  schoolroom  until  1856,  at  which  time  he  be- 
came a  more  active  factor  in  public  interests  of 
the  county  as  clerk  of  the  circuit  court  and  ex- 
officio  recorder.  He  was  at  that  time  a  young 
man  of  twenty-three  years,  who  brought  to  his 
new  duties  a  spirit  of  resolution,  enterjirise  and 
political  integrity  that  made  him  a  most  capable 
oiTicial.  He  was  re-elected  in  i860  and  again  in 
1864,  so  that  his  incumbency  covered  twelve 
years,  and  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the 
county  seat  to  ^\'atseka  in  18(13  l^^  changed  his 
place  of  residence  and  remained  there  until  his 
demise. 

Three  years  after  takin.g  u]5  his  abode  in  Wat- 
seka  Mr.  \'ennum  retired  from  office  as  he  had 
entered  it — with  the  confidence  and  good  will  of 
all  concerned,  lie  then  became  a  factor  in  finan- 
cial circles  in  Iroquois  count v  by  entering  into 
])artnership  with  John  L.  Donovan  and  (George 
A.  Woodford  in  establishing  the  first  liank  of 
Watseka  under  the  firm  style  of  Donovan.  Wood- 
ford &■  Coni])any.  That  connecti(ni  was  con- 
tinued until  (  kiober,  1874,  when  Mr.  \'ennuni 
went  to  Tennessee  and  for  si.xteen  months  was 
engagcfl  in  mining  and  shippin,g  coal  at  Tracy 
City,  iiu  ciiiUract  with  the  Tennessee  Coal  &  Rail- 
way Ct>mpany.  This  did  nut  prove  very  profit- 
able, however,  and  he  returned  to  Watseka. 
where  in  1876  he  again  formed  a  partnership  with 
J<ihn  F.  Odndvan  in  the  banking  business,  open- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


'51 


inj;  ihi-  first  bank  in  Milfonl.  IJoth  nlaincil 
their  rcsidi-nccs  in  Wats«ka  but  niann^al  tl)c  hank 
at  Milford.  wliicli  l>ccainc  one  i>f  the  strong  ami 
substantial  financial  institutions  of  the  county.  A 
safe  conservative  policy  was  inau^iratcd  that  has 
always  Ik-cu  maintained  and  the  institiuion  has 
been  one  of  the  iitniosl  value  to  the  community  as 
well  as  a  source  of  pratifyinp  profit  to  the  stcKk- 
holders.  .\  man  of  resourceful  ability  and  marked 
enteri)rise,  Mr.  \'cinium  did  not  confine  his  atten- 
tion entirely  to  one  line  but  c.\tend«l  his  efforts 
into  other  fieUls  of  activity  with  the  result  that  they 
profited  by  his  wise  couu.sel  and  co-operation. 
While  a  resident  of  Middleport  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  of  H.  .V.  Tillinjjhast  &  Com|)any. 
druRKists.  The  business  was  subsequently  trans- 
ferred to  Watseka  and  on  Ur.  Secrcst  becoming  a 
partner  the  firm  name  was  chanjjji-d  to  Secrest, 
Tillinghasl  &  Company.  Mr.  \  ennum  remaining 
as  the  silent  partner  for  a  number  of  years,  after 
which  he  withdrew.  Durinj;  his  incumbency  in 
the  office  of  circuit  court  clerk  he  ttwk  up  the 
study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  but 
never  actually  enpagcd  in  the  ])ractice  of  the 
profession  because  of  the  fact  that  he  became 
interestetl  in  banking  and  other  business  enter- 
prises. 

On  the  8th  «)f  .\|iril.  iHttj.  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Thomas  N'ennum  and  Miss  Lucia 
.\.  Tullar.  who  was  Inirn  in  l>ri>wnsville.  Le- 
nawee county.  Michigan.  The  wedding  was 
<elebratcd  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  the  marriage 
was  bles.sed  with  five  children :  Ella  Jeanette, 
now  the  wife  of  Otis  W.  Johnson,  a  son  of  <  )tis 
R.  Johnson,  the  well  known  millionaire  lumber- 
man of  Racine,  Wisconsin;  Irving  T.,  who  is 
-connected  with  the  linking  business  at  Milford: 
Fred  D..  president  of  the  First  National  Hank 
at  .Milford;  and  Thomas  ("i..  who  is  an  attorney 
of  V\'atseka.  One  (laughter.  .\lal>cl.  who  was  the 
eldest  of  the  family,  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  V'ennum  attaincrl  his  majority  alxnit  the 
time  the  republican  ])arty  s|)rang  into  existence 
and  he  became  one  of  the  stalwart  supporters  of 
the  new  organization.  In  the  fall  of  1870  he 
was  elected  to  represent  his  district  in  the  state 
legislature  and  became  a  memln-r  of  the  twenty- 
seventh  general  assembly,  where  he  was  apjx'int- 
ed  on  the  committees  of  finance,  congressional 
a[>pointment   and   contingent   ex|)enses.     He   tlici 


active  and  important  work  in  the  committee- 
rooms  an<l  was  connected  with  consiilerablo 
constructive  legislation.  ilis  official  scrvici^ 
also  covered  an  incumlK-ncs  in  the  ofhc< 
of  mayor  of  Watseka  and  linth  as  legislator  and 
mayor  he  renderecl  signal  service  to  his  fellow 
townsmen  and  his  constituents.  He  held  meni- 
IxTship  in  lr(ic|Uois  hnlgc.  No.  74,  I.  O.  O.  F,. 
and  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  also  a  member,  and  his  ci>-o|H.-ration  was  always 
a  factor  in  the  intellectual  and  moral  progress  of 
his  conununity  as  well  as  in  its  business  life  and 
political  circles. 

The  death  of  Thomas  X'ennum  occurred 
|8<>8.  The  conununity  regarded  him  as  a  citizen 
whom  it  could  ill  afford  to  lose,  so  important  had 
Ikcu  his  public  service,  and  so  many  were  his 
good  traits  that  he  had  endeared  himself  in  large 
measure  to  the  majtirity  <jf  its  citizens  and  his 
death  was  therefore  regardetl  as  a  personal  be- 
reavement. He  represented  one  of  the  oldest 
pioneer  families  of  the  county.  His  grandfather 
and  his  father  were  both  closely  associate<l  with 
the  early  development  of  this  part  of  the  state 
and  as  he  a<lvanccd  from  l>oyhootl  to  manhood 
he  too  became  actively  and  helpfully  interested 
in  all  those  movements  and  measures  which  work 
out  in  the  progress.  advanceiiK-nt  and  prosperity 
of  the  county.  His  memory  comjiassed  the  |)e- 
rio<l  of  piomvr  life  here  when  the  homes  were 
largely  log  cabins  and  when  much  of  the  land 
was  still  uncultivated.  He  lived  to  see  this  be- 
come one  of  the  n»ost  flourishing  districts  of  the 
great  conunonwealth,  situated  as  it  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  richest  agriculltiral  Ix-lt  of  the  entire 
coimtry.  His  Id-nevolence  was  unostentatious 
and  genuine  and  there  is  nothing  in  the  story  of 
his  life  to  show  that  he  ever  for  a  moment  sought 
to  com|>ass  a  given  end  for  the  pur|>ose  of  ex- 
alting himself.  He  champione<l  measures  and 
aidetl  men  and  accepted  as  his  rewani  that  thrill 
of  delight  which  always  accompanies  victories 
achieveil.  Lndowetl  by  nature  with  a  sound 
judgment  and  an  accurate,  discriminating  mind, 
he  feared  not  that  laborious  attention  to  the  de- 
tails of  business  so  necessary-  to  achieve  success 
and  this  es.seutial  quality  was  ever  guided  by  a 
sense  of  nv>ral  right  which  would  tolerate  the 
employment  oidy  of  those  nvans  that  would 
In-ar   the   most   rigid   examination   by   a   fairness 


i=;2 


PAST  AXD  PKESEXT  OF 


of  intcntiiin  tliat  neitlier  sought  nor  require<l  dis- 
guise. It  is  but  just  and  merited  praise  to  sa\' 
of  ]\lr.  \'cnnum  tliat  as  a  business  man  he  ranked 
with  the  ablest ;  as  a  citizen  he  was  honorable, 
prompt  and  true  to  every  engagement ;  as  a  man 
he  held  honor  and  esteem  of  all  classes  of  people, 
of  all  creeds  and  political  proclivities ;  as  a  hus- 
band and  father  he  was  a  model  worthy  of  all 
imitation ;  unassuming  in  his  manner,  sincere  in 
his  friendships,  steadfast  and  unswerving  in  his 
loyalty  to  the  right.  His  memory  is  a  sacred 
inheritance  to  his  children ;  it  will  long  be  cher- 
ished by  a  multitude  of  friends. 


PETER  AIcDERMOTT. 

Peter  McDermott  is  engaged  in  buying  and 
shipping  grain  at  Crescent  City  and  also  deals  in 
coal  and  farming  implements.  He  has  been  as- 
sociated with  the  grain  trade  here  since  1894 
and,  moreover,  figures  prominently  in  financial 
circles  as  president  of  the  First  National  Bank. 
Keejaing  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  modern 
thought  and  progress  as  manifest  in  the  business 
world,  he  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  valued 
factors  in  commercial  life  in  his  community  and 
belongs  to  that  class  of  representative  American 
men  who  while  promoting  individual  success  also 
contribute  to  general  prosperity. 

A  native  of  Will  county,  Illinois,  Mr.  McDer- 
mott was  born  March  8,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of 
John  McDermott.  Following  the  removal  of  the 
family  he  was  reared  and  educated  in  Ford 
county,  early  becoming  familiar  with  all  the  du- 
ties and  labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agricul- 
turist. At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he  began 
teaching  school,  which  profession  he  followed 
for  several  years  during  the  winter  months,  while 
through  the  summer  he  worked  on  the  farm.  He 
followed  farming  on  his  own  account  for  some 
time  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain 
business,  being  thus  engaged  at  Piper  City,  Illi- 
nois, from  1891  until  1894.  In  the  latter  year 
he  purchased  an  elevator  at  Crescent  City,  where 
he  has  since  carried  on  the  grain  trade,  and  also 
owns  a  half  interest  in  an  elevator  at  Black,  Illi- 
nois, his  brother  M.  J.  being  his  partner  in  this 
enterprise.     He  now  handles  about  four  hundred 


thousand  bushels  of  grain  at  Crescent  City  an- 
nuallx-.  This  rich  agricultural  district  furnishes 
excellent  opportunity  to  the  producer  and  to  the 
grain  merchant  and  Mr.  McDermott's  business 
has  constantly  grown  in  volume  and  importance. 
He  likewise  deals  in  coal  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments, finding  a  ready  sale  in  those  lines,  and 
he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Crescent  City,  of  which  he  has 
continuously  served  as  president,  making  this  a 
safe,  strong  and  valuable  financial  institution. 

Mr.  IMcDermott  wedded  Miss  Mary  E.  O'Neill, 
of  Iroquois  county,  a  daughter  of  Edmund 
O'Neill,  now  residing  in  Crescent  City  and  one 
of  the  old  settlers  of  this  part  of  the  state.  They 
have  three  children :  John  E.  and  Mary  E., 
twins,  nine  years  of  age ;  and  Francis  O.,  five 
years  of  age. 

Politicallv  Mr.  McDermott  is  a  democrat  and 
for  some  time  was  president  of  the  village  board, 
while  at  the  present  writing  he  is  acting  as  presi- 
dent of  the  school  board  of  Crescent  City.  His 
interest  in  community  affairs  is  deep  and  sincere 
and  is  manifest  in  his  unselfish  devotion  to  the 
general  welfare.  Any  movement  for  the  good 
of  his  town  receives  his  hearty  endorsement  and 
his  active  co-operation.  He  and  his  wife  are 
memljers  of  the  Catholic  church.  The  circle  of 
their  friends  is  extensive  and  Mr.  McDermott  is 
well  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  business 
man  of  ability  and  prominence,  well  meriting  the 
success  that  he  has  achieved. 


WILLIAM  T.  IRELAN. 

There  is  no  better  criterion  of  the  spirit  which' 
dominates  a  community  than  its  newspaper  and' 
it  is  a  widely  acknowledged  fact  that  the  Oilman 
Signal,  of  which  William  T.  Irelan  is  editor  and' 
proprietor,  has  been  one  of  the  potent  influences 
in  the  progress  and  upbuilding  of  the  city,  for 
this  paper  has  ever  been  the  champion  of  those 
interests  which  are  a  matter  of  civic  virtue  and 
civic  pride,  and  its  editorials  have  done  much  tO' 
mold   public   thought   and   opinion. 

.\  native  of  Mercer  county,  Ohio,  Mr.  Irelan 
was  born  September  29.  1868,  and  comes  of  Puri- 
tan and  Revolutionary  ancestry.    Representatives 


*f^ 


MR.  AM)  MKS.  1'I-".TI:R  M.  DI-.KMnTT. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQI- ' '!>  HH.\1\.  ILLi.MUS. 


«55 


of  the  name  soltlol  at  W'iiulliain.  (.'cninrctictit. 
early  in  the  scvcntecntli  century  ami  in  later  grn- 
trrations  the  family  furnished  to  the  wars  ni  the 
country  various  brave  and  loyal  s«ildiers.  some  of 
whon)  were  officers  that  foujjht  for  the  libertv 
and  ri(;hls  of  the  nation,  while  some  f;ave  their 
lives  in  defense  of  the  interests  of  the  republic. 

Silas  Dowler  Irelan.  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  a  native  of  (Ihio  and  having  arrived 
at  year*  of  maturity  was  married  there  to  Miss 
Mary  itidlack.  who  wa^  also  born  in  that  state. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  occupati<in.  clevoiinp  the 
jfreater  part  of  his  life  to  peneral  auricultural 
pursuits,  and  he  died  in  l8<n.  at  the  a^e  of  sixty- 
eight  years,  while  his  wife  survived  him  for  a 
decade  arnl  passed  away  in  mk)4.  at  the  ape  of 
seventy -one  years. 

Reared  un<ler  the  parental  HHif.  William  T. 
Irelan  acquired  a  ])ublic-school  e<ludBtion  and 
early  ln'came  familiar  with  newspaper  work  in 
its  various  phases.  In  early  manhood  he  taupht 
sch(X)l  to  some  extent  but  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  has  hcvu  spent   in  the  field  of  jounialism. 

Mr.  Irelan  dates  his  residence  in  ( iilman  from 
l8g6.  He  had  met  with  financial  reverses  in 
the  newspaiK'r  field  in  <  )hio  and  K'vinpr  up  all 
that  he  possessed,  he  came  to  Illinois  with  only 
a  knowledpe  of  his  trade  to  serve  as  the  capital 
with  which  to  hepin  life  in  a  new  community. 
Here  he  became  e<litor  of  the  lro<|uois  County 
Siptial  and  his  advaiKement  has  been  both  rapid 
and  consecutive.  The  pajHT  had  iK-en  trviiij.^  for 
a  year  to  fill  the  trailitional  'lonj,'  felt  want"  but 
without  success,  and  was  at  that  time  entirely 
without  influence,  .\lmost  immediaely  after  .Mr. 
Irelan  assumed  control  a  decided  change  was 
manifest.  He  began  a  series  of  weekly  letters  in 
rural  dialect,  which  he  had  learned  as  a  Ixiy  on 
the  farm,  and  in  these  letters  he  satirized  the 
hide-boiind  element  that  op|x>se<l  public  im|)rovc- 
ments.  This  was  an  innovation  in  joiirnalisni 
in  Iro(|uois  county  and  while  the  progressive  ele- 
ment rallied  to  the  s«pj)ort  of  the  new  editor 
tlvise  who  received  his  unwelcome  attentions  were 
surprised  and  sluKketl  ami  naturallv  Ix-came  an- 
tagonistic. Mr.  Irelan.  however,  continued  writ- 
ing humorous  farnuT  talk  for  his  i)a|>er.  using 
the  nom-dc-guerre  of  Reuben  Hardscrabble.  and 
in  a  year  his  victory  was  complete.  The  circula- 
tion of  the   pa|)er   constantly    increased   and   the 


Signal  also  became  an  excellent  adveriiiing  mc- 
<li«nn.  The  influence  which  he  ban  exerted  m> 
|H)litical  circles  lias  also  been   wnlelv    fell. 

Mr.  Irelan  has  ever  Ixa-n  a  stalwart  ailvocate 
of  rr|inlilican  principles  and  he  presenteil  his 
cause  throuj;h  the  columns  of  the  pa|>er  in  a  clear, 
concise,  logical  and  convincing  manner.  The  in- 
rtiieiK-e  f>f  his  writings  is  immeasurable  but  all 
acknr)w  ledge  that  il  lias  been  a  potent  element 
in  re]iul>lican  successes  in  Iroquois  county  and 
the  party,  acknowledging  his  worth  and  ability, 
have  called  him  to  ptiblic  office.  I'reviirtis  t<i  iX^r) 
he  had  never  figured  in  |>olitical  circles  as  a  can- 
didate for  office,  but  in  that  year  he  was  elected 
by  his  fellow  townsmen  to  the  (nisition  of  jxilice 
magistrate.  Previous  to  that  time  lawlessness 
was  practically  imcheckeil  owing  to  niysteriou-* 
and  subtle  influences,  but  it  was  now  fbtmd  that 
"influence"  no  longer  meant  imnuinity  an<l  of- 
fenders .Tgainst  the  ordinances  made  ami  pnv 
videil.  but  seldom  enforced,  foimd  themselves 
lalMiring  under  penalties  of  unheard-of  severity. 
.\gain  Mr.  Irelan  was  called  to  public  office.  Ix- 
ing  appointed  to  an  important  clerkship  in  the 
forty-second  general  assembly  of  Illinois.  an<l 
in  I")ecemlK'r.  i<^i.  he  receive<l  ap|)oinlment 
through  the  influence  of  Congressman  Joseph  (i. 
Cannon  as  assistant  enrolling  clerk  in  the  house 
of   representatives   at    VN'ashington. 

On  the  i6th  of  July,  i<X)2.  .Mr.  Irelan  was 
married  to  Miss  Helen  .Vhxire.  of  Mercer  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  a  daughter  of  l-'nincis  M.  and  .^arah 
(Toner)  .Moore.  Her  father,  who  devoted  his 
life  to  ap;rictdtnral  i)ursuits.  tlie<l  in  i8f)3.  but  her 
mother  is  still  living  in  *  thio.  Mrs.  Irelan  ac- 
(juired  her  education  in  the  public  schools  and  in 
Coldwater  ( ( )hio )  .Academy  and  for  f<Hir  years 
engaged  in  leaching.  She  has  become  the  mother 
of      two     I'liililnii  /cll.i       Mih.n-      :oii!      l).il!:is 

liidlack. 

Mr.  Irelan  is  a  member  of  the  .s,ins  ol  the 
.Xmerican  Revolution  and  the  Modern  Wixnlmen 
of  .America,  while  his  religiou.s  faith  is  indicated 
bv  his  connection  with  the  Methodist  churcli.  He 
is  a  man  of  most  geni:d  nature  and  while  he  Ins 
taken  an  aggressive  |Ni$ition  on  matters  of  pub- 
lic moment  he  is  at  the  same  time  never  abusive 
(tf  adversaries.  His  own  [M^silion  is  never  an 
i-ipiivocal  one  and  the  conunnnity  acknowledges 
its  imiebtedness  to  him  for  his  cliantpionship  of 


156 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


many  plans  and  movements  which  have  been  of 
direct  benefit  to  Gilman.  He  is  a  man  of  Hterary 
tastes,  who  finds  dehghtful  companionship  among 
the  master  minds  of  present  and  former  ages, 
and  this  gives  him  rest  and  recreation  from  the 
demands  made  upon  his  time  and  energies  by 
his  journalistic  interests  and  his  political  work. 


SAMUEL  BUCKLEY. 


Samuel  Buckley,  a  retired  farmer  and  con- 
tractor making  his  home  in  Sheldon,  was  born 
in  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  April  4,  1849, 
his  parents  being  Stephen  and  Eliza  Jane  (Har- 
per) Buckley.  The  paternal  grandparents  were 
James  and  Sarah  (Lincoln)  Buckley,  the  former 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Sarah  Buckley  died  in  Tippecanoe 
county,  Indiana,  in  1844  '^"'1  James  Buckley 
afterward  wedded  ]\Irs.  Jacobs.  In  1854  he  came 
to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  for 
about  eighteen  months  and  then  removed  to 
Carroll  county,  Indiana,  where  he  spent  his 
remaining  days.  His  son.  Stephen  Buckley,  was 
born  in  Preble  county.  Ohio,  January  2,  1823, 
and  was  two  years  of  age  when  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
lived  until  1856.  He  was  married  on  the  3d  of 
June,  1848,  to  Miss  Eliza  Jane  Harper,  a 
native  of  Montgomery  county,  Indiana.  On  leav- 
ing the  Hoosier  state  they  came  to  Iroquois 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  land  which  Mr. 
Buckley  had  purchased  from  the  government  in 
1854.  Here  he  was  very  successful  in  his  busi- 
ness life,  adding  to  his  original  holdings  until 
he  owned  at  one  time  fourteen  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  this  county.  He  always  followed 
farming  and  through  the  careful  husbanding  of 
his  own  resources  and  his  wise  investment  he 
won  the  splendid  success  which  crowned  his 
labor.  He  died  in  June,  1904,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-one  years  and  five  months,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  at  the  a.ge  of  sixty-nine 
years.  They  were  continuous  residents  of  Iro- 
quois county  from  1856  until  called  to  their  final 
rest  and  were  most  worthy  and  esteemed  pioneer 
people.  They  became  the  patents  of  six  chiidrcn, 
five   nf   whom   arc   now   living:    Samuel,   of   this 


review ;  Mrs.  Delilah  Amos,  who  resides  in  Shel- 
don ;  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Boatman,  a  widow,  living 
in  Chicago:  Alonzo,  of  Sheldon,  and  Mrs,  Maria 
Elizabeth  Roberts,  a  resident  of  California. 

Samuel  Buckley  spent  the  first  seven  years  of 
his  life  in  the  state  of  his  nativity  and  then  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Iro- 
quois county  in  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the 
\\'illow  Grove  school  near  his  father's  home  and 
was  early  trained  to  habits  of  industry,  economv 
and  perseverance  upon  the  farm,  working  dili- 
gently and  persistently  and  thus  becoming  well 
qualified  to  take  up  farm  work  on  his  own  ac- 
count when  he  attained  his  majority.  He  was 
continuously  engaged  in  general  agricultural 
pursuits  until  1884,  when  his  wife  died  and  he 
removed  to  Sheldon.  Here  he  took  up  carpen- 
tering and  contracting  and  was  thus  busy  until 
he  retired  from  active  life.  He  is  now  one  of 
the  wealthy  residents  of  Sheldon  and  owns  a 
beautiful  two-stor\-  residence  two  blocks  from 
Main  street.  He  has  here  three  good  lots  with 
cement  sidewalks,  and  the  home  stands  in  the 
midst  of  a  well  kept  lawn.  His  farming  inter- 
ests comprise  two  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
good  land  in  Sheldon  township  and  upon  this 
also  stands  a  good  two-story  dwelling.  His 
farm  returns  to  him  a  gratifying  annual  income 
and  provides  him  with  the  comforts  and  some 
of  the  luxuries  of  life. 

Mr.  Buckley  was  married  to  Edna  E.  Cana- 
day,  a  native  of  Mrginia,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  one  daughter,  Nellie,  who  is  now  the 
wife  of  Ora  Smalley,  of  Sheldon,  by  whom  she 
has  three  children,  Harold,  and  Blendine  and 
Geraldine,  twins.  Tlie  wife  and  mother  passed 
away  in  February,  1884,  and  Mr.  Buckley  was 
again  married,  Au,gust,  1904,  to  Agnes  A.  Cole- 
man, a  native  of  Indiana. 

His  political  support  is  given  the  republican 
party,  of  which  he  is  a  stalwart  advocate.  He 
served  as  city  marshal  of  Sheldon  for  four  years, 
was  school  director  while  on  the  farm  and  is 
now  filling  the  position  of  constable.  Almost  his 
entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county  and 
while  carefully  directing  his  business  interests 
so  as  to  win  success  he  has  also  l)een  an  inter- 
ested witness  of  the  changes  which  have  occurred 
here  and  the  progress  that  has  been  wrought, 
and  as  a  good  citizen  be  has  ahva\s  endeavored 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVBISII^  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


'59 


to  uphold  the  poHtical  ami  legal  status  and  to 
advance  the  material,  intellectual  and  inciral 
interests  of  the  countv. 


ALONZO  I.  HALL. 


.Monzo  J.  Hall,  who  has  won  lor  himself  a 
creditable  place  as  a  citizen  and  as  an  agricul- 
turist in  Iroquois  county  and  who  for  some  years 
was  a  factor  in  the  business  life  of  Milford, 
where  he  owned  and  o|)erated  a  grain  ele\-ator. 
is  now  living  retired.  His  birth  occurred  in  Coles 
county.  Illinois,  .\ugust  24.  1852.  his  parents 
being  David  A.  and  Mary  M.  (Lemmoii)  Hall, 
natives  of  Ohio  and  Indiana  respectively.  With 
his  |)arents  the  father  removed  to  Vermilion 
county.  Indiana,  in  his  childhood  days,  the  family 
home  being  established  there  about  1848.  and 
when  he  had  reached  manhood  he  was  married 
there  to  Miss  Mary  M.  Lemmon.  In  1862  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  Chicago,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  live-stock  and  commission  business,  spend- 
ing his  last  days  in  that  city.  His  death  oc- 
curred in  1884  and  liis  wife  passed  away  in  1876. 

Consequent  upon  the  removal  of  the  family 
from  Cities  county  to  Chicago  .\lonzo  J.  Hall  was 
reared  in  the  western  metropolis  and  is  indebted 
to  its  public-school  system  for  the  educational 
privileges  he  enjoyed.  .Arriving  at  years  of  ina- 
turity,  he  worked  at  the  stockyards  with  his  fa- 
ther from  1869  until  1874,  or  for  a  period  of  five 
years,  but  thinking  to  find  agricultural  life  more 
congenial  and  profitable  he  came  to  Iroquois 
•county  and  Ixiught  land  in  I-ovejoy  township. 
After  his  father's  death  he  succeeded  to  a  part 
■of  the  estate  and  eventually  added  to  his  property 
through  judicious  investments  and  as  the  result 
of  careful  business  manageinent  until  he  now 
-owns  si.x  hundred  acres  of  land  in  two  famis  in 
Milford  and  Lovejoy  townships.  Both  places  are 
improved  with  good  buildings  and  are  well  fenced 
and  altogether  constitute  fine  farming  property. 
He  tilled  the  soil  for  many  years  according  to 
modern  ideas  of  agricultural  development  and 
raised  good  crops.  He  also  raised  and  fed  stock 
and  that  branch  of  his  business  proved  profitable. 
In  1888  he  removed  to  Milford.  where  he  erected 
an  attractive  modern   residence,  but   lie  did  not 


cease  to  carry  on  the  farm  work  until  several 
years  tiiereafler,  when  he  rented  his  land.  In 
.Milford  he  engaged  in  the  grain  business,  owning 
and  conducting  an  elevator  fur  three  years,  when 
he  .sold  out.  His  time  is  now  given  only  to  the 
su])ervisi(>n  of  his  invested  interests  and  his  rest 
from   further  active  labor  is  well   merited. 

( >n  the  22d  of  January.  1876.  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Hal!  and  Miss  .Sarah  .\.  Wilson,  a 
native  daughter  of  Irof|uois  covinty.  her  father, 
John  Pi.  Wilson,  having  come  from  Indiana  to 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early  settlers  here.  There 
arc  two  children  by  this  marriage:  Quincy  A.. 
who  is  a  student  in  the  state  university,  pursuing 
the  mechanical  engineering  course  ;  and  .Mice  W.. 
at  home.  .\  lifelong  republican  in  politics,  Mr. 
Hall  has  done  effective  service  for  the  party  as 
a  champion  of  its  principles  and  for  twelve  con- 
secutive years  he  was  elected  and  capidily  ser\'ed 
as  road  commissioner  and  was  al.so  township  col- 
lector for  one  term.  He  has  frequently  been  a 
delegate  to  the  conventions  of  his  party  and  takes 
a  deep  interest  in  politics  as  every  true  American 
citizen  should  do.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  church  and  he  affiliates  with  Milford 
lodge.  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and  with  Watseka  com- 
mandcry.  K.  T.  His  residence  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty covers  more  than  a  third  of  a  century,  where 
he  has  become  well  known  because  of  the  extent 
and  importance  of  his  business  dealings  and  by 
reason  of  the  fact  tliat  he  has  been  called  to  nu- 
merous offices  of  honor  and  trust,  in  which  he 
has  been  recognized  as  a  man  of  tried  integrity 
and  worth,  meriting  and  receiving  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  community.  While  he  inherit- 
ed some  property  much  of  his  success  is  attribut- 
able entirely  to  his  own  labors  and  the  capable 
management  of  his  business  affairs. 


JACOB  J.  WIENRANK. 

Belmont  township  has  its  full  proportion  of 
energetic,  wide-awake  and  alert  farmers,  which 
numlx-r  includes  Jacob  J.  Wienrank,  who  is  liv- 
ing on  section  27,  where  a  valuable  tract  of  land 
of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  pays  annual 
tribute  to  his  care  and  labor  in  rich  crops.  A 
native  of    Illinois,  he  was  born    near    Benson, 


i6o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


W^oodford  county.  Xovember  8,  1870,  and  in 
1876  was  broiig-ht  to  Iroquois  county  by  his  par- 
ents. John  and  Antje  (Duitsmann)  Wienrank, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Germany.  The 
father's  birth  occurred  in  Hanover  and  he  came 
to  America  with  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ja- 
cob Wienrank,  when  a  youth  of  twelve  years. 
The  family  home  was  established  near  Peoria 
in  Tazewell  county,  where  John  Wienrank  was 
reared  upon  a  farm.  He  was  married  in  ^^''ood- 
ford  county  to  Miss  Duitsmann  and  afterward 
engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  rented  land  for  five 
years.  He  then  came  to  Iroquois  countv  and  in- 
vested the  capital  which  he  had  saved  from  his 
earnings  in  o!ie  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
He  then  began  farming  in  Ash  Grove  township 
and  converted  his  property  into  rich  and  pro- 
ductive fields. 

Jacob  J.  Wienrank,  the  eldest  of  his  father's 
family  of  six  children,  was  reared  upon  the  old 
homestead  farm  in  Ash  Grove  township  and  ac- 
quired a  good  common-school  education,  his  time 
being  divided  between  the  work  of  the  school- 
room, the  pleasures  of  the  playground  and  the 
tasks  incident  to  the  development  of  the  farm. 
He  remained  at  home  with  his  father  until  he 
had  attained  his  majority  and  then  started  out 
in  life  on  his  own  account  by  renting  land.  After 
nine  years  thus  passed  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  where  he  now  resides  on  section 
27.  Belmont  township.  In  1905  he  erected  a  large 
barn,  fifty-eight  by  fifty-eight  feet.  His  place  is 
well  tiled  and  well  fenced,  he  having  laid  three 
thousand  rods  of  tile  on  the  farm.  He  has  since 
purchased  eighty  acres  adjoining  his  original 
tract  and  now  has  two  hundred  and  fortv  acres 
of  valuable  and  well  improved  land,  constituting 
one  of  the  excellent  farms  of  the  countv.  He  is 
a  breeder  of  good  graded  stock  and  makes  a  spe- 
cialty of  draft  horses.  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  and 
polled  Angus  cattle. 

On  the  i8th  of  .April,  1901.  Mr.  Wienrank  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Hattie  M.  Shivclv. 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  March  6,  1873,  and  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  Shively,  who  was  also  born 
in  that  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wienrank  are  the 
parents  of  two  cbiMren.  Leah  Madeline,  Inirn 
June  15,  1902;  and  Gladys  .-\nna,  born  Otober  7. 
1904.  He  votes  with  the  democracy  but  does 
not  consider  himst-lf  bnund  by  party  tics  at  local 


elections,  nor  has  he  ever  desired  office  as  a  re- 
ward for  party  fealty.  Uoth  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Woodland  and  are  vyorthy  people  whose  lives  are 
actuated  by  high  and  honorable  principles  and 
who  by  their  earnest  endeavor  to  follow  the 
teachings  of  their  denomination  have  awakened 
the  respect  and  good  will  of  all  witli  whom  they 
have  been  associated. 


ELLIS  T.  LINDSEY. 


Ellis  J.  Lindsey.  who  is  successfully  conduct- 
ing farming  interests  on  section  25,  Onarga 
township,  owns  an  excellent  tract  of  land  of 
two  hundred  acres  adjacent  to  the  city  limits  of 
Onarga.  He  is,  moreover,  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  the  county  and  one  whose  life  record  well  en- 
titles him  to  representation  among  its  leading' 
agriculturists.  He  was  born  in  Onarga.  August 
8.  1874,  and  is  a  son  of  B.  F.  Lindsey  and  a 
brother  of  Ira  M.  Lindsey,  mentioned  on  another 
page  of  this  work. 

Ellis  J.  Lindsey  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the- 
old  home  farm  and  his  educational  privileges 
were  afforded  by  the  Onarga  schools.  He  has- 
been  an  active  man  on  the  farm  and  since  the 
age  of  fifteen  years  has  carried  on  farm  work 
on  his  own  account.  In  the  fall  of  1897  he 
located  where  he  now  resides  and  his  energies 
and  attention  have  since  been  given  to  the  con- 
trol of  the  place.  In  this  farm  he  has  two  hun- 
dred acres  and  also  owns  another  tract  of  seventy 
acres.  He  has  been  watchful  of  opportunities 
for  development  and  has  so  conducted  the  work 
of  the  fields  that  his  labors  have  brought  forth 
rich  crops  and  success  has  attended  him.  The 
residence,  a  large,  neat,  two-story  dwelling,  was 
erected  by  him  and  is  thoroughly  modern  in  its 
ai^pointments,  being  heated  by  furnace  and  sup- 
plied with  every  accessory  which  adds  to  the  com- 
fort and  conveniences  of  a  model  home.  For 
three  years  Mr.  Lindsey  has  rented  the  land  but 
gives  supervision  to  his  farm  and  his  other  busi- 
ness interests,  and  from  these  he  derives  a  good 
i!icome. 

Mr.    Lindsey    was   married    in    Danforth.    Illi- 
nois, December  J<i,   T8t)7,  to  Miss  Olive  Kindig, 


IRUQLOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


i6t 


who  was  born  in  W'oodwortli,  Illinois,  but  was 
reared  and  cdnraicd  in  Ir(H|ui>is  county,  sjn-nd- 
in>j  her  school  days  in  t  )narj;a.  Tliree  cinldriii 
grace  this  marriaKc:  Virginia.  Lloyd  I*",  and 
Lester  J. 

Politically  Mr.  Lindsey  is  a  democrat  where 
national  isstics  are  involved  but  at  local  elections 
casts  an  indei^endt-nt  ballot.  He  has  never  as- 
pired to  office,  preferring  to  give  undivide<l  at- 
tention to  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  has 
met  with  signal  success.  His  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Christian  church  of  Onarga  and  he  be- 
longs to  Onarga  lodge,  K.  F*.,  in  which  he  is 
serving  as  an  officxT.  He  is  a  man  of  g<¥Kl  busi- 
ness ability,  who  (|uickly  recognizes  and  utilizes 
his  opportunity  and  his  integrity  has  l>ecn  one 
of  the  salient  features  in  his  business  life.  He 
has  always  resided  in  the  vicinity  of  ( )narga  an<l 
is  well  known  in  the  city  and  throujjhonl  the 
surrfumding  district,  being  jH)|)ular  with  his  fel- 
lowmen  by  reason  of  his  genial  nature  and  affa- 
bility, combined  with  his  close  adherence  to  a 
high  standard  of  conduct. 


J.\.MES   PORCH. 


James  Porch  is  a  self-made  man  who  without 
special  family  or  pecuniary  advantages  at  the 
outset  of  his  career  lias  worked  his  way  steadily 
upward  from  a  humble  financial  position  to  one 
of  afHuence.  and  his  business  reconi  is  one  that 
any  man  might  be  j)rou<l  to  possess,  for  he  has 
ever  been  faithful  in  meeting  his  obligations  and 
commands  the  admiration  ami  respect  of  his  con- 
temporaries. .\  native  of  Rngland.  he  came  to 
Iro<{uois  county  in  \^)~.  His  educational  priv- 
ileges were  limited  and  his  means  were  small. 
He  was  haiulica|>i)ed  in  manv  ways,  yet  he  has 
achieved  greater  success  socially  and  financially 
than  the  |,'reat  majt)rity  of  residents  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  county.  (Jn  taking  up  his  abode 
within  its  borders  he  engaged  in  the  hardware 
and  tinware  business  and  from  the  Ix'KinninK 
met  with  prosperity,  his  sales  annually  increas- 
ing until  his  business  had  assumed  large  pro- 
portions. In  1875  he  turned  his  attention  from 
trade  to  finance  and  purchased  the  private  Iwnk 


of  Robert  Nation,  of  Chclianse.  which  had  been 
established  in  187.?.  He  als«^»  h.xs  a  half  interest 
in  bank  and  elevator  of  Porch  &  .\dams  at 
L'aliery.  Illinois.  .Moreover,  he  has  made  judi- 
cious investments  in  property  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  titty  acres  of  land 
in  Kankakee  county.  Illinois,  eighty  acres  in 
.Milks  (irove  township.  Iroquois  county;  two 
hundred  acres  in  Wright  coimty.  Iowa;  six  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  in  Itutler  county.  Kansas; 
and  one  hundred  ami  sixty  acres  in  Iron  county. 
Wisconsin.  From  his  fanning  properly  he  tie- 
rives  a  good  income. 

In  itV>7.  at  Wilmington.  Illinois.  Limes  Porch 
was  married  to  Mi.ss  Lffie  Tracy,  a  resi<lcnt  of 
that  place.  They  are  now  tin:  parents  of  three 
children :  Carl,  Kitty  and  Nellie.  The  son  was. 
born  I-'ebruary  25,  iS/jH.  at  Chcbaiise,  ac<juired 
a  common-school  education  in  his  native  towa 
and  has  since  been  connected  with  his  father  irr 
business.  He  now  owns  a  half  interest  in  the 
general  store  of  Porch  &  WulfTe  at  Lliebanse. 
although  his  attention  is  more  largely  given  to 
the  conduct  of  the  harware  store  of  Porch  & 
Porch,  in  which  he  also  holds  a  half  interest.  He 
makes  his  home  in  Otto  township.  Kankakee 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  has  a  new  residence  '\n 
course  of  construction.  He  is  a  wide-awake  and' 
enterprising  young  business  inan.  who  ckKi'ly  ap- 
plies himself  to  the  duties  in  hand  so  that  the  best 
results  follow.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  .Masonic  lodge  of  Chelwnse.  in  which  he  lias 
held  meml)ership  for  ten  yi-ars.  ami  he  is  also 
connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  at  Chc- 
banse.  The  elder  daughter.  Kitty,  is  the  wife  of 
F.  W.  Elliott,  a  farmer  of  Otto  township.  Kanka- 
kee county.  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Henry  WultTe.. 
of  the  firm  of  Porch  &  Wulffe.  of  Chelianse. 

.\t  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  James  Porclr 
manifested  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  by 
service  in  the  Fifth  cavalry  of  United  ."states  \'oI- 
unteers.  enlisting  at  .\ndover,  Ohio.  He  went  to 
the  front  and  did  active  service  in  support  of  the 
stars  and  stripes  ami  the  cause  they  represented 
and  after  the  war  he  came  to  Iroquois  county. 
In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  stanch  repub- 
lican and  was  once  a  candidate  for  state  repre- 
sentative but  was  defeate<l  by  a  small  majority, 
altli'iujjh  the  deiiMKratic  strength  in  this  locality 
is  verv  marked. 


1 62 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


A  little  thoughtful  consideration  of  the  career 
of  James  Porch  brings  one  to  the  conclusion  that 
in  all  of  his  business  undertakings  he  has  been 
impelled  by  an  indomitable  spirit  of  progress  and 
enterprise.  His  life  has  been  one  of  continuous 
activity,  in  which  has  been  accorded  due  recog- 
nition of  labor  and  today  he  is  numbered  among 
the  substantial  citizens  of  the  county.  His  in- 
terests are  thoroughly  identified  with  those  of 
northern  Illinois  and  at  all  times  he  is  ready  to 
lend  his  aid  and  co-operation  to  any  movement 
calculated  to  benefit  this  section  of  the  country 
or  advance  its  development.  In  private  life  he 
has  gained  that  warm  personal  regard  which 
arises  from  true  nobility  of  character,  deference 
for  the  opinions  of  others,  kindliness  and 
geniality. 


MILTON  ANDERSON. 

Milton  Anderson,  whose  life  has  been  marked 
■by  steady  progress,  by  recognition  and  utiliza- 
tion of  opportunity  and  by  fidelity  to  every  duty, 
figures  prominently  in  the  business  life  of  Shel- 
don, as  president  of  the  Citizens  Bank.  He  was 
born  in  Jefferson  county,  Indiana,  March  23, 
1838,  and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  the  east.  His  grandfather,  W.  G. 
Anderson,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania, 
in  June,  1788,  and  married  Anna  Whitaker.  who 
was  born  at  Fort  Duquesne,  now  Pittsburg. 
Pennsylvania,  January  7,  1787.  Their  son, 
Elijah  W.  Anderson,  was  a  native  of  Shelby 
county,  Kentucky,  born  in  1812,  but  owing  to 
the  removal  of  the  family  from  the  Blue  Grass 
state,  was  largely  reared  in  Indiana,  and  his 
•education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools. 
He  married  Lucinda  Lott.  .\lthough  a  miller 
by  trade,  he  followed  farming  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  and  thus  provided  for 
his  family.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  whig 
and  the  organization  of  the  republican  party 
elicited  his  attention  and  co-operation  and  he 
became  an  active  worker  in  its  ranks.  He  was 
a  devout  member  of  the  Christian  church,  while 
his  wife  held  membership  in  the  Baptist  churcii. 
"She  was  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  died  when 
her    son    Milton    was    onlv    three    years    of    asic. 


He  is  now  the  only  survivor  of  the  family  of 
three  sons  and  a  daughter. 

In  his  early  youth  ^lilton  Anderson  attended 
the  comiuon  schools  but  is  largely  a  self- 
educated  man,  having  learned  valuable  lessons 
in  the  school  of  experience  and  through  reading 
and  observation.  He  remained  in  his  native 
state  until  fourteen  years  of  age.  when  he  came 
'  alone  to  Illinois,  settling  at  Bloomington  in  1850. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  dependent  upon  his 
own  resources,  and  the  prosperity  that  he  has 
achieved  and  enjoyed  has  come  as  the  direct 
reward  of  his  own  labors.  In  early  youth  he 
accepted  any  emplo\ment  that  would  yield  him 
an  honest  living.  For  a  time  he  worked  as 
grade  teamster  for  the  Chicago  &  Alton  and 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroads,  and  he  continued 
a  resident  of  Bloomington  until  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war.  He  had  watched  with  con- 
siderable interest  the  progress  of  events  that 
denoted  its  approach,  and  in  1861  he  enlisted 
in  the  Union  Army  in  the  company  commanded 
by  Captain  McNulta  but  as  the  quota  of  his 
county  was  full  his  company  was  rejected. 

Not  being  able  to  go  to  the  front  Mr.  An- 
derson went  to  Indianapolis  and  entered  the 
employ  of  the  Bee  Line  Railroad  Company  as 
a  conductor  and  was  thus  employed  for  eight 
years,  his  run  being  between  Indianapolis  and 
Crestline.  Ohio.  After  eight  years  devoted  to 
that  service  he  entered  the  employ  of  the  Pan- 
handle Railroad  Company,  with  which  he  con- 
tinued for  the  long  period  of  sixteen  years,  being 
one  of  its  most  faithful  and  trusted  employes. 

On  the  1st  of  May,  1872,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  ]VIr.  Anderson  and  Miss  Arminda 
J.  Fleager,  who  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  28,  1851,  and  is  a  daughter 
of  Charles  and  Mary  (W'etzell)  Fleager.  The 
father,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  Augfust 
9.  1800,  died  March  5,  1875,  and  the  mother, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  the  Keystone  state,  No- 
vember II,  1807,  passed  away  March  15,  1866. 
Both  were  faithful  and  consistent  members  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  and  Mr.  Fleager  was  one 
of  its  officers  and  devoted  adherents  for  twenty- 
eight  years.  Unto  this  worthy  couple  were 
born  thirteen  children  but  only  two  arc  now 
living,  the  brother  being  ^^'illiam  B.  Fleager, 
of  Sheldon.     Mr.   and   ]\lrs.  Anderson  have  be- 


.\in/n  >.\  .\M)i:us(j\. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  Of  ILUNOIS 


1R()QL(^1S  CUL'NTY.  ILLINOIS. 


i^'5 


Clime  the  |K»rcnts  of  fmir  cliiltlrcn :  Marx  L., 
who  is  a  praihiatc  of  the  Nonhwcstcrn  I'nivcr- 
sitv  at  l*"vaiistiiii.  Ilhnois:  llcli-ii.  a  i^railuati-  uf 
the  Shililiiii  hin^h  school:  Harry,  a  j;ra<luatc  of 
tile  Stale  Iniversity  :  and  ISertha.  a  f;radiiate  of 
the  Northwestern   L'niversity. 

A  stalwart  republican  in  his  |)olitical  allegi- 
ance. Mr.  .Vndcrson  has  been  identitied  with 
the  party  since  his  first  presidential  ballot  was 
cast  for  .\brahani  Lincoln.  Me  Ir-Iouks  to  David 
Crockett  camp.  No.  502.  M.  W.  .\.,  and  to  the 
Patriotic  ( )rder  of  the  Sons  of  .\mcrica  in  Shel-» 
<lon.  He  was  instrumental  in  successfully  estab- 
lishing in  1888  the  I'"armers  Co-Opi-rative  lirain 
.\ssociation  of  Sheldon,  which  built  an  elevator 
that  has  been  one  of  the  successful  business 
undertakings  of  the  town,  lie  is  a  large  land- 
owner, having  one  hundred  and  si.\ty-six  acres 
near  Colfa.x.  Illinois,  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  near  Kentland.  Indiana,  and  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-seven  acres  in  }Iumboldt  county. 
Iowa,  in  addition  to  his  beautiful  residence  in 
Sheldon.  He  is.  moreover,  president  of  the 
Citizens  Hank  of  Sheldon,  and  is  one  of  the 
most  successful  men  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
His  labors  have  been  so  discerningly  directed 
along  well  defined  lines  of  labor  and  enterprise 
that  he  seems  to  have  realized  at  any  one  point 
of  progress  the  ])ossibility  for  successful  ac- 
<omplishment  at  that  point.  He  has  been  a  man 
of  action  rather  than  of  theory,  has  laid  his 
])lans  carefully  and  has  jtrosecuted  them  with 
diligence  and.  moreover,  he  has  had  strict  re- 
gard for  the  rights  of  others  in  all  business 
transactions  and  thus  has  maintained  an  unassail- 
able reputation.  His  life  record,  therefore,  soulfl 
I)rove  a  source  of  inspiration  to  others,  showing 
that  success  is  ambition's  answer. 


JOHN  WEST. 


John  West,  who  is  now  living  retired  in  l.oda. 
was  ixirn  in  Lincolnshire.  I'-ngland.  June  21. 
iR.^f'i.  His  father.  Thomas  West,  was  likewise  a 
native  of  that  country  and  wa.>.  reared  in  Lincoln- 
shire, where  he  wedded  Mary  Fauthorp.  likewise- 
a  native  of  England.  Thomas  West  reared  his 
family  and  spent    lii>  intiri'  lifr   in   that  countrv 


His  .son,  John  West,  when  a  \oulh  of  sixteen 
years,  emigrate*!  to  the  new  world  in  the  fall 
of  1852,  crossing  the  .\tlantic  on  a  sailing  vessel 
which  reached  .New  \ork  on  tile  28th  of  ( )clo- 
Ikt.  He  went  to  l'p|KT  Canada  ami  for  alxmt 
two  \i-jirs  was  eni|»lo\e<l  in  comjection  with  the 
construction  of  the  Welland  canal.  .\lM)ut  1854 
he  went  to  Chicago  ami  in  the  vicinity  of  that 
city  was  employed  at  farm  laUir.  He  spent  a 
summer  near  Naperville  and  for  iliree  winters 
he  attended  school  in  Chicago.  Securing  a  i)0- 
sition  as  maltman  with  a  brewery,  he  was  thus 
employed  until  i8/'>2.  wiien  he  came  to  l.oda  and 
occiiiiied  a  sinnlar  position  with  a  large  distil- 
lery here.  He  was  thus  employed  for  twelve 
years,  or  until  1877.  when  he  located  ujion  a  farm 
in  l-ake  county.  Illinois,  carrying  on  agricultural 
pursuits  there  for  eight  years.  In  1885  he  re- 
turned to  Loda  and  bought  a  fann  here,  his  time 
and  energies  lieing  given  to  its  further  improve- 
ment and  development  until  i8<<i.  He  owned  a 
comfortable  home  and  good  tract  of  land  of  one 
hundred  anfl  sixty  acres  but  at  length  he  re- 
tired from  active  farm  life  and  bought  a  resi- 
dence in  I^ida.  where  for  five  years  he  has  made 
his  home.  He  has  since  sold  his  farm  but  has 
purchased  land  in  Calhoun  county.  Iowa,  neat 
Daisy,  where  he  has  one  hundred  an<l  sixty 
acres  of  well  improved  an<l  valuable  land. 

<  >ii  the  5th  of  November.  1862.  in  Chicago, 
.Mr.  West  was  married  to  .Miss  Retsy  Kemp,  a 
native  of  Lincolnshire.  England,  who  came  to 
the  new  world  on  the  .same  vessel  on  which  hei 
husband  crossed  the  .\tlantic.  They  have  become 
the  ])arents  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters : 
John  T.  and  William  James,  who  are  mentione*! 
elsewhere  in  this  work :  fieorge  Edward,  who 
operates  the  elevator  at  Thaw  villc  and  is  a  ]>art- 
ner  with  his  elder  brothers  in  the  grain  business; 
I'rancis  Henry,  who  is  living  in  (iranrl  Rapids. 
Michigan.  Ix-ing  secretary  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  .\ssociation  there;  Mary  H..  at  home, 
who  is  an  assistant  in  the  postoffice  at  Loda:  and 
Maud  Isal)ella.  a  teacher. 

Politically  Mr.  West  and  his  sons  are  rejiub- 
licans  and  his  first  jiresidential  vote  was  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  l8rio,  since  whicli  time  he 
has  supported  every  nominee  at  the  head  of  the 
ticket.  He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office, 
although  at  one  tinie  he  served  as  a  member  of 


i66 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  town  board.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  jMethodist  Episcopal  church  of  Loda,  in 
which  he  is  serving  as  one  of  the  trustees,  and 
his  wife  is  connected  with  the  Foreign  ^lission- 
ary  Society  and  the  Ladies  Aid  Society.  During 
his  residence  in  this  part  of  the  county  Air.  West 
has  supported  all  the  various  measures  which 
contribute  to  general  progress  and  improvement 
and  is  known  as  a  public-spirited  man.  His  life 
has  been  characterized  by  unfaltering  diligence, 
by  faithfulness  in  the  performance  of  duty  and 
by  recognition  of  his  obligations  to  his  fellow- 
men  and  to  his  country. 


JOHX  A.  AIcCURTAIN. 

John  A.  McCurtain.  now  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  a  prosperous  farmer  of  Iroquois 
county,  and  the  success  which  gained  him  place 
among  the  substantial  residents  of  the  commu- 
nity was  attributable  entirely  to  his  own  diligence 
and  perseverance.  Moreover,  he  was  strictly  re- 
liable in  all  his  business  transactions  and  thus 
he  left  an  honorable  name  as  well  as  a  comfort- 
able competence  to  his  family. 

Mr.  McCurtain  was  born  in  Champaign  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  September  6,  1831.  He  was  reared 
to  farm  life  and  lived  at  home  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age  but  worked  out  by  the  month  for 
some  time  before  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
saved  his  earnings  and  at  length  bought  twelve 
calves.  These  he  fed  for  some  time  and  when  he 
sold  them  the  proceeds  helped  him  to  make  a 
payment  on  eighty  acres  of  new  land,  which  he 
bought  at  the  usual  purchase  price  of  a  dollar 
and  a  quarter  per  acre.  This  land  was  just 
across  the  Illinois  border  in  Indiana,  and  the 
year  following  his  marriage  he  began  breaking 
and  cultivating  it.  Two  years  later  he  built  a 
log  cabin  and  took  up  his  abode  upon  the  farm. 
During  the  winter  months  he  made  rails,  which 
was  the  only  way  of  making  ready  money  at  that 
time.  He  received  a  dollar  per  hundred  for 
splitting  rails  and  this  supplied  him  with  funds 
sufficient  to  meet  the  demands  of  daily  existence, 
while  at  the  same  time  he  carried  on  farm  work 
and  in  the  course  of  years  his  harvests  became 
large   and   ])rofitalile. 


In  1855  he  sold  that  place  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Iroquois  township,  which 
was  entered  from  the  government  by  Airs.  AIc- 
Curtain's  brother,  Benjamin  Aloore.  This,  too, 
was  a  tract  of  wild  prairie  land,  raw  and  unculti- 
vated. He  erected  thereon  a  hewed  log  house 
of  one  room  and  lived  there  for  many  year^^^ 
in  the  meantime  making  fine  improvements  which 
converted  the  farm  into  a  valuable  place.  He 
brought  the  fields  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation, erected  commodious  and  substantial 
modern  buildings  and  secured  the  latest  improved 
farm  machinery  to  facilitate  his  labors.  He  lived 
upon  the  farm  until  1893,  when  he  removed  ""O 
Watseka  and  bought  eleven  acres  in  the  city 
limits,  on  which  he  erected  a  fine  residence  and 
lived  retired  from  business.  His  widow  still 
owns  two  hundred  acres  of  the  old  homestead, 
together  with  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in 
Beaver  township. 

In  September,  1852,  Air.  AlcCurtain  was- 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Moore,  who 
was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  January  17, 
1834,  and  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lewis)  Moore,  the  former  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  the  later  of  Ohio.  They  removed 
to  Jasper  county,  Indiana,  in  1841,  making  the 
journey  with  three  horses  and  a  wagon.  They 
also  brought  with  them  two  saddles,  four  cows^ 
and  two  calves,  and  thus  traveling  westward  in 
true  pioneer  style  they  became  identified  with 
the  development  of  Indiana  during  the  period 
when  it  was  a  frontier  district. 

There  were  four  children  born  imto  Air.  and 
Airs.  McCurtain :  Emma,  wlio  became  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Young  and  is  now  deceased ;  Addison, 
who  lives  in  Salt  Lake  City,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  : 
Irene,  the  wife  of  L.  D.  Brown,  of  Guthrie. 
Oklahoma ;  and  Celnira,  the  wife  of  Herbert 
Potter,  of  South  Dakota. 

After  removing  to  Watseka.  Air.  and  Airs.  Mc- 
Curtain spent  considerable  time  in  traveling,  vis- 
iting California,  Alcxico  and  various  points  in 
the  west,  and  thus  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their 
fiirmer  toil.  The  death  of  Air.  AlcCurtain  oc- 
curred on  the  25th  of  June,  1902.  He  had  lived 
a  life  of  industry,  perseverance  and  honor,  and 
his  own  labors  and  the  assistance  of  his  estimable 
wife   [jroved    the   basis   of   his   success.     At   the- 


LIBRAKY 

OF  THt 

UNIVERSITY  Uh  ILLirJUlS 


^ 

^ 

^ 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROOL'UIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


I7» 


lime  of  the  Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  I'. 
C)ne  Iluiulred  and  I''itty-tiltli  Illinois  X'olunteer 
Infantry  in  i8<35  and  served  until  the  dose,  l)einR 
on  fO'S""'!  <l"ty  most  of  the  time.  In  jwlitics  he 
was  a  republican  but  never  soufjht  or  desired 
])ublic  office,  jjreferrinp  to  concentrate  his  ener- 
pies  nixin  his  business  interests.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  church  for 
over  forty  years  and  were  most  earnest  i)eople. 
faithful  to  their  professions  and  maintaining;  a 
hi.ijh  standard  not  only  of  belief  but  ni  conduct. 
Mrs.  McCurtain  still  lives  in  Watseka  and  her 
life  is  enriched  by  many  memories  of  her  hus- 
band's kindliness  and  his  numerous  jjood 
■*lualitios. 


r.ENLX.MIX  CHILD. 


I'etijamiu  Giild.  who  departed  this  life  May 
20.  1896,  was  a  resident  of  Dan  forth  township 
from  ifV)^  and  was  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  that  locality.  He  was  born  in  liristol,  Rhode 
Island,  ( )ctober  i<).  i<^^.^.  his  parents  beinsj  I'.en- 
jamin  and  Phoebe  .\.  (Chami)lin)  Giilil.  The 
father  tlied  when  his  son  lienjamin  was  a  little 
lad,  and  the  mother  passed  away  about  twenty- 
five  years  af,'o  in  Rhode  Island.  Tlicy  were  both 
representatives  of  old  New  Enjjland  families  and 
ihe  men  were  generally  seafaring  people.  Hen- 
jamin  Child  was  one  of/  two  sons,  his  brother  be- 
ing James,  who  spent  his  life  in  Rhode  Islanil, 
•and  they  had  tw-o  sisters,  Mrs.  Maria  M.  Hoar 
and  Phoebe  .\.  C'hild.  but  all  are  now  deceased. 

In  the  stale  of  his  nativity  Iknjamin  Giikl  was 
reared  and  educated.  He  removed  with  his  par- 
ents from  Piristol  to  Warren,  Rhode  Island,  when 
aNiut  two  years  of  age  and  his  father  died  sixjn 
■afterward.  In  his  youth  the  son  learned  the 
C(V)per's  trade  and  as  a  young  man  he  went  to 
California  by  way  of  the  isthmus  route  about 
1840.  attracted  by  the  discovery  of  gold  on  the 
Pacific  slope.  He  spent  five  years  in  the  mines 
and  was  (|uite  successful  in  his  search  for  the 
precious  metal,  so  that  he  returned  home  with 
a  very  desirable  competence.  ( )n  again  locating 
in  Rhode  Island  he  followed  coof)cring  for  some 
time  and  alxiut  1853  he  came  westward  to  Illi- 
nois, malting  a  location  in  Peoria  county,  where 


he  purchased  and  began  the   improvement  of  a 
small  farm. 

Mr.  Child  was  married  there  SeptemlKr  25. 
1856,  to  Miss  Mary  C,  Johnston,  who  was  born 
in  Peoria  county,  January  22.  i8,Va  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Maria  (Tantlinger) 
Johnston.  Ijoth  of  whom  died  there  fifty  years 
agn.  They  ha<l  come  to  this  state  from  Johnston, 
Cambria  county.  Pennsylvania,  about  1835.  and 
secured  a  farm  in  Peoria  county  but  subsequently 
removed  to  P.rimfield.  Illinois,  where  their  sub- 
se(|uent  years  were  passed.  In  their  family  were 
six  children  ami  the  four  sisters  are  vet  living 
but  the  brothers,  Thomas  and  William  Theodore, 
have  both  passed  away.  The  sisters  of  .Mrs. 
Child  are:  Klvira  N..  who  married  Cyrus  Mar- 
shall, and  is  living  in  I'utler  county.  Kansas; 
Harriet  C.  who  is  the  widow  of  William  Cur- 
ren,  now  of  Pirimfield.  Illinois:  and  Maria  Jane, 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Ingall.  who  resides  at  .\sh- 
kum.  Iroquois  county. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Child 
removed  to  Iro(|uois  comity,  taking  up  their 
aUide  here  in  1868.  Here  Mr.  Child  first  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Danforth  township  ami  it  is  now  a  jiart  of  the 
]iresent  fine  farm  which  comprises  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  rich  lan<l.  He  nia<le  excel- 
lent improvements  thereon  and  continuously  fol- 
lowed general  farming  until  his  death,  covering 
a  period  of  twenty-eight  years.  He  possessed 
cinsi<kTal)le  skill  and  iiigemiity  along  mechani- 
cal lines  and  was  thus  enabled  to  keep  everything 
about  his  place  in  excellent  condition.  In  dis- 
jjosition  he  was  rather  fpiiet  and  retiring.  Fond 
of  reading  his  leisure  hours  were  largely  devoted 
to  the  perusal  of  books  and  papers  and  he  became 
a  well  informed  man,  keeping  in  touch  with  the 
trend  of  modern  thought. 

.\  stanch  republican  in  his  political  views  Mr. 
Child  sui)|)orled  the  party  from  its  organization. 
At  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  he  espoused  his 
country's  cause,  enlisting  in  Peoria  county  in 
iSTq.  He  served  for  thirteen  months,  or  until 
after  the  war  was  over  as  a  member  of  Company 
D.  Figlith  Illinois  Infantry,  and  his  arduous  mili- 
tar\  exjHTience  partially  undermined  his  health 
although  he  was  not  seriously  disabled.  While 
at  the  front  he  was  alt.ichcd  to  the  western  army. 
He  was   reared   in   the   faith    of    the    F.piscopal 


175 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


church  but  did  not  bccouie  a  member  of  any  de- 
nomination. Mrs.  Child,  however,  is  a  membei 
of  the  Methodist  church.  In  all  life's  relations 
Mr.  Child  was  straightforward  and  honorable,  be- 
ing thoroughly  trustworthy  as  well  as  active  and 
enterprising  in  his  business  life,  so  that  through- 
out the  community  where  he  was  known  he  en- 
joyed the  confidence  and  good  will  and  the  warm 
friendship  of  many  with  whom  he  came  in  con- 
tact. 

Unto  :\Ir-  and  Mrs.  Child  were  born  four  chil- 
dren :  Mary  Alma  and  Maria  Amalia,  twins,  now 
at  home;  James  Walter,  who  died  April  21.  1887, 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty-seven  years ;  and 
Emma  E.,  who  is  the  widow  of  William  A.  Kidd, 
and  resides  at  Oilman.  Mrs.  Child  and  her 
daughters  are  yet  upon  the  home  farm  in  Dan- 
forth  township,  which  is  a  valuable  property  of 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  improved  with 
all  modern  equipments  and  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation. 


FREDERICK  D.  \'ENNUM. 

Frederick  D.  \'ennum.  president  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Milford,  is  in  business  circles 
in  Iroquois  county  ranked  with  the  ablest  and 
has  displayed  in  the  management  of  financial  in- 
terests a  keen  discernment  and  broad  outlook  that 
argue  well  for  greater  usefulness  and  success 
in  the  future. 

Born  in  Watseka,  July  10,  1868,  he  is  a  son  of 
Thomas  Vennum.  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  Passing  through  successive  grades 
in  the  public  schools  he  was  graduated  from 
the  high  school  of  Watseka  with  the  class  of 
1886,  after  which  he  attended  the  University  of 
Illinois  until  he  had  completed  the  work  of  the 
sophomore  year.  Putting  aside  his  text-books  to 
become  an  active  factor  in  business  life,  he  then 
went  to  Chicago,  where  he  accepted  a  position 
in  the  First  National  Bank,  remaining  there  for 
five  years  and  gaining  an  intimate  knowledge  of 
banking  as  conducted  in  that  foremost  financial 
institution  of  the  state.  On  leaving  the  metropo- 
lis he  went  to  Milford.  where  his  father  was  en- 
gaged in  the  banking  business  under  the  firm 
name  of  Donovan  &  Vennum.  On  the  death  of 
the  father  in  1898  the  bank  was  re-organized  and 


became  the  I'irst  National  Bank  of  Milford,  \\h\t 
Frederick  1).  X'ennum  as  vice  president.  Mr. 
Donovan  retired  in  1900.  at  which  time  Mr.  \'en- 
num  became  president  and  such  has  been  hii 
connection  therewith  continuously  since.  The 
safe,  conservative  policy  established  by  his  father 
has  been  maintained  by  him  and  the  volume  of 
business  annually  transacted  over  the  counters, 
of  the  institution  is  constantly  increasing. 

On  the  28th  of  February.  1900,  Mr.  Vennum 
was  married  to  Miss  Maud  M.  Coney,  a  daugh- 
ter of  William  M.  Coney,  of  Watseka.  They 
have  three  children :  Ella  Jeannette.  who  was 
born  October  22.  1902  ;  Frederick  C,  December 
12.  1903:  and  ^lary  Elizabeth,  December  11, 
1905. 

The  political  principles  as  embodied  in  the  re- 
publican platform  receive  the  endorsement  of  Mr. 
\'ennum,  who,  how-ever,  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired office.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  broad  mind 
and  popular  in  the  city  of  his  nativity,  where  al- 
most his  entire  life  has  been  passed.  He  is  a 
loyal  friend  of  Watseka,  who  has  done  much  for 
her  welfare,  but  his  influence  in  this  regard  has 
never  been  inspired  by  a  sense  of  personal  im- 
provement. He  stands  as  a  typical  representative 
of  the  business  life  of  the  times,  alert  and  enter- 
prising, watchful  of  opportunities  and  recog- 
nizing and  improving  advantages  as  they  come. 


CHARLES  W.  ANDERSON. 

The  commercial  interests  of  Donovan  find  a 
worthy  and  active  representative  in  Charles  W. 
-Anderson,  who  is  engaged  in  dealing  in  hard- 
ware and  farm  implements  there  and  who  in  his 
business  life  manifests  a  spirit  of  determinatiort 
and  progress  such  as  never  fails  to  overcome  dif- 
ficulties and  obstacles  and  make  substantial  ad- 
vancement. 

He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Beaver  township. 
Iroquois  county,  September  24,  1857.  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  lived  at 
home  until  twenty-two  years  of  age  and  during 
that  period  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the  farm, 
early  becoming  familiar  with  the  duties  that  de- 
volve upon  the  agriculturist.  On  leaving  home 
he  went  to  Minnesota,  where  he  spent  one  year. 


IROQUOIS  CorN-TV.  II  I.I\(»IS. 


'73 


after  which  he  returned  to  Inxjiiois  county  ami 
accepted  a  clerkship  in  tlie  hardware  store  of 
Scari^ht  &  Santlell.  with  whom  he  remained  for 
alxuit  two  years.  Later  lie  spent  fourteen  years 
in  tlie  Kankakee  insane  asylum,  first  as  attendant 
for  two  years  and  afterward  as  suiK'rvisor,  and 
alwiut  seven  years  ajjo,  in  coiuu'ction  with  Mr. 
Swan.son,  he  purchased  a  general  hardware  and 
implement  Inisiness  at  Donovan.  He  has  since 
continued  in  this  line  of  trade  and  in  addition  to 
the  goods  carried  in  those  lines  the  firin  also  han- 
dles wagons,  buggies,  paints  and  oils.  The  build- 
ings which  they  occupy  are  owned  by  Mr.  Swan- 
son.  They  liavc  two  buildings  one  hundred  by 
fifty  feet  and  a  warehouse.  The  firm  is  enjoying 
an  excellent  trade,  their  patronage  increasing 
year  by  year,  and  they  belong  to  that  class  of  men 
who  promote  the  material  development  of  the 
community  througn  their  well  directed  and  en- 
terprising eflforts. 

Mr.  .\nderson  was  married  in  (  )iiarga  in  the 
year  i8</).  to  Miss  Minnie  B.  Crider,  a  native  of 
that  place,  and  they  have  two  children,  W.  Cri- 
der and  I'.rainard  I".,  aged  respectively  four  and 
one  and  one-half  years.  In  community  affairs 
Mr.  .\nderson  has  been  actively  and  helpfully 
interested.  He  has  served  three  years  as  asses- 
sor of  his  township  but  has  preferred  to  do  his 
public  service  as  a  ])rivatc  citizen  an<l  in  many 
ways  has  co-operated  in  the  general  development 
and  upbuilding  of  this  locality.  He  votes  with 
the  republican  party  atid  holds  membership  with 
the  Masonic  loflge  at  Kankaki-e  and  with  the 
Methodist  church  associations  which  indicate 
much  of  the  character  of  the  man.  showing  his 
strong  i)ur[)ose  and  the  honorable  motives  which 
•characterize  him  in  all  life's  relations. 


when  he  secured  a  position  as  attendant  in  the 
hospital  for  the  insane  at  Kankakee.  There  he 
remained  for  nine  months,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Donovan  for  three  years  engaged  in 
clerking  for  the  firm  of  Johnson  &  I'rainard.  He 
ne.xt  bought  grain  for  Kisser  &  liutchins  for 
five  years  and  on  the  ex])iration  of  that  i)eriod 
bougiit  out  .Mr.  lirainard's  general  mercantile 
business,  which  he  has  since  conducted.  He  car- 
ries a  carefully  selected  line  of  goods  and  his 
enterprise  and  close  apjilication  constitute  the 
strong  elements  in  the  success  which  is  now  at- 
tending him.  He  also  has  charge  of  the  under- 
taking business  for  Mr.  Miner,  of  .Sheldon. 

.Mr.  .\nderson  was  married  in  \S*)~.  at  Wal- 
nut Lodge,  Indiana,  toMiss  .\nna  L.  Howe,  who 
was  born  in  Tippecanoe  county,  that  state,  and 
is  a  daughter  of  [ames  L.  and  Mary  C.  (Repose) 
Howe,  of  Xew  York,  who  in  an  early  day  re- 
moved to  the  Hoosier  state.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .\n- 
dcrson  have  become  the  parents  of  one  child, 
Raymond,  now  four  years  of  age.  They  are 
])rominent  socially  in  the  village  where  they  re- 
side and  Mr.  .Anderson  has,  moreover,  taken  an 
active  and  helpful  part  in  community  affairs, 
.serving  as  collector  of  the  township  and  as  town 
clerk  for  two  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of 
the  village  board  for  two  terms  and  his  political 
allegiance  is  given  to  the  republican  party,  which 
finds  in  him  a  stalwart  advocate.  The  public 
duties  that  have  devolved  ii]K)n  him  have  been 
discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity  and  with 
a  conscientiousness  of  nbligatioii. 


CH.ARLES  F.  O.XTHOUT. 


FRAXK  W.  .WDKk.So.V. 

Frank  W.  .\nderson.  who  is  engaged  in  gen- 
eral merchandising  in  Donovan,  was  born  May 
30,  i}V)4,  upon  a  farm  in  I  leaver  township,  and 
his  early  youth  was  passed  in  the  usual  manner 
of  farmer  lads  of  the  period.  He  mastered  the 
branches  of  Fnglish  learning  as  a  student  in  the 
district  schools  and  assisted  in  the  operation  of 
the  home   farm   until  twenty-six   years  of  age. 


Charles  F.  ( lathnut,  living  on  section  20, 
Pigeon  Grove  township,  not  far  from  the  village 
of  Cissna  Fark,  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  and 
in  addition  cultivates  another  tract  of  similar  di- 
mensions owned  by  liis  father.  From  an  early 
epoch  in  the  history  of  Irofjuois  county  he  has 
resided  within  its  iKirders.  having  Ix'en  but  five 
years  of  ape,  when,  in  1858,  the  family  home  was 
cstablislu'fl  in  Illinois.  He  was  born  in  Albany 
county.  Xew  York,  .\ugust  16.  1853.  His  father, 
Isaac  Oathout.  was  also  a  native  of  that  county 
and.  having  reached  adult  age,  was  married  there 


174 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


to  Charity  Weaver,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Xew  York.  Removing  westward  about 
1858.  he  developed  a  new  farm  in  Pi'peon  Grove 
township  and  thereon  reared  his  family,  sharing 
in  the  hardships  and  privations  incident  to  the 
establishment  of  a  home  upon  the  frontier  and 
performing  all  of  the  arduous  labor  necessary  to 
the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  wild  land. 
He  now  lives  with  his  son  Charles  and  has 
reached  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years.  The 
only  daughter  of  the  family  is  Etta  L,  the  wife 
of   Joel    Augsperger.   of    Cissna    Park. 

Amid  the  environments  of  pioneer  life  Charles 
F.  Oathout  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.     He  attended  the  district  schools   in  the 
winter  months  and  in  the  summer  seasons  aided 
in   the   work   of   the    farm,   remaining  with    his 
father  and  assisting  him  to  carry  on  the  home 
place,    which    they   brought    under   a    high    state 
of  cultivation.     Here  he   wedded    Miss   Ellen  J. 
\\'illis,  on  the  ist  of  August.   1874.     She  was  a 
daughter  of  Thomas  Willis,  of  Loda,  who  is  men- 
tioned   on    another   page   of   this    volume.      The 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  the 
farm    where    they    now    reside,    on    section    20, 
Pigeon  Grove  township.     The  first  work  which 
Mr.    Oathout   did    was   to  build  a   dwelling  and 
staljlc  and  as  time  passed  by  he  set  out  fruit  and 
helped  to  break  up  the  virgin  soil.    There  is  now 
a   good   corn   crib   and   elevator   upon   his   place 
and  all  modern   equipments,  including  the  latest 
improved  machinery.     The  farm  in  all  of  its  ap- 
pointments is  modern  and  productive  and  its  ex- 
cellent  appearance    is   an    indication    of   the    life 
of  thrift  and  industry  which  the  owner  has  led. 
Unto   Mr.  and   Mrs.  Oathout  have  been  born 
six    children :      Professor    Charles    Hubert    Oat- 
hout, who  is  married  and  resides  in  Urbana.  Il- 
linois ;   Edna   Mabel,   who   is   a   graduate   of  the 
state   normal   school   at    Normal,   Illinois,   and   is 
now  a  teacher  at  McNabb,  Putnam  oiunty;  Em- 
ily Ada,  wife  of  Carl  Smith,  of  Loda :  Lulu  Ellen. 
who  is  a  graduate  of  the  state  normal  school  and 
is  teaching  at  Aledo,  Mercer  county;  and  llcrtba, 
Leo  and  Claude  Leslie,  at  home. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Oathout  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen,  liis  member- 
ship being  with  Loda  camp.  He  votes  with  the 
republican  party  but  has  never  desired  office.  lie 
has,  however,  rendered  signal  service  to  the  cause 


of  education  by  effective  work  as  a  member  af 
the  school  board.  From  his  childhood  days  down 
to  the  present  he  has  lived  continuou.sly  in  Iro- 
quois county,  and  great  have  been  the  changes 
that  have  occurred  during  this  period.  The 
splendidly  cultivated  farms  with  their  fine  homes 
and  good  buildings  and  the  enterprising  towns 
and  cities  present  a  picture  that  bears  little  re- 
semblance to  the  county  into  which  he  came  in 
his  boyhood  days,  for  at  that  time  comparatively 
few  roads  had  been  laid  out  and  much  of  the 
land  was  an  undrained  swamp.  The  Oathout 
family  at  once  became  active  factors  in  bringing 
about  the  changes  which  have  been  wrought  and 
Charles  F.  Oathout  of  this  review  has  borne  his 
full  share  in  the  work  of  general  improvement. 


H.  C.  HENDERSON.  M.  D. 

The  medical  fraternity  has  a  worthy  and  ca- 
pable representative  in  Milford  in  Dr.  H.  C- 
Henderson,  who  through  comprehensive  study 
and  investigation  has  become  well  (|ualified  for 
the  onerous  duties  of  the  profession.  He  was 
born  in  Dorchester,  Nebraska.  Julv  30.  1874, 
and  when  a  small  lad  accompanietl  his  parents 
on  their  removel  to  Illinois,  the  family  home  be- 
ing established  in  Macoupin  county,  where  he 
acquired  his  preliminary  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  He  afterward  had  the  benefit  of 
several  years'  study  in  college  and  subsequently 
took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  being  graduated 
at  Rush  Medical  College,  with  the  class  of  1896. 
Thus  well  equipped  for  the  work  which  he  had 
chosen  he  located  for  practice  in  Milford,  where 
he  has  since  remained,  covering  a  period  of  ten 
\ears.  His  practice  has  constantly  increased  in 
viiliune  and  importance  and  he  has  kept  in  touch 
with  the  best  thinking  men  of  the  age  connected' 
with  the  medical  fralcrnit\-.  His  business  comes- 
not  only  ivinn  .Milford  Inn  from  the  adjacent 
countryside  as  will,  and  his  professional  labors- 
have  been  attendwl  with  a  measure  of  success 
that  shows  him  well  fitted  to  solve  the  intricate- 
and  cumi)lex  ]:roblems.  which  continuall\-  con- 
front   the   physician. 

Dr.   llenders(5n  was  married  in   Iroquois  coun- 
ts', in    iSi)f).  to  .Miss  Minnie  l.imli'ren,  who  was. 


D«.    II.  ( .  iii:\ni;Rss()\. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRoOrOIS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


born  and  reared  in  this  connty.  Tlicy  now  liavc 
three  children.  Louise.  Dun'tliy  and  liarlin. 
Their  home  is  justly  celehrateil  for  its  jjracious 
and  warm-hearted  hospitality  and  both  Ur.  and 
Mrs.  Henderson  are  eajjerly  welcomed  into 
those  circles  where  true  worth  and  intellifience 
are  received  as  passports  itUo  ji»xid  society. 
Genial  and  courteous  in  manner  Dr.  Henderson 
is  personally  (xipular.  while  in  his  |)rofession  he 
has  pai'ift'  'I'c  respect  of  his  brethren  of  the  fra- 
ternity by  his  close  OHilormity  of  ])rofessional 
ethics  and  the  consensus  of  |)ublic  opinion  is 
alto}jcther  favorable.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Inxpiois.  I-'ord  and  Illinois  ."^tate  Medical 
Societies. 


Ill  \KLI-S    M  \l.l.(  >RV.    Ii;. 

Charles  Mallory.  Jr.,  one  of  the  earl\  settlers 
of  Iroipiois  county,  owninj;  and  operatin<j  a  well 
improved  and  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
tweiUy  acres,  situated  on  sections  lo  and  ii.  Prai- 
rie Green  township,  is  a  native  of  Connecticut, 
his  birth  having  occurred  in  Litchfield  county, 
March  15.  1848.  His  father.  Charles  .Mallory. 
Sr..  was  l)orn  in  .Massachusetts,  where  he  was 
reared,  and  when  he  reached  man's  estate  he  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Lock  wood,  a  na- 
tive of  Connecticut,  in  which  state  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming  for  a  number  of  years  and  in  1834 
removed  with  his  family  to  the  west,  establishini; 
his  home  in  I-a  Salle  connty.  Illinois,  locating  on 
a  farm  in  Deer  Park  township,  Ix-ing  numbered 
among  the  first  settlers  there.  He  there  reared 
his  family  and  s|)ent  liis  remaining  days,  his 
death  occurring  in  i8</>.  while  his  wife  ha<l  pre- 
ceded him  to  the  home  beyond  many  years  be- 
fore, her  death  occurring  in  i860. 

Charles  Mallory,  Jr.,  was  reared  and  educate<l 
in  I^  Salic  county,  sharing  with  the  family  in 
all  the  hardships  and  trials  of  life  on  the  fron- 
tier. He  remained  with  his  father  until  he  at- 
tained his  majority,  and  then  starting  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account,  he  came  to  Irofjuois  county 
in  iSfx).  an<l  rented  a  farm,  which  he  operated 
for  three  years.  subse(|uent  to  which  time,  hav- 
ing accumidated  a  nice  com])etence.  he  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  forty  acres,  which  was  all  wild 
and   uncultivated.      He  broke   the   land,   and   di- 


vitlcd  it  into  fields  of  convenient  size  and  Itcrc 
opened  up  a  gooil  farm,  on  which  he  has  made 
many  substantial  improvements.  He  built  a  gooil 
residence,  liarns  and  cribs,  tiled  his  land,  .set  out 
many  fruit  and  sha<Ie  trees,  an<l  he  has  since 
added  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  to  his  original  pur- 
chase, so  tliat  he  now  owns  a  tract  of  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  In  addition  to  carrying 
(jn  general  agricultural  pursuits  he  als<j  raises 
good  grades  of  stock,  and  he  is  quite  successful  in 
his  business  affairs. 

.Mr.  .Mallory  was  united  in  marriage,  Deceni- 
l)er  21,  1871,  to  Miss  Kate  Hobble,  who  was  Ixirn 
in  ( )hio  :md  was  reared  there  and  in  Indiana.  .She 
is  a  il:uighter  of  George  Hobble,  wlu)  died  in  the 
latter  slate  during  her  early  childhood.  The 
marriage  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Mallory  has  In-en 
blessed  with  three  sons,  two  of  whom  survive: 
Roy  C.  who  is  married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Jasper  county,  Illinois;  Ira  L.,  who  is  a  young 
man  at  hf)nie :  and  Fred,  who  died  January  30, 
1895,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty-one  years. 
They  have  also  reared  two  adopted  daughters: 
Sadie  Mallory,  who  became  a  member  of  their 
household  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  and  who 
has  been  reared  and  educated  by  them  ami  is 
now  a  student  at  the  Fisk  Missionary  Training 
School  in  Kansas  City,  where  .she  will  complete 
the  course  with  the  class  of  up-;  and  Faith  Mal- 
lory, whom  they  are  .ilso  re.iring  ami  educ:iting 
as  an  own  child. 

Ill  his  political  views  .Mr.  .Mallory  is  independ- 
ent, supporting  the  men  whom  he  regards  as  best 
fitted  for  office,  regardless  of  party  affiliation. 
He  has  served  as  road  commissioner  for  three 
vears  and  is  a  believer  in  good  schcmls  and  com- 
_  petcnt  teachers.  His  wife  and  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Fpiscopal  church. 

Mr.  Mallory  has  lived  in  Illinois  for  more  than 
a  half  century  and  has  been  actively  interested 
in  nnich  of  the  progress  and  development  that 
has  here  been  made.  When  he  first  took  up  his 
alxMle  in  Inxjuois  county  the  nearest  market  was 
Sheldon,  to  which  place  the  products  of  the  farm 
had  to  be  hauled,  and  tiiere  were  many  incon- 
veniences to  be  met  at  that  early  i)eriod.  Mrs. 
Mallorv  is  a  well  educated  and  accomplished 
ladv  and  has  acted  as  a  corres|>oudent  for  the 
Watseka  Republican  for  many  years  and  for- 
merlv  was  correspondent   of  the   Danville  Daily 


1-8 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


Democrat.  This  \vorth\  couple  have  made  their 
home  in  Prairie  Green  township  for  more  than 
a  third  of  a  century  and  are  therefore  well  known 
and  his;lilv  esteemed  bv  their  many  friends. 


1.  S.  BETZER. 


More  than  a  century  a,s:o  (ieorge  \\'ashington 
voiced  the  sentiment  that  "farming  is  the  most 
useful  as  well  as  the  most  honorable  occupation 
of  man."  Moreover  history  shows  us  that  it  is 
the  source  of  all  business  prosperity.  It  has  been 
the  agricultural  countries  that  are  the  prosperous 
countries  and  Illinois  therefore  is  particularly  for- 
tunate in  that  her  lands  are  rich  and  productive, 
responding  readil\-  to  the  care  that  is  bestowed 
upon  field  and  meadow.  In  this  line  of  life  I.  .'^. 
Betzer  won  the  measure  of  success  that  now  en- 
ables him  to  live  retired.  For  many  years  he 
followed  farming  in  Onarga  township,  where  he 
still  owns  a  well  improved  tract  of  land  oi  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  He  left  his  farm,  how- 
ever, in  September,  1902,  and  has  since  resided  in 
the  city  of  Onarga. 

His  life  record  began  in  Ross  county,  Ohio, 
May  10,  1838.  His  parents  were  Anthony  G.  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  Betzer.  The  father  was  born  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1808 
and  was  a  son  of  Conrad  Betzer,  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  Keystone  state,  whence  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  casting  in  his  lot 
with  the  early  residents  of  that  locality.  There 
he  secured  a  tract  of  timber  land  from  w-hich  he 
hewed  out  a  farm,  and  it  was  upon  the  old  home-  _ 
stead  property  there  that  Anthony  G.  Betzer  was 
reared.  Having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he 
wedded  Xancy  Smith,  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
in  order  to  ])rovide  for  his  family  he  at  different 
times  engaged  in  farming,  merchandising  and 
hotel  keeping.  Almost  his  entire  life  was  spent 
in  Ross  county,  where  he  died  in  1883,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years,  while  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1844.  He  later  married  again  and  con- 
timied  his  residence  in  Ohio  until  his  life's  la- 
bors were  ended  in  (U'atli.  \'i\  his  lirst  marriage 
he  had  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  I.  S. 
Betzer  is  the  only  one  now  living.     One  brother, 


C.  S.  Betzer.  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil  war  and 
laid  down  his  life  on  the  altar  of  his  country,  be- 
ing shot  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  The  eldest 
son,  Conrad  Betztr.  was  reared  and  married  in 
Ohio.  He  lived  for  some  time  in  Pickawav 
county,  that  state,  and  subsequently  took  up  his 
abode  in  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  where  he  followed 
merchandising  initil  his  death.  William  Betzer, 
another  son  of  the  family,  grew  to  manhood  in 
( )hi()  and  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith  of  Ross 
county,  where  his  last  days  were  passed.  Win- 
field  Betzer  became  an  agriculturist  of  X'ermilion 
county,  Indiana,  where  his  death  occurred :  and 
Aaron  Betzer,  who  was  fond  of  travel,  went  from 
the  old  home  and  nothing  is  known  now  concern- 
ing his  whereabouts.  The  two  sisters  of  the  fam- 
ily were  Rebecca,  who  became  the  wife  of  Ste- 
]5hen  W^ebster,  a  farmer  of  \'ermilion  county,  In- 
diana, where  she  died:  and  Mrs.  Mary  Phillips, 
who  has  also  passed  away. 

The  old  homestead  farm  in  Ross  county.  Ohio, 
was  the  playground  of  I.  S.  Betzer  in  his  boy- 
hood days  and  it  was  also  his  training  school 
for  active,  earnest  labor,  for  there  he  was  taught 
to  grub  out  the  stumps,  make  rails  and  perform 
other  arduous  toil  incident  to  the  improvement 
and  settlement  of  a  new  farm.  He  also  engaged 
in  general  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  own  ac- 
count in  Pickaway  county  for  nine  years.  He 
was  married  January  26,  i860,  to  Miss  Isabella 
•Miller,  a  native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and 
a  daughter  of  Jesse  Miller,  who  was  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  that  county,  to  which  he  removed 
from  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Betzer  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  Buckeye  state  imtil  1868, 
when  they  came  to  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  pur- 
chasing land  in  Onarga  township.  Xo  improve- 
ments had  been  made  on  the  property  but  he 
broke  the  prairie,  tiled  the  fields  and  jilaced  his 
land  luider  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  also 
erected  a  good  residence  and  substantial  barns 
and  iiutbuildings,  planted  an  orchard  and  adde  1 
the  modern  accessories  and  im]jrovements  of  a 
model  farm  to  his  ])roperty,  whereon  he  continued 
to  engage  in  general  agricuhural  pursuits  mitil 
ig02.  He  then  rented  the  farm  and  ]n\rchased 
two  residence  properties  in  Onarga,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home.  In  connection  with  his 
two  sons  he  also  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  in  Barton  county,  Missouri.     At 


iR<  »f)r( )is  corxTV.  Illinois. 


17^ 


the  time  nf  ihcir  inarria>;o  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Mi'l7cr 
wiTc  in  !iiiii(i-il  tinaiicial  circmustanccs  but 
throiijjh  tluir  uiiiti-il  itTnrls  tluv  have  scoiiiiui- 
latod  \-ahial)l(.'  real  estate  aiitl  are  nciw  comfort- 
al)l\  situated  in  an  attractive  Imire  in  ( Inarjira. 
their  tinancial  resources  heiu^  sufficient  t<i  supply 
them  with  all  of  the  necessities  anil  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life. 

In  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Itetzer  are 
the  followinp  children:  Mary,  at  home;  Wil- 
liam, of  ( )nar)ia  :  Jesse  Sherman.  \vhi>  is  livinj; 
near  Jo|)lin.  .Missouri;  Harvey.  \vh.>  is  carrying 
on  farming  in  I'arton  county  :  and  lames,  who  is 
married  ami  resides  in  Onar^ja.  The  (lareiiis  at- 
tend the  I'resbyterian  church  and  in  his  political 
views  Mr.  Hetzer  is  a  stalwart  re])ul)!ican.  While 
on  the  fanu  he  served  as  school  trustee  and  hijjh- 
way  commissioner  and  was  also  member  of  the 
schtx)!  hoard.  For  thirty-eight  years  he  and  his 
wife  have  continued  to  reside  in  this  county  and 
have  witncsse<l  its  transformation  from  a  wilder- 
ness and  swamp  into  one  of  the  rich  and  fertile 
districts  of  this  jjri-at  state  with  splendid  agri- 
cultural possibilities,  in  the  midst  of  which  arc 
thriving  towns  and  cities.  .\t  all  times  Mr.  Het- 
zer lias  co-operated  to  the  extent  f>f  his  means 
and  ability  in  measures  and  movements  for  the 
general  good  and  is  classed  with  the  representa- 
tive and  valued  residents  of  Irocpiois  county. 
Moreover  his  business  career  has  been  character- 
ized by  the  possession  of  those  sterling  traits 
which  awaken  confidence  and  command  admira- 
tion. He  has  always  been  prom|)t  in  meeting 
financial  obligations  and  in  keeping  engagements 
and  has  thus  made  a  business  record  that  any 
man  might  be  proud  to  possess. 


CH.\RJ.ES  CHRLSTLW  niRTZ. 

Charles  Cliristian  Dietz  is  a  retired  farmer  who 
since  1893  has  resi<led  at  (iilman,  although  he 
still  owns  his  farm  on  the  southwest  ijuarter  of 
section  31.  Crescent  township.  He  likewise  has 
twenty  acres  of  land  within  the  corporation  lim- 
its of  Ciilman,  of  which  he  carries  on  gardening 
and  fruit-raising  and  in  this  connection  he  is  con- 
ducting a  goKl  business.  ( )ne  of  the  oldest  resi- 
<lcnts  of  Iro<iuois  county,  he  came  to  the  middle 


west  in  i85(>.  making  his  way  to  Iowa  City,  Iowa, 
then  the  lermiinis  of  the  railroad.  It  was  his 
intention  to  go  to  I  )regon  but  owing  to  Indian 
troubles  in  Nebraska  he  returned  to  Matlison 
coimty,  lndiat\i.  where  he  lived  for  nine  years. 

Mr.  Dietz  is  a  native  of  Philadelphia.  I'ennsyl- 
vania.  lx)rn  September  21.  183.1.  and  wiien  he  was 
but  six  years  old  his  parents  removed  with  their 
family  to  the  Pennsylvania  Dutch  setlUineiu  in 
Lebanon  county  north  of  l^ncaster  City,  Penn- 
sylvania. He  is  a  son  of  John  (i<ittlieb  and  Chris- 
tine Caroline  (Krantzi  Dietz.  who  were  natives 
of  Wurtemberg,  (iermany,  and  came  to  .\merica 
in  I  S3 1.  The  lather  was  a  laljorer  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  in  18(14  '1*^  ma<le  his  way  westward  to 
I^igansjxirt,  Indiana,  where  he  purclwsed  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  fann  lau'i.  ujMin 
which  he  resided  until  his  death  a  <|u:irter  of  a 
century  later.  He  was  born  September  17.  1806. 
and  died  in  |88<).  while  his  wife  passed  away  irr 
Pennsylvania  ami  was  buried  I'ebruary  22.  184J. 
In  tluir  family  were  four  sons  and  a  daughter, 
all  of  whom  are  yet  living.  Charles  C..  of  this 
review,  iK-ing  the  eldest.  The  others  are  Theo- 
dore, John.  Christine  and  Henry.  After  losing 
his  first  wife  the  father  marrieil  again  in  Peim- 
sylvania  liefore  the  vnMiir  i.t  tliis  rixiiw  ••.mu- 
to  the  west. 

Charles  Giristian  Dietz  had  very  little  opi>or- 
tunity  to  ac(|uire  an  education  but  has  react 
broadly,  thinks  deeply  and  is  a  self-educated  man 
who  has  ac(|uired  practical  knowledge  and  is  now 
well  informed.  He  wtjs  a  young  man  of  alwut 
twenty-four  years  when  he  came  to  the  middle 
west  and  as  stated,  he  located  in  .Madison  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  nine  years.  In 
1865  he  came  to  this  county  and  for  more  than 
four  decades  has  Ik-cu  closely  associated  with 
events  which  have  left  their  impress  u|Kin  the 
history  of  this  ]>art  of  the  state.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  jurors  of  the  first  term  of  court  held 
in  the  <ild  courthouse  after  its  erections  and  he 
did  much  to  shape  the  public  |>olicy  and  mold 
public  opinion  at  an  early  day.  For  two  years 
he  resided  on  the  Joe  James  farm,  which  is  now 
tlie  county  farm,  and  he  then  purchased  from 
David  Mctiill  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  CVescent  township,  for  which  he  paid 
eight  dollars  [H-r  acre.  .\s  time  passetl  and  his 
financial    resources   increased    owing   to   his   in- 


i8o 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


diistry  and  economy  he  added  to  his  property 
until  now  he  owns  two  hiuidred  acres  of  excellent 
farm  land  in  Crescent  township  beside  the  twenty- 
acre  tract  in  Oilman,  upon  which  he  resides  and 
ten  acres  of  timber. 

Air.  Dietz  was  married  in  Indiana  in  1857  to 
Miss  Eliza  Cannany.  who  died  in  Crescent  town- 
ship about  1870.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows :  Melissa  Jane,  who  married  John  Burk- 
halter  and  died  aliout  five  years  ago.  leaving-  one 
daughter,  Rosa,  who  is  grown  and  is  now  keep- 
ing house  for  her  father  in  Crescent  township  : 
Charles,  a  graduate  of  Grand  Prairie  Seminary, 
who  after  studying  physiology  at  Kankakee  ])re- 
pared  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  wliich  he  now 
follows  at  Carson.  Iowa :  John,  who  is  married 
and  follows  agricultural  pursuits  upon  his  fa- 
ther's farm  in  Crescent  township;  [Milton,  who 
Tias  a  half  section  of  land  in  South  Dakota :  Ella, 
the  wife  of  William  Holz,  living  near  Delrey,  Illi- 
nois :  and  Annie,  the  wife  of  Henry  Forbes,  a 
farmer  of  Pottawattamie  county.  Iowa. 

For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Dietz  chose  Mrs. 
Emma  E.  (Orth)  Thompson,  who  was  born  in 
Lebanon  county,  Pennsylvania,  a  representative 
•of  a  prominent  old  family  there.  Her  great- 
grandfather, Balsor  Orth.  was  born  in  Austria. 
May  5,  1702,  and  died  October  20,  1788.  He 
•came  to  America  prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war 
■and  aided  the  colonies  in  achieving  their  inde- 
pendence, Orth  Fort  being  upon  his  place  in  Leb- 
anon county,  Pennsylvania.  On  the  maternal  side 
Mrs.  Dietz's  great-grandparents  were  both  killed 
and  scalped  by  the  Indians.  In  early  womanhood 
she  removed  with  her  father  to  Keithsburg,  Mer- 
cer county,  Illinois,  and  was  first  married  to  Wil- 
liam Thompson,  who  died  while  in  the  army  in 
1864.  To  them  was  born  a  daughter.  Fannie, 
now  the  wife  of  Frank  Bedford,  chief  engineer 
on  railroad  transfer  on  the  Mississippi  at  Vicks- 
burg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dietz  have  two  sons:  (iott- 
lieb  Orth.  an  attorney  of  Chicago,  who  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  (jrand  Prairie  Seminary  at  Onarga 
and  from  the  Xorthwestern  L'niversity  at  Evans- 
ton.  Illinois  ;  and  Cyrus  Edgar,  who  is  married 
and  practices  law  in  Aloline.  Illinois,  being  an 
:ablc  member  of  the  liar  there.  He.  too.  is  a  gradu- 
ate of  the  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  and  of  tlie 
Northwestern  University,  and  botli  brothers  were 
:noted  footl)all  players  in  college,  tlie  younger  act- 


ing much  of  the  time  as  coach  for  various  teams 
in  this  and  other  states.  }ilr.  and  Mrs.  Dietz  also 
have  an  adopted  daughter,  Maude. 

Politically  Mr.  Dietz  has  given  his  support 
to  a  greater  or  less  extent  to  the  democratic 
])arty,  although  he  is  somewhat  independent.  He 
has  refr.sed  nomination  for  office,  preferring  to 
concentrate  his  energies  upon  his  business  affairs 
and  he  has  been  capable  and  progressive  in  all 
that  he  has  done.  He  was  the  first  man  to  de- 
horn cattle  in  this  section  of  the  county  and  in 
all  of  his  business  life  he  has  manifested  a  spirit 
of  leadership  that  made  him  a  prosperous  and 
successful  agriculturist.  He  was  reared  in  the 
Lutheran  church  but  he  and  his  wife  both  favor 
the  Presbyterian  cluirch  and  to  a  large  extent 
attend  its  services  in  Gilman.  From  an  early  age 
he  has  been  dependent  upon  his  resources  and 
with  a  realization  that  merit  is  the  basis  of  all 
genuine  and  desirable  success  he  has  put  forth 
his  efforts  along  lines  of  intense  and  well  directed 
activity  and  through  former  toil  has  gained  a 
competence  sufficient  to  enable  him  now  to  live 
retired. 


ALONZO  BUCKLEY. 


Alonzo  Buckley,  who  in  former  years  was  ac- 
tively connected  with  agricultural  interests  in 
Iroquois  countv  but  is  now  living  retired  in  Shel- 
don, is  a  native  son  of  Sheldon  township,  born 
on  the  8th  of  February,  1859.  His  parents  were 
Stephen  and  Eliza  Jane  (Harper)  Buckley.  The 
father  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  January 
2,  1823,  and  was  but  two  years  of  age  when  his 
]iarents  removed  to  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana, 
being  among  its  earliest  settlers.  He  there  re- 
sided until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Iroquois 
county.  Illinois,  and  settled  on  land  which  he  had 
taken  up  from  the  government  two  years  before. 
He  became  one  of  the  most  extensive  landown- 
ers and  prosperous  farmers  of  the  comity,  in- 
creasing his  holdings  from  time  to  time  until  he 
was  the  owner  of  fourteen  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  in  this  county.  His  own  labor  was  tlie  basis 
of  his  success  and  added  to  his  diligence  was  a 
sound  judgment  seldom  at  error  in  any  business 
transaction. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IKOOLOIS  COUNTY.  lUJNOIS. 


»85 


On  the  3d  of  June,  1848,  Stephen  I'.ucklev 
wedded  Miss  liliza  Jane  Mar]>er.  who  was  Ixirn 
in  Montgomery  county.  Indiana.  They  came  tn 
Ir<K|nois  County  among  its  early  residents 
an<l  sliare<l  in  the  liardships  ot  the  pio- 
neer life  in  the  early  days  but  later  were 
enabled  to  enjoy  all  <jf  the  annforts  and 
many  of  the  luxuries  which  jjo  to  make  life  worth 
livinjj.  Mrs.  I'.uckley  pas.-^ed  away  at  the  age  of 
sixty-nine  \ears.  while  Mr.  iiuckle\  died  in  Shel- 
don in  June,  1<;04.  in  the  eiKhty-secon<l  year  of 
his  age.  ( )f  their  family  of  six  chiUlren  five  still 
survive:  Samuel,  of  Sheldon;  Mrs.  IX'lilah  .\nios. 
who  resides  in  Sheldon:  Mrs.  Sarah  .A.  Hoatman. 
a  widow,  livinp  in  Chicago:  .\lonzo.  of  this  re- 
view ;  and  .Mrs.  Maria  ElizalK'th  Roberts,  a  resi- 
dent of  California. 

The  ancestry  of  the  family  can  be  traced 
back  to  a  still  more  remote  period,  as  rej)rcsenta- 
tives  of  the  name  were  residents  of  North  Caro- 
lina in  an  early  day.  James  I'.uckley.  the  grand- 
father, was  born  in  that  state  and  married  Sarah 
Lincoln,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  in  Tippeca- 
noe county.  Indiana,  in  1&44.  He  afterward  wed- 
de<l  a  Mrs.  Jacobs  and  in  1854  came  to  Iroquois 
county,  but  remained  here  for  only  einhteen 
months,  when  he  tix)k  u|i  his  abode  in  Carroll 
county.  Indiana.  His  last  days,  however,  were 
passed  in  Teimessee. 

.After  accpiiring  a  common-school  education 
.Monzo  lUickley  started  out  in  life  for  himself  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  He  worked  for  his 
father  for  wages  for  some  time  and  in  1882 
l)ought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in 
Sheldon  township,  which  he  still  owns.  I^ter  he 
increased  his  holdings  until  he  now  has  two  hun- 
dre<I  and  thirty-seven  acres  of  good  land  in  Shel- 
don and  Concord  townships,  which  he  has  im- 
proved and  ni.ide  into  gorid  farms.  He  also  owns 
three  hunrlred  and  twenty  acres  in  Jasper  county. 
Indiana.  In  connection  with  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  he  also  engaged  in  the  raising  of  cattle,  hogs 
and  horses,  and  both  branches  of  his  business 
proved  remunerative.  He  continued  in  the  active 
management  of  the  farm  until  1900,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Sheldon,  where  he  owns  a  commodious 
and  attractive  twtvstory  residence  built  in  mod- 
ern style  of  architecture. 

The  lady  who  presides  over  his  home  was  in 
her  maidenhood    Miss  Calista   M.    Hickman,  of 
10 


Concor<l  township,  a  daughter  of  K.  Hickman, 
who  lived  in  this  county  for  some  years,  lioth 
he  and  his  wife  are  now  dece.xsed.  I'nto  .Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mucklex  have  l>cen  iKjrn  three  children: 
.Nina  15..  who  is  attending  the  (ient  Cit>  lUisiness 
College  in  (Juincy,  Illinois;  Free  M.,  and  lidgar 
.\llen.  lM)th  at  home.  Mrs.  Hiickley  is  a  devoted 
memlK;r  of  the  Methodist  Kpiscojial  church  and 
for  two  years  has  been  worths  matron  of  Shel- 
don chapter.  No.  483.  ( ).  K.  S..  which  she  joine<l 
in  i<n)2.  and  which  her  daughter  joined  in  !<><)<). 
.Mr.  Muckley  is  a  democrat  in  jmlitics  and  has 
serveil  for  seven  years  as  scluxtl  director,  while 
fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Sheldon  lodge. 
-No.  (icxj.  A.  !•".  &  .A.  M.  He  has  now  pnictically 
retired  from  business  life,  but  is  one  of  the  stock- 
holders in  the  I-"armers  ^levator  at  Sheldon.  In 
his  business  aflTairs  he  has  been  very  successful 
and  is  now  a  prosperous  resident  of  the  county, 
having  accumulated  the  competence  which  en- 
ables him  to  live  retired  in  tile  enjoyment  of  the 
comforts  of  life.  He  is  a  native  .son  of  the  county 
and  a  representative  of  one  of  its  pioneer  fami- 
lies. His  interest  in  jtublic  affairs  is  deep  and 
sincere  and  is  manifest  in  substantial  co-opera- 
tion which  he  has  given  to  plans  and  measures 
for  the  public  good. 


JOSEPH  II.  I'i:ltikk. 

Joseph  H.  Peltier,  merchant  and  postmaster  of 
.Martinton.  was  Iwrn  in  this  town.  December  31, 
1874.  He  is  a  son  of  \'ictor  Peltier,  a  native  of 
t'ana<la.  who  came  to  this  county  in  the  year 
i860  and  for  many  years  followerl  general  ag- 
ricultural (lursuits  as  a  life  wr>rk.  He  afterwarri 
took  up  his  at>ode  in  the  town  and  filled  the  piv 
sition  of  postmaster  and  was  also  justice  of  the 
peace.  He  married  Miss  Florence  Faucher.  of 
Canada,  who  still  survives  him.  his  death  hav- 
ing occurred  in  May.  1895.  His  political  allegi- 
ance was  given  to  the  republican  partv  an<l  he 
was  an  exemplary  memlH-r  of  the  IiuU-|)endent 
Orrler  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Joseph  H.  Peltier  was  educated  in  the  .Martin- 
ton  schools  and  afterward  engaged  in  teaching 
school  for  two  years.  Subsc(|uently  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Momence  and  on 


1 86 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


returning  to  Martinton  he  embarked  in  business 
on  his  own  account  after  clerking  for  six  years. 
In  i8q7,  however,  lie  was  api)ointed  postmaster 
I)y  William  McKinlev — a  position  which  his 
father  had  previously  held.  This  is  a  fourth- 
class  office  and  he  handles  three  mails  a  day  and 
there  are  two  rural  routes.  In  connection  with 
managing  the  office  Mr.  Peltier  is  also  engaged  in 
merchandising,  having  in  1898  bought  out  the 
store  of  J.  L.  Ducharme,  dealer  in  drugs,  paints, 
oils,  wall  paper  and  stationery.  He  has  a  well 
equipped  store  and  carries  a  good  stock.  The 
building  which  he  occupies  is  twenty-five  by 
ninety  feet,  two  stories  in  height  with  basement. 
He  also  owns  the  opera  house  in  the  town,  which 
was  originall\-  built  by  his  father  but  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire  and  rebuilt  by  .Mr.  Peltier.  In 
communitv  interests  he  has  been  quite  active  and 
influential  and  for  one  term  has  served  as  village 
clerk. 

Air.  Peltier  was  married  in  Martinton  in  iijoo 
to  Miss  Allic  Money,  who  was  born  in  Middle- 
port  townshi]i,  Iroquois  county,  in  1880.  They 
are  well  known  young  people  of  Martinton  and 
this  section  of  the  county  and  the  hospitality  of 
the  best  homes  is  freelv  accorded  them. 


HERM.\N  \\'.\LTER  SNOW. 

Although  no  longer  a  resident  of  Iroquois 
county,  for  at  the  present  time  he  is  living  re- 
tired in  Kankakee,  Herman  Walter  Snow  de- 
serves honorable  mention  in  this  volume.  No 
citizen  of  Sheldon  or  of  Iroquois  county  com- 
mands more  genuine  respect  and  his  life  record 
is  a  splendid  example  of  what  may  be  accom- 
plished through  the  force  of  character,  through 
laudable  aml)ition,  strong  determination  and  hon- 
est purpose.  Starting  in  life  without  any  of  the 
advantages  of  the  schools  or  of  fortunate  envi- 
ronment which  are  so  often  considered  necessary 
to  success,  he  has  arisen  from  a  humble  and  even 
obscure  position  to  one  of  affluence  and  promi- 
nence— winning  success  in  the  business  world 
and  gaining  political  honors,  not  through  the 
methods  of  many  modern  politicians  but  in  recog- 
nition of  his  sterling  personal  worth  and  public 
spirit. 


His  life  record  began  in  northern  Indiana, 
July  3.  1836.  and  during  his  infancy  he  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Kentucky,  where  he  re- 
mained for  thirteen  years,  spending  a  part  of  that 
time  upon  a  farm.  The  family  then  removed  to 
Illinois,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Peoria,  where 
for  four  years  Mr.  Snow  did  a  man's  work,  rais- 
ing and  harvesting  crops,  opening  a  coal  mine, 
using  the  pick  and  shovel,  digging  and  hauling 
coal.  (  )wing  to  the  death  of  his  father  he  was 
left  without  educational  privileges  and  when  six- 
teen years  of  age  was  unable  to  read  a  letter 
which  he  received  from  his  elder  brother,  but  he 
hunted  up  an  old  speller  with  the  script  alpha- 
bet, deciphered  the  letter  in  a  week  and  in  a  few 
weeks  was  able  to  answer  it.  This  effort 
awakened  in  him  a  desire  to  know  more  and  he 
studied  from  that  time  on,  working  by  day  and 
poring  over  his  books  by  the  blaze  of  the  coal 
which  his  hands  had  dug.  He  was  already  a 
fair  reader,  could  write  some  and  was  making 
fair  progress  in  grammar  and  arithmetic  while 
still   working  in  the  coal   mines. 

While  on  the  farm  with  his  mother  and  sisters 
their  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  the  already 
harvested  crops  were  consumed.  The  death  of 
the  best  horse  and  the  sweeping  away  of  nearly 
all  the  fences  by  a  torrent  of  water  completed 
his  misfortune,  so  that  with  his  mother  and 
sisters  he  removed  to  Peoria,  where  he  secured 
a  position  as  janitor  of  a  school  building.  All 
his  leisure  time  at  night  was  devoted  to  study 
until  he  qualified  himself  for  the  position  of  a 
countn'  school  teacher  and.  entering  upon  that 
work,  he  "boarded  'round"  as  was  then  the  cus- 
tom. He  continued  teaching  for  three  years, 
during  which  period  he  embraced  every  opportu- 
nity for  the  study  of  algebra,  geometry  and  sur- 
veying. .\  kind  friend  then  offered  him  a  posi- 
tion in  the  circuit  clerk's  office,  where  he  recorded 
deeds  and  did  other  clerical  work  and  later  he 
was  given  a  position  in  the  office  of  the  county 
clerk,  extending  taxes  and  doing  other  such 
duties.  One  day  Hon.  Judge  (laic,  of  Peoria, 
accidentally  caught  him  reading  Ca;sar  in  Latin, 
talked  with  him  and  finally  ottered  him  a  small 
school  in  the  city — the  judge  being  at  tliat  time 
city  superintendent.  He  remained  at  the  school 
for  only  (inc  term,  for  lie  gave  such  satisfaction 
that   he  was  then  placed  at   the  bead  of  the  old 


IRuyLUli,  Le)L'XTV,  II.I.IXDIS. 


187 


second  ward  schtHjl  witli  two  Iniiuircd  pupils 
aiui  tliri'c  assistants.  lie  remained  there  seven 
years  and  reached  the  liit;lu-st  sal:ir\  jiaid  for 
principals. 

.\l\vays  a  student  from  llie  time  when  lie  t<Mik 
up  the  speller  in  order  to  read  his  hrotlier's  letter, 
he  had  while  enuaj^ed  in  educational  work  in 
I'eoria  prosecuted  his  studies  in  prei)aratiiin  for 
the  lejjid  jirofession  and  on  beinj;  admitted  to 
the  bar  resigned  his  school  and  opened  a  law 
office  in  Peoria.  There  he  was  wailed  on  by 
a  dozen  or  more  of  his  former  pupils,  who  said 
that  they  would  enlist  for  service  in  the  Civil 
war  if  he  would  do  so.  He  |)rumptly  threw 
down  his  law  books  and  all  marched  to  the  re- 
cruiting office  and  enlisted.  Mr.  Snow  was  sent 
out  for  further  recruiting  service,  helped  tn  fill 
up  the  company,  which  he  drilled,  having  him- 
self privately  drilled,  and,  wholly  unexpected  to 
himself,  was  elected  captain,  though  carrying  a 
musket  as  a  private  only  the  day  before,  .\fter 
this  term  of  service  was  over  he  again  raised  a 
Company,  was  again  elected  captain  and  subse- 
quently was  promoted  lieutenant  colonel  of  his 
regiment.  It  was  to  this  regiment  and  the  im- 
nifdiate  su|>ervision  of  Major  (ieneral  Stead- 
man  that  Brigadier  General  Wofford,  with  ten 
thousand  four  hundred  Confederates,  surrendered 
at  Kingston,  Lleorgia.  CJeneral  Steadman  was 
so  pleased  with  the  excellent  condition  of  his 
regiment,  at  that  time  untler  charge  of  Colonel 
Snow,  after  a  most  exhaustive  march  of  over 
thirty  miles  on  a  hot  day  to  ri'ach  Kingston  in 
time,  that  the  Colonel  was  sent  for  and  men  anti 
officers  complimented. 

Some  months  later  Colonel  .Snow  was  detailed 
on  the  staff  of  Major-(  ieneral  Steadman  and 
made  provost  marshal  general  of  the  state  of 
Georgia,  relieving  Brigadier  General  ( irosvenor. 
of  flhio,  who  was  ordered  home  with  his  regi- 
ment to  be  mustered  out.  Colonel  Snow  filled 
the  offices  with  credit  and  satisfaction  until  it  was 
alKilislu-d  by  order  of  the  war  dei)artment.  when 
he  returned  to  his  regiment  at  Columbus,  Georgia. 
The  regiment  saw  but  little  fighting,  being  on 
detached  service  most  of  the  time,  but  was  a 
part  of  the  First  Brigade  of  the  .Second  sepa- 
rate Division  of  the  .\rmy  of  the  Cmnberland. 
Colonel  .Snow  has  twt)  honorable  discharges  for 
his  two  terms  of  service,  though  short  oni-s.  and 


has  two  commissions  as  captain  and  one  as  lieu- 
tenant Colonel.  He  also  has  a  certificate  signed 
by  .\bndiam  Lincoln,  thanking  him  for  special 
-ervices  after  his  term  of  enlistment  had  expire<l, 
and  a  ])rivate  letter  from  the  secretary  of  the 
treasury  thanking  him  for  saving  a  large  sum  of 
money  for  the  L'nited  States  by  his  vigilance. 

On  his  return  home  Colonel  Snow,  owing  to 
sickness  and  death  in  his  mother's  family,  whom 
he  ha<l  mainly  supiKirted  while  in  the  army,  was 
compelled  to  resume  teaching  and  for  several 
years  thereafter  was  thus  connected  with  the 
Chicago  high  school,  having  been  one  of  four 
that  passed  the  examination  out  of  seventy-five 
applicants  for  the  situation.  At  length  he  re- 
signed and  removed  to  Washington,  Illinois. 
While  in  th.it  city  he  became  the  junior  partner 
of  the  banking  house  of  Danforth,  Snow  & 
Company  and  acted  as  bookkee|)er  for  four  years. 
Desirous  of  going  into  business  for  himself,  he 
removed  to  .Sheldon,  where  land  was  cheap  and 
the  country  new  and  wholly  undrained.  Here 
in  the  mi<lst  of  what  seemed  in  some  ways  un- 
promising conditions  he  established  the  Bank  of 
.Sheldon  on  the  2fith  day  of  January.  1875,  be- 
giiuiing  business  in  a  little  frame  buililing  one 
story  in  height  and  fourteen  by  twenty-six  feet. 
His  capital  had  been  saved  from  his  laliors  in 
other  fields  of  activity.  The  first  depositor  was  Dr. 
I..  B.  Brown,  who  made  a  deposit  of  five  hundred 
dollars.  He  was  (piickly  followed  by  Dr.  Barrv' 
and  one  by  one  others  came  in  and  opened  ac- 
counts. It  ref|uired  ()erseverance  and  determi- 
nation to  establish  the  bank  u])on  a  paying  basis, 
owning  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  early  set- 
tlers were  \hxk  and  needed  to  tmrrmv  money 
rather  than  to  de|x>sit  it.  but  the  Bank  of  Shel- 
don prosi)ered.  It  was  careful,  economical  and 
conservative.  It  weathered  the  financial  stonns 
that  followed  the  L"ivil  war  and  in  the  course  of 
years  found  it  advisable  to  seek  more  commo- 
dious and  better  quarters,  removing  in  the  '80s 
to  the  center  of  the  brick  block  on  the  west  side 
of  l-'ourth  street.  During  this  time  Mr.  Snow, 
finding  the  business  increasing  rapidly,  admitted 
I.  I--.  Crandall  to  a  partnership  under  the  firm 
style  of  .Snow  &  Crandall  and  under  this  n.ime 
the  bank  was  conducted  vmtil  1885.  when  Mr. 
■(.'randall  removwl  to  the  .south.  He  was  s<K-)n 
afterward  succeeded  bv   ID.  W'atkins  under  the 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


firm  name  of  Snow  &  Watkins.  which  relation 
was  maintained  until  1899,  when  ^Ir.  Watkins 
withdrew  and  the  firm  became  H.  W.  Snow  & 
Son,  the  junior  partner  being;  L.  D.  Snow,  who 
is  the  present  cashier  and  manager  of  the  bank. 
In  1900  the  present  fine  fire  proof  brick  building 
was  erected  and  equipped  with  the  most  modern 
accessories  for  the  conduct  of  a  safe  banking 
business.  The  firm  also  has  an  insurance  de- 
partment, makes  loans  and  does  other  business 
of  a  similar  character. 

Mr.  Snow  was  married  while  living  in  Wash- 
ington, Illinois,  to  Miss  Hattie  C.  Danforth,  a 
daughter  of  an  old  settler  and  well  known  citizen, 
Asa  H.  Danforth.  Deprived  of  practically  all 
school  advantages  in  his  youth  Mr.  Snow,  how- 
ever, is  now  a  man  of  extensive  education,  well 
versed  in  English  literature,  well  read  in  law 
and  a  fair  classical  scholar  in  Latin,  (ireek  and 
French.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  this 
country,  there  being  but  few  states  or  territories 
that  he  has  not  visited,  and  he  has  been  a  close 
observer  of  our  institutions  and  a  broad  reader  of 
our  literature.  The  great  political  problems 
which  eflfect  the  country  in  its  various  relations 
have  also  claimed  his  time  and  consideration  and 
his  ability  for  leadership  has  led  to  his  selection 
to  several  positions  of  prominence.  While  in 
Washington  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  legislature  and  in  the  fall  of 
1890  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  ninth 
Illinois  district,  going  in  on  the  "tidal  wave"  by 
about  one  thousand  majority  in  a  district  that 
was  hopelessly  regarded  as  republican.  After 
taking  his  seat  in  congress  he  proved  himself 
an  earnest,  hard  working  member,  scrupulously 
honest  and  careful  in  all  his  official  acts.  In 
1892  he  was  again  a  candidate  for  congress  but 
was  defeated  by  Hon.  IT.  K.  Wheeler.  In  Au- 
gust, 1893,  at  the  beginning  of  the  special  ses- 
sion, he  was  elected  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  house 
of  representatives,  which  office  he  filled  with 
credit  until  the  close  of  the  fifty-third  congress. 

In  1894  Mr.  Snow  removed  with  liis  family 
from  his  old  home  in  Sheldon  to  Kankakee,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  now  resides.  He  is  retired  from 
active  business  but  is  still  part  owner  in  the  Hank 
of  Sheldon,  which  is  conducted  by  his  son  under 
the  firm  name  of  li.  W.  Snow  &  Son.  Mr. 
Snow  is  about  five   feet  eight  inches  in  height. 


of  rather  light  complexion,  blue  eyes"  and  brown: 
hair.  His  temperament  is  sanguine  and  nervous 
He  is  a  man  of  good  character,  strictly  honest, 
somewhat  reserved  and  distant  but  very  social 
with  those  who  are  intimately  acquainted  with 
him.  He  is  quick  tempered  but  very  just,  never 
judging  any  one  harshly  without  hearing  both, 
sides  and  always  ready  to  make  amends  whea 
convinced  that  he  has  been  wrong.  His  habits- 
are  in  a  marked  degree  domestic  and  he  loves 
the  home  circle.  While  religiously  inclined  and 
broad  in  his  views,  he  has  but  little  regard  for 
the  mere  forms  of  worship  and  judges  men  by 
their  actions  rather  than  by  their  words.  Creed 
is  little  to  him — life  much.  He  is  fond  of  good 
literature,  especially  poetry,  and  takes  the  keenest 
delight  in  fine  scenery,  in  forest  and  mountain 
rambles  and  in  traveling.  The  unbroken  tran- 
quility of  his  domestic  life  and  his  fondness  for 
wife  and  children  are  more  to  him  than  the  dig- 
nities and  honors  of  political  or  public  service. 


WILLIAM  B.  FLEAGER. 

William  1!.  Fleager,  whose  life  is  a  living  illus- 
tration of  what  ability,  energy  and  force  of  char- 
acter can  accomplish,  is  numbered  among  the 
leading  men  of  Sheldon,  and  the  city  and  state 
have  been  enriched  by  his  example.  It  is  to  such 
men  that  the  west  owes  its  prosperity,  its  rapid 
progress  and  its  advancement.  At  fotirteen  years 
of  age  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
as  a  clerk  in  a  mercantile  estblishment  and  from 
that  humble  position  he  has  worked  his  way 
steadily  upward  until,  in  the  control  of  large 
and  important  commercial  and  industrial  inter- 
ests, he  has  gained  a  place  among  the  prosperous 
residents  of  Sheldon  and  at  the  same  time  has 
contributed  thereby  to  general  advancement  and 
prosperity. 

Mr.  Fleager  was  horn  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylva- 
nia, Se])teniher  20,  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Charles 
and  Mary  Ann  (Wetzel)  Fleager,  lioth  of  whonr 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  spent  their 
entire  lives  there.  The  father  was  born  .\ugust 
<;,  iSoo.  and  died  Alarch  5,  1875.  while  the 
mother's  birth  occurred  November  11,  1807,  and' 
her  death  occurred  on  the  I  sth  of  March,  1866.. 


w.  i;.  iLi:.\t.i:K. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNWERSIHf  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COl'NTY.  ILLINOIS. 


Ujl 


IJiitli  were  faitlil'ul  and  consistent  nicnil)t.i>  i>i 
tlic  LullK-raii  church  and  Mr.  l-"lcaf;cr  was  one 
of  its  officers  for  the  lonjj  period  of  twenty-eiglit 
years.  William  1!.  I"kaj;er  was  tlie  eldest  in 
their  family  of  thirteen  children,  and  with  the 
exception  of  the  youngest  is  the  only  one  now- 
living,  his  sister  being  .\rminda  J.  .Anderson. 
She  was  Ixirn  in  C  arlisle.  I'ennsylvania,  Septem- 
ber 2i<.  1831,  anil  is  the  wife  of  Milton  .Andersfjn. 
of  Sheldon. 

.\t  the  usual  age  William  1'..  1-leager  began 
his  education  in  tlie  public  .schools,  pursuing  his 
studies  until  he  reacbeil  the  age  of  fourteen, 
when  be  began  i)riividing  for  his  own  su|)i)ort 
as  a  clerk  in  a  general  mercantile  store,  where 
he  remained  until  twenty  ye;irs  of  age.  He  then 
entered  the  establishment  of  his  lather,  who  w;is 
a  wagonmaker,  and  under  whose  direction  the 
son  soon  became  familiar  with  the  use  of  tools. 
In  1851  he  removed  to  I'eoria,  Illinois,  and  be- 
came clerk  for  John  II.  b'loyd,  at  first  receiving 
only  eight  dollars  ])er  month  for  his  services. 
but  his  em])loyer  soon  recognized  his  value  and 
his  wages  were  gradually  increased  to  forty  dol- 
lars |ier  month.  He  remained  with  Mr.  Floyd 
for  four  years  and  then  returned  to  his  father's 
home  with  four  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  which 
he  had  saved  from  his  earnings  while  iii  the 
west,  .\fter  a  two  weeks'  visit  in  I'ennsylvania 
he  returned  to  Peoria  and  established  a  confec- 
tionery store,  but  this  did  not  prove  a  ])rotit;ible 
investment  and  he  Itist  all  his  capital.  He  then 
removed  to  Cruger.  Illinois.  an<l  in  the  interest 
of  others  he  carried  on  the  store  and  also  con- 
ducted a  grain  business,  besides  serving  as  the 
first  postmaster  of  the  place.  He  was  likewise 
made  agent  for  the  Toledo.  IVori:i  &  Warsaw 
Kailroa<l.  and  in  1857,  at  the  recpiest  of  that  road. 
he  accepted  the  position  of  agent  at  ( iilma'i.  be- 
ing the  first  representative  of  the  cor])oratinn  in 
both  Cruger  and  (iilman.  In  the  latter  pl.ice  he 
was  also  the  first  agent  for  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad   Company. 

While  living  in  Ciilman.  .Mr.  I-"leager  was  mar- 
ried in  December.  1858.  to  Miss  Maria  I'.rubaker. 
a  daughter  of  Henr\-  I'.rubaker.  of  Lancaster. 
Pennsylvania,  and  unto  them  were  born  four 
children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  George, 
who  is  employed  in  the  First  National  Hank  in 
Cliicago;   and    .\rthur    P...    who   was   gradu.iled 


from  the  .Xorthwesteru  University,  at  Fvan.ston. 
Illinois.  June  i(>.  ii<t.)i,  and  is  now  in  Chicago. 
In  1875  Mr.  IMeager  was  called  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  first  wife,  who  died  on  the  15th  of 
.May  of  th.it  year.  On  the  1st  of  March,  1877. 
he  married  Frances  .M.  Millimau,  a  native  of 
.\ew  York,  and  they  are  the  ])arents  of  four 
children.  Clarence  l\..  Harry.  Lva  and  Sam. 

In  March,  i8f)0.  Mr.  Fleager  removed  to  Shel- 
don, casting  in  his  lot  with  the  early  settlers. 
>ince  which  time  he  has  been  promiueiuly  iden- 
tified with  the  history  and  upbuilding  of  the 
town.  ( ioing  to  Chicago  he  purchasetl  one  him- 
dred  thousand  feel  of  lumber  and  established  a 
lumberyard.  He  erected  the  first  building  in  the 
town,  and  opened  a  grocery  store  in  which  be 
Continued  for  some  time.  He  also  engaged  in 
general  merchaujlising  and  became  a  dealer  in 
coal  and  grain.  Thus  bis  activities  have  extend- 
eil  to  various  fields  of  labor,  whereby  the  com- 
munity has  profited,  anil  at  the  same  time  his  in- 
dividual success  has  been  ])romoteil.  In  1873 
he  sold  his  general  mercantile  establishment  and 
engaged  in  the  bankmg  business  as  proprietor  of 
the  Sheldon  I'.ank.  with  which  he  was  connected 
until  .M;iy  10.  1891.  when  be  siild  out  ;m<l  the 
institution  has  since  been  known  as  the  Citizens 
Piank.  He  was  likewise  instrumental  in  estab- 
lishing the  Perfection  I'.ag  Holder  Com]);uiy  in 
i8<^i.  which  was  organized  as  a  stock  company 
with  Mr.  Fleager  as  ])re'iident ;  Mr.  Wilkinson  as 
treasurer;  and  .Mr.  Whitson  as  secretary.  Mr. 
Fleager  is  also  operating  quite  extensively  in  real 
estate.  He  is  a  man  of  resourceful  business  abil- 
ity and  is  a  self-made  man  in  the  fullest  sense  of 
that  oft  misused  term,  his  prosperity  in  life  being 
due  to  his  industry  and  integrity. 

Mr.  Meager  was  the  first  postmaster  of  .Shel- 
don, and  the  third,  and  in  everything  pertaining 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  town  he  has  taken  an 
active  part  and  is  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  en- 
terprises which  insure  its  progress.  He  owns 
several  large  business  l)locks  in  the  town  besides 
his  beautiful  residence,  which  he  and  bis  family 
occupv.  .\  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
church,  he  contributes  generously  to  its  supi)ort 
and  does  all  in  bis  power  to  promote  its  advance- 
ment. I  le  has  been  the  architect  of  his  own  for- 
tune and  has  builded  wisely  and  well.  Starting 
out  at  an  earlv  age.  he  has  met  competition,  ba-; 


192 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


overcome  difficuUies  and  obstacles  and  has 
achieved  a  gratifying  measure  of  success  as  the 
reward  of  earnest  labor,  at  the  same  time  en- 
joying the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  know 
liim  by  reason  of  the  straightforward  methods 
he  has  followed.  He  is  a  worthy  example  for 
young  men  to  pattern  after,  as  showing  what  in- 
telligence and  probity  may  accomplish  in  the  way 
of  success  in  life. 


THOMAS   McSORLEY. 

Thomas  McSorley,  who  has  been  engaged  suc- 
cessfully for  a  number  of  years  in  buying  and 
handling  grain,  coal  and  seeds  at  Martinton  and 
who  is  widely  recognized  as  one  of  the  foremost 
busine^  men  of  the  town,  was  born  in  Beaver- 
ville,  September  17,  1854,  his  parents  being 
James  and  Fannie  (Woods)  McSorley.  the  for- 
mer a  native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Texas. 
James  McSorley  came  to  America  in  early  life 
and  located  in  Beaver  township,  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  purchased  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land,  which  he  improved  and 
brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  trans- 
forming it  into  a  fine  farm,  whereon  he  made 
his  home  until  his  death.  Of  his  children,  five 
in  number,  three  are  still  living. 

Thomas  AlcSorley  is  indebted  to  the  district 
schools  for  the  educational  privileges  which  he 
enjoyed.  In  his  yorth  he  lived  at  home,  assist- 
ii:g  his  parents  in  various  departments  of  farm 
labor.  He  aided  in  the  task  of  plowing,  plant- 
ing and  harvesting  as  the  years  went  by  and  con- 
tinued under  the  jjarental  roof  unti'  twenty-five 
\ears  of  age,  when  he  started  out  upon  an  in- 
dependent business  career.  He  began  dealing 
in  hav  and  grain  in  Alarlintnn  in  connection  with 
P.  S.  Dewitt,  with  whom  he  was  associatetl  for  a 
short  time,  after  which  he  liought  out  Mr.  De- 
witt's  interest  and  conducted  the  business  alone 
for  two  years.  He  was  afterward  in  jiartnershiii 
with  Mr.  .Swindeman  and  in  i8(j5  he  built  an 
elevaliir  with  a  capacity  of  thirty-nve  thousand 
bushels.  In  1899  he  Ijought  out  his  partner's 
interest  and  was  again  alone  for  two  years,  when 
he  sold  out  to  R.  !•".  Cummings,  who  enlarged 
the  elevator  to  a  capacity  of  one  hundred  thou- 


sand bushels.  Mr.  McSorley  has  since  been  man- 
ager and  is  thus  engaged  in  buying  and  handling 
grain,  coal  and  seeds.  In  1902  he  inirchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Min- 
nesota. He  has  long  figured  prominently  in  busi- 
ness interests  of  Martinton  and  his  efforts  have 
been  of  material  benefit  to  the  town  as  well  as 
a  source  of  individual  profit. 

In  1879  ;\Ir.  McSorley  was  married  in  Kanka- 
kee, to  ]\Iiss  Alma  Brown,  who  was  born  in  Iro- 
quois county  in  1856.  They  became  the  parents 
of  seven  children,  01  whom  three  are  still  liv- 
ing, Nellie,  Blanche  and  Ruth. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  AlcSorley  is  a  stal- 
wart democrat  and  has  served  as  president  of 
the  town  board,  in  which  capacity  he  has  ren- 
dered signal  aid  in  advancing  the  general  wel- 
fare. He  belongs  to  the  Alasonic  lodge,  to  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  to  the 
^Modern  Woodmen  camp,  and  during  the  long 
years  of  his  residence  in  Martinton  and  Iroquois 
county  his  many  good  traits  of  character  have 
become  familiar  to  his  fellow  townsmen  and  have 
won  him  friendly  consideration  and  warm 
regard. 


A.  P.  SINGLETON. 


A.  P.  Singleton,  who  for  four  years  has  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile  at 
Buckley,  is  controlling  a  profitable  business  and 
his  energy  and  perseverance  constitute  the  strong 
elements  in  his  success.  He  is  one  of  the  old- 
time  residents  of  this  part  of  the  state,  having  for 
fifty-six  years  made  his  home  in  lUiniMS.  He 
was  but  six  years  old  when  brought  to  the  state, 
and  as  he  has  advanced  in  years  and  strength 
he  has  also  extended  the  scope  of  his  activity, 
thus  becoming  a  valued  and  rejiresentative  citi- 
zen. He  was  born  in  Hocking  count)-.  Ohio, 
March  <),  1844,  a  son  of  Jaures  Singleton,  who 
was  likewise  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  he  was 
reared  and  married,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being 
Hannah  Arnold,  a  native  of  Oonuecticut.  He 
was  a  meciianic  and  stone-cutter  by  trade  and 
also  devoted  some  time  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
In  1830  he  removed  westward  to  h'ulton  county. 
Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  liis  trade  for  a  con- 


Ikonl  .  .K  <'>U\TV.  ILI.Iv,  ,iv 


«93 


sidtTaWe  perifxl.  hut  his  last  years  wi-rc  s|)ciu 
■on  the  farm.  He  died  alxiiu  iWrf).  while  his  wife 
siirviwd  until  iSi/>.  t  )f  their  family  of  six  sons 
and  three  daii>;luers.  five  stuis  and  two  daugh- 
ters reached  mature  years,  while  A.  !'.  Sinpleton 
and  one  sister  arc  the  only  survivors. 

Hroujjht  to  Illinois  in  1850,  .\.  1'.  Sinjrlelon 
was  reared  in  I-'ulton  county  ti]x»n  the  home  farm 
and  remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained 
his  majj>rity.  He  then  enlisted,  in  the  s|)rinj;  oi 
i8<)5.  at  the  last  call  that  was  made  for  troops 
iK'Cominjj  a  memher  of  Company  H.  I'-ijjhty-thirci 
Illinois  \'oIuntcer  Infantry,  and  siil)se(|uentlv 
was  transferred  to  Comjiany  F.  Sixty-fifth  \icn'\- 
ment.  He  was  sent  south,  where  he  enj.;a),'e<l  in 
j^uard  duty  and  in  Inmtinfj  Riierillas  in  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  until  the  close  of  the  war,  Ix-inji 
honorably  discharjfed  in  SeptemlH.»r.   iS^'i.s. 

Mr.  Singleton  at  once  returned  ti>  I-"ulton 
county  and  was  marriecl  there,  Decemher  J5. 
iJVxj,  to  Miss  Celinda  .Mclntyre.  a  native  of  Il- 
linois, liorn  and  reared  in  l*"uIton  county.  The 
following  spring  they  removed  to  Irot|unis 
county,  locating  on  a  farm  east  of  F-oda.  which 
Mr.  Singleton  o[H"rated  for  several  years.  Suh- 
se(|nently  he  took  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  in 
.■\rtcsia  township,  near  I'.uckley.  where  he  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits  for  seven- 
teen years.  He  had,  in  the  meantime,  purchased 
twenty-five  acres  adji>ining  I'lUckley,  together 
with  other  property,  and  in  I<j02  he  purchased 
the  brick  and  tile  business,  a  OHiipkte  mami fac- 
tory, supplied  with  nifxlern  machinery.  He  now 
makes  and  burns  about  thirty-two  kilns  per  year, 
and  the  tile  nianufacture<l  is  from  three  and  a 
half  to  fifteen  inches  in  diameti-r.  The  local 
trade  takes  the  entire  output  of  the  factory. 

.As  the  years  have  gone  by  seven  chililren  have 
come  to  the  Singleton  household,  five  yms  and 
two  daughters:  F-'rank  S.,  who  married  Clain 
Patcrson,  of  F-ostant.  F-a  Salle  comity,  a  sister  of 
Mrs.  F.  E.  ^Fe^ritt.  and  is  cashier  of  the  F^anforth 
I'lank  ;  J.  A.,  who  is  his  father's  partner  in  the  man- 
ufacture of  brick  and  tile  an»l  who  married  Cora 
Hull,  a  daughter  of  Filwin  FInll.  a  ()rominent 
farmer  of  .Artcsia  township;  L.  \V„  who  was  for- 
merly cashier  of  the  Ruckley  FJank  and  is  now  en- 
gaged in  the  grain  tr;ide;  llerl)ert,  a  student  in 
the  theological  department  of  the  Xorthwestern 
Universitv.    at    Evanston.    Illinois:    William,    at 


home;  Jennie,  the  wife  of  <'ieorge  IJothwell,  a 
fanner  of  .\rtesia  township;  and  .Maliel,  at  home. 
F'olitieally  .Mr.  Singleton  is  indeiKrndent  and 
sup|>orts  canditlates  regardless  of  party  affiliation. 
F^e  is  a  prohibitionist  in  principle.  Fie  and  his 
family  are  all  memlxTs  of  the  .MetlnMlist  Kpis- 
copjil  church,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  trustee 
and  steward,  and  is  als<i  a  worker  and  teacher  in 
the  .Sunilay-schiNil.  He  takes  a  mo.st  helpful 
part  in  the  interests  of  the  church  ami  his  life 
has  been  characterized  by  fidelity  to  its  teachings 
in  his  business  and  social  relations.  Tlius  he 
c<immands  uniform  confidence  and  gcMxF  will  an<1 
his  life  embc«liis  the  elements  of  the  worthy  aiul 
representative  citizen. 


nWll)   I)KA\". 


David  iJean.  a  resident  of  (  )narga,  is  one  of 
the  prosperous  farmers  and  business  men  of  the 
city.  He  owns  a  well  improved  and  valuable 
tract  of  land  in  (  )narga  township  and  which 
in  its  successful  control  <lemonstrates  his  exec- 
utive ability  and  keen  discrimination.  FFe  dates 
his  residence  in  IrrKpiois  county  from  iWiQ  and 
is  a  native  of  .*^ullivan  county.  New  York,  where 
his  birth  occurred  June  11.  iX2<».  IFis  father. 
Ueul)en  Dean,  was  Ixirn  in  (  )range  county.  New 
York,  and  lost  his  father  when  a  small  Fioy.  FFe 
was  reared  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  after- 
ward weiu  to  Sullivan  county.  .Vew  York,  where 
he  married  ElizalK-th  Devine.  who  was  Ixirn  in 
the  F.mpire  state.  .Mr.  Dean  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  reared  his  family  of  fourteen  chil- 
dren upon  the  home  farm  in  Sullivan  county. 
The  family  numbered  six  sons  and  eight  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whom  reached  mature  years  and 
were  married.  David.  J<ihnson  an<l  ficorge 
Dean  are  now  the  surviving  memF>ers  of  this 
large   family. 

Cpon  the  old  homestead  proj>erty  David  Dean 
was  reared  and  in  his  youth  he  attendi-d  the  com- 
mon schools  of  the  neighlxirliiKxl  but  he  is  large- 
ly a  sclf-e<lucate<I  as  well  as  self-maile  man,  F^e 
was  married  in  .Sullivan  county,  \ew  York,  on 
the  joth  of  .\pril,  1831,  to  Miss  Hann.di  Davis, 
who  was  Fvirn  an<l  rearetl  in  that  county,  a  daugh- 
ter of  Flenrv  V\'.  Davis,     .\fter  his  marriage  he 


194 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


owned  and  operated  a  farm  there  for  some  years 
and  he  had  three  children  born  there.     In  1869 
he   removed  westward  to  Iroquois  county,   Illi- 
nois, purchasing  land  in  Onarga  township,  where 
he    also   began    farming.     He    at  -first    had    but 
eighty  acres,  to  which  he  afterward  added  until 
he  owned  two  hundred  acres  in  that  farm.   There 
he   carried  on   general   agricultural   pursuits    for 
twenty-seven  years  and  he  placed  many  substan- 
tial buildings  there  and  conducted  his  work  along 
lines  of  modern  progress.     At  length  he  sold  that 
property  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Onarga,  where 
he  purchased  seven  acres  of  land,  erecting  there- 
on  a   comfortable   and    attractive    residence   and 
good  barn.     His  attention  is  now  given  to  the 
management    and    further    improvement    of    this 
propertv  and  he  keeps  some  stock  for  his  own 
use.     He    purchased    another    farm    in    Onarga 
township  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres 
about  two  miles  from  Leonard,  and  he  now  rents 
that   place.     Although   he   started   out   in    life   a 
poor  man  he  has  steadily  climbed  the  ladder  of 
success  and  is  now  in  afiluent  circumstances.     He 
has  been  a  hard  worker,   industrious  and  ener- 
getic and  careful  in  his  management. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  are  the  parents  of  three 
children.  Charles  A.,  who  reached  mature  years 
and  married,  became  a  business  man  of  Syca- 
more, De  Kalk  county.  Illinois.  He  was  a  travel- 
ing salesman  and  died  in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi. 
He  had  one  daughter.  Aha.  Irving  ^I.  is  mar- 
ried and  is  engaged  in  business  in  Indianapolis, 
Indiana.  He  has  two  children,  Bessie  A.  and 
Vera.  Cora  May  is  the  wife  of  F.  W.  Seyforth. 
of  Chicago,  where  he  occupies  a  business  posi- 
tion, and  they  have  four  children :  Dorothy,  Isa- 
belle  Louise,  Eleanor  and  Robert  Seyforth. 

Mr.  Dean  votes  with  the  prohibition  party, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  stanch  advocate  for  thirty 
years,  while  throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  been 
an  earnest  temperance  man,  never  using  intoxi- 
cants nor  tobacco.  He  has  been  without  aspira- 
tion for  office  for  himself  but  he  desires  the  best 
interests  of  the  county,  state  and  nation  and  is 
always  rejoiced  to  sec  good  men  put  in  office. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  ( )narga 
Presbyterian  church  and  the\-  are  highly  esteemed 
in  the  city  and  throughout  the  county,  where  fur 
many  years  they  have  made  their  home.  The\- 
have  both  displayed  traits  of  character,  of  heart 


and  mind  which  have  endeared  them  to  all  with 
whom  they  have  been  associated  and  which  have 
gained  for  them  the  confidence  and  good  will 
of  the  entire  community. 


JAMES  W.  KAY. 

James  W.  Kay.  one  of  the  well  known  busi- 
ness men  of  Iroquois  count)-  has  for  thirt}--five 
years  been  engaged  in   the   real-estate  business, 
controlling  a  business  which  at  times  has  been 
quite  extensive.     Moreover  he  has  figured  prom- 
inently in  public  life,  holding  various  offices  to 
which  he  has  been  called  by  the  vote  of  his  fel- 
low townsmen  and  in  which  he  has  given  proof 
of  his  public  spirit  and  devotion  to  the  general 
good.     One   of   the   native   sons  of   the   county, 
he   was   born    February   26.    1838.     His    father, 
^^'illiam  D.  Kay,  was  born  and  reared  in  Ohio 
and  in  1826  married  Ruth  Wright.     Subsequent- 
ly he  removed   from   Cincinnati.  Ohio,   to  Indi- 
ana,   and   was   engaged   in   the   manufacture   of 
lumber   at   Perrysville   until    his   death    in    1837.  . 
His  widow,  seven  years  after  his  demise,  married 
the  Hon.   Isaac  Courtright,  both  of  whom  died 
in  Iroquois  county  of  cholera  in  1854. 

James  W.  Kay  was  reared  in  Iroquois  county 
and  began  his  education  in  the  common  schools, 
while  later  he  attended  the  old  Middleport  high 
school.  He  engaged  in  teaching  in  1S58  and 
taught  three  years.  On  the  22d  of  July,  1862, 
while  writing  in  the  recorder's  office  at  Middle- 
port,  he  put  aside  all  business  and  personal  con- 
siderations, prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotisnt 
which  caused  him  to  enlist  in  the  defense  of  his 
countrv  is  a  member  of  Company  A,  Seventy- 
sixth  Illinois  Infantry,  under  command  of  ]\Iajor 
Harrington.  He  went  south,  serving  three 
years,  during  which  time  he  ]jartici])ated  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  X'icksburg  and  also  of  Mo- 
liile,  Alabama.  He  was  on  detached  dnl\-  a  parr 
of  the  time  and  served  as  sales  clerk  in  the  post 
commissary  department  in  \"icksburg  after  the 
surrender  of  the  city,  nearly  sixty  thousand  dol- 
lars passing  through  his  hands  as  a  private  sol- 
dier. Later  he  became  a  clerk  in  the  quarter- 
master's department.  In  the  last  campaign,  re- 
sulting  in    the   capture   of    Mobile.    Alabama,   he 


MR.  AND  MRS.  TAMRS  W.  KAV. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


"'T 


was  brigade  forape  master.  He  lost  iid  time 
on  accnunt  of  illness  or  other  causes,  serviiij; 
until  tlie  close  of  the  war.  heinj,'  mustered  out 
July  22.  1865.  ami  h<nioral)ly  discharged  at  <  lal- 
veston.  Texas,  lie  was  war  correspondent  for 
The   *  )ld    Iroquois   County    Rei)ublican. 

Returninn;  to  his  home  Mr.  Kay  was  elected 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  to  the  office  of  county 
clerk,  receiving  fifteen  hundred  votes  out  of  the 
two  thousand  cast,  and  after  serving  one  term, 
he  served  two  years  as  deiuity  county  treasurer. 
On  his  retirement  from  that  office  he  was  chosen 
public  administrator,  his  incumbency  continuing 
for  eight  years.  He  was  for  eleven  years  sch(M>l 
treasurer  at  Watseka  and  he  made  the  second 
Set  (»f  abstract  IxKiks  of  Ir<H|uois  county,  which 
he  later  sold.  His  public  service  has  been  of  the 
utmost  benefit  to  the  county,  being  always  char- 
acterized by  unfaltering  devotion  to  the  general 
good  and  by  faithfidness  and  ability  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  specific  duties  of  the  office. 

Mr.  Kav  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  real- 
estate  business  for  years,  i-'or  twelve  years  he 
conducted  land  excursions  to  Texas,  where  he 
made  many  large  sales  of  land,  lie  has  con- 
tinued his  real-estate  operations  and  has  de- 
veloped a  g(X)d  business  since  his  removal  to 
Onarga.  January  6.  n/X).  handling  much  val- 
uable property  and  negotiating  many  important 
real-estate  deals.  During  this  period  he  has  also 
served  as  notary  public  for  eight  years  and  pen- 
sion attorney.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
prohibition  party  since  1880.  previous  to  which 
time  he  acted  with  the  republican  party,  and  it 
was  as  the  candidate  of  the  latter  that  he  was 
elected  to  the  offices  he  has  filled,  although  many 
supporters  of  other  parties  have  given  him  their 
votes  because  of  their  l)clief  in  his  political 
integrity  and  cajjability. 

Mr.  Kay  has  been  married  three  times.  He 
first  wedded  Mrs.  Kmma  C.  Connell,  of  .Attica, 
Indiana.  <  )ctober  16,  i86r>,  and  on  the  7th  of 
August,  l8r>8.  her  death  occurretl.  <  )n  the  nth 
of  May.  i86c>.  Mr.  Kay  was  married  in  Kanka- 
kee. Illinois,  to  Miss  Xdaline  I-lllingwtMid.  who 
died  February  18.  |88<>.  leaving  four  children: 
Wendel  P..  an  attorney  of  Watseka.  Illinois; 
Howard  L..  who  is  engaged  in  the  real-estate 
business  in  Spcnccville.  ( )hio  :  \\'illK-r  Jones,  who 
is  a  teacher  of  oratory  in  Washington  and  JetTer- 


soii  College,  at  Washington,  IVnnsylvania  ;  :ind 
Miriam  Ruth,  the  wife  of  Ralph  1-.  I'aine.  of 
Saginaw.  .Michigan.  ( »n  the  6th  t>f  January, 
HK>o.  -Mr.  Kay  was  married  in  (  >narga  to  Mrs. 
LlizalKth  11.  Lindsey.  the  widow  of  Thomas 
Lindsey,  who  was  a  prominent  farmer  of  this 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kay  are  meml)ers  of  the 
MetlwHlist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  has 
been  identified  for  forty  years,  and  he  also  be- 
longs to  the  Cirand  .\rmy  of  the  Republic.  (  )ne 
of  the  few  surviving  veterans  of  the  Civil  war, 
he  has  also  helped  to  make  history  in  Iroquois 
couiUy,  leaving  the  impress  of  his  individuality 
for  g(>)d  upon  its  official  life  and  business  inter- 
ests, while  his  influence  has  even  been  exerted  in 
behalf  of  truth,  justice  and  right. 


STF.PHFV  CISSV A. 


In  a  history  of  pioneer  tiniis  in  Irotiuois 
county  mention  should  Ik-  made  of  Stei>hen 
Cissna,  who  came  to  this  part  of  the  state  when 
it  was  emerging  from  primitive  frontier  condi- 
tions and  taking  on  the  advantages  and  improve- 
ments of  civilization.  He  l)ore  an  active  part  in- 
the  developiuent  of  the  county,  especially  along 
agricultural  lines,  and  for  many  years  was  one 
of  its  most  extensive  and  prosperous  farmers  and 
stock-raisers.  Arriving  in  the  county  in  1856, 
he  took  up  his  aliode  in  Pigeon  Cirove  township, 
where  he  purchased  six  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land.  He  was  a  native  of  Cliillicothe, 
Ohio,  lK>rn  I'ebruary  9,  181 5.  His  jKirents  were 
Stephen  and  Sarah  (King)  Cissna.  who  were 
likewise  natives  of  the  I'.uckeye  state.  The  father 
served  as  a  s«>ldier  in  the  war  of  181 J  an<I 
throughout  his  entire  business  life  engaged  in 
fanning,  making  his  home  near  Chillicothe,  where 
he  died  during  the  early  youth  of  his  son  and 
namesake. 

Stephen  Cissna  of  this  review  had  only  the 
e<lucational  a<lvantages  afTorded  by  the  connnon 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  when  still  but 
a  boy  he  began  learning  the  tanner's  tmde,  w  Inch 
he  followed  for  a  few  years,  in  1837  he  re- 
moved to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  was  connected 
with  mercaiuile  interests  there  for  several  years, 
after  which  he  took   up  his  alvide  in  Williams- 


198 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


port,  Warren  county,  Indiana,  continuing'  in  the 
same  line  of  business. 

It  was  while  residing;  in  \\'illianis]jort  that  Mr. 
Cissna  was  first  married,  on  the  13th  of  April, 
1848,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  a  native  of  that 
place.  She  died  in  Pigeon  Grove  township,  Iro- 
quois county,  on  the  2d  of  August,  1858.  There 
were  three  children  of  that  union  :  Sarah  Fran- 
ces, who  always  resided  with  her  parents  and  now 
makes  her  home  with  her  stepmother  in  W'at- 
seka ;  George  C,  deceased;  and  Charles,  who 
died  in  infancy.  \\'hile  residing  upon  his  farm 
in  Pigeon  Grove  township,  this  county.  Mr. 
Cissna  was  again  married,  his  second  union  be- 
ing with  Miss  Clara  Hawk,  whom  he  wedded 
November  6,  1864.  She  is  a  native  of  Erie.  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a  daughter  of  Erastus  Hawk,  who 
always  resided  in  Erie,  where  his  wife  likewise 
passed  away. 

After  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Cissna  continued 
to  engage  in  general  merchandising  in  Williams- 
port.  Indiana,  until  1856.  when  with  his  family 
and  his  brother  \\'illiam  he  came  to  Iroquois 
county.  He  was  the  founder  and  promoter  of 
the  town  of  Cissna  Park,  which  he  named  and 
which  is  now  a  prosperous  village  in  Pigeon 
Grove  township.  ]\Ir.  Cissna  and  his  brother 
purchased  over  a  section  of  land,  or  six  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  in  Pigeon  Grove  township  and  he 
concentrated  his  energies  upon  the  work  of  gen- 
eral farming'  and  stock-raising.  The  latter  wa> 
his  principal  business  but  he  engaged  in  both 
lines  upon  his  original  farni  until  1867.  when 
he  exchanged  that  property  with  his  brother  Wil- 
liam for  four  hundred  and  seventy-one  acres  of 
land  in  Middleport  township,  two  and  a  half 
miles  east  of  Watseka.  There  he  carried  on  .gen- 
eral farming  and  stock-raising  until  1877.  when 
he  took  up  his  abode  in  the  town,  although  he 
still  retained  the  ownership  of  the  farm.  This 
property  is  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Cissna  and  her 
daughter.  In  Watseka  he  gave  his  attention  to 
no  business  interests  save  the  supervision  of  his 
"investments  but  enjoyed  throughout  his  remain- 
ing days  a  rest  which  he  had  truly  earned  and 
richly  merited.  For  niany  years  he  was  one  of 
the  prominent  stock-dealers  of  the  county,  car- 
rying on  his  business  on  an  extensive  scale  that 
made  it  a  gratif)ing  source  of  revenue.  As  the 
years  j)assed  his  labors  added  to  his  financial  w- 


sources  until  he  became  a  wealthy  nian  and  no 
word  was  ever  uttered  against  his  honor  or  his 
good  name,  for  in  all  of  his  business  dealings 
he  was  strictly  reliable  and  his  commercial  in- 
tegrity stood  as  an  unquestioned  fact  in  his  life 
record. 

In  politics  Mr.  Cissna  was  a  very  stanch  re- 
publican and  kept  well  informed  on  the  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day.  \Miile  residing  in  Mid- 
dleport townshi])  he  served  as  supervisor  for  one 
term  and  he  held  other  local  offices,  acting  as 
road  commissioner,  while  during  the  greater 
period  of  his  residence  on  the  farm  he  was  a 
school  director.  He  was  interested  in  community 
affairs  and  was  always  willing  to  aid  in  ]Dro- 
gressive  ]Miblic  measures.  He  attended  and  con- 
tributed to  the  support  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member  and 
he  was  one  who  in  his  life  upheld  the  legal  and 
political  stability  of  the  county  and  endorsed  its 
intellectual  and  moral  developnient.  He  died 
April  26,  1900,  at  the  veneralile  age  of  eighty- 
five  vears,  leaving  a  life  record  which  in  its  sa- 
lient characteristics  was  well  worthy  of  emulation. 
;\Irs.  Cissna  and  daughter  own  a  ])alatial  resi- 
dence on  Hickory  street  near  Third  street,  which 
was  erected  by  Mr.  Cissna  upon  their  removal  to 
the  town.  She  and  her  daughter  usually  spend 
the  winter  months  in  the  south,  generally  at  Day- 
tona,  Florida,  and  have  traveled  extensively. 
Thev  are  prominent  in  social  circles  here  and 
with  excellent  resources  at  hand  are  able  to  dis- 
pense a  hospitality  which  is  most  liberal  and 
gracious. 


ALFORD  PRUTSMAN. 

Alford  Prutsman,  controlling  one  of  the  im- 
portant industrial  enterprises  of  Milford,  being 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  is  a  busi- 
ness nian  of  marked  enterprise  and  determina- 
tion, who  keeps  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  mod- 
ern progress  and  develoiiment.  A  native  son  of 
the  countv  he  was  born  in  Prairie  Green  town- 
shi]!,  February  12,  1S38,  and  is  a  son  of  Jasper 
Prutsman,  who  was  born  near  .Xttica,  in  Foun- 
tain comity,  Indiana,  Fel)ruary  12,  1836.  He  was 
one  of  the  twelve  children  of  David  and  Maxey 
M.    I  McMillan)    I'rntsman.   natives  of   Peinisvl- 


IRliQUM.S  rni-\'TV.  Ill  IVoI' 


•w 


vaiiia  and  Kentucky  respectively.  The  urantl- 
tather  ol  our  subject  died  in  Indiana  in  1837. 
and  his  widow  continued  to  reside  in  that  state 
until  185^,  when  she  came  ti)  Illinois  and  made 
her  home  with  her  son  Jasper,  who  in  that  year 
entered  eighty  acres  of  land  from  the  govern- 
ment in  Inxpiois  county.  He  had  no  s|K-ciaI 
advantages  at  the  outset  of  his  career  but  lie 
jjosscssed  a  strong  character  and  resolute  will 
and  as  the  years  passed  achieved  a  pooilly  meas- 
ure of  success.  On  ccnjing  to  this  county  lie 
at  once  taik  up  the  task  of  transforming  his 
wild  land  in  Prairie  (ireen  township  into  a  pro- 
ductive farm,  and  after  nine  years  he  removed  to 
Milford  township,  where  he  engaged  in  furnish- 
ing timlKT  in  large  (|uantities  to  different  cor- 
porations and  firms.  In  187.2  he  turned  his  at- 
tention to  the  establishment  and  conduct  of  a 
brick  and  tile  factory  in  Milford,  operating  it  suc- 
cessfully until  i8<>4.  In  185C  he  married  Lu- 
cinda  Crow,  a  native  of  Kentucky  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Mary  Crow,  who  became  early 
settlers  of  this  county  in  1850.  Mr.  Prutsman 
died  .\pril  7.  1906,  but  Mrs.  Prutsman  still  sur- 
vives her  husband  and  is  living  on  the  old  liome 
place  in  Milford  township.  lie  was  a  member 
of  .Milford  lodge.  No.  168,  .\.  P.  &  .\.  .M..  and 
held  membership  in  the  Methodist  Episco|)a! 
church,  to  which  his  wife  yet  belongs.  His  po- 
litical allegiaiKe  was  given  to  the  republican 
party.  He  was  truly  a  self-ma<le  man  and  de- 
served all  the  praise  which  that  term  implied. 
In  addition  to  his  manufacturing  interests  he 
owned  an  excellent  fann  of  one  hundred  ami 
twelve  acres  a  half  mile  west  of  Milford  and 
there  he  made  his  home. 

.Mford  Prutsman  of  this  review  is  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
yet  living,  while  two  liave  passed  away.  .Mary 
M.,  lK)rn  .\pril  2t).  iSfo.  JR'came  the  wife  oi 
George  Gibbs.  who  died  al)out  1888,  leaving  three 
children.  Walter  C.  George  and  Leila,  and  by 
a  second  marriage  she  has  two  daughters,  .\ngie 
and  Nellie.  The  other  members  of  the  IVutsman 
household  arc  Malinda  E.,  born  February  <>. 
1862:  Ora.  March  8.  18^4;  Walter  K.,  .\prii  jf,. 
i8r>5;  Frank.  July  f>.  18^(7;  and  .\rata,  .\pril  11. 
1870. 

The  educational  privileges  which  .Mford 
Prutsman    enjoyed    were   those   afforilcd   by   the 


public  »cli(i>i».  riic  tlays  of  his  boyhood  anci 
youth  were  |jas.sed  under  the  parental  riM^f,  while 
at  an  early  age  he  was  associated  with  his  fatlicr 
in  business,  first  in  fann  work  and  afterward  in 
the  conduct  of  the  brick  and  tile  factory.  Since 
1894  he  lias  been  proprietor  of  the  business  ami 
afterward  for  three  years  was  ass«xiated  in  the 
conduct  of  the  enteq)ri.se  with  his  brother  but 
is  now  sole  proprietor.  He  has  twenty-two  acres 
ujKjn  which  has  lK*en  built  a  plant  having  a  ca- 
pacity of  twenty  thousand  brick  «laily  and  from 
four  to  eight  thousand  tile.  The  factory  is  now 
equipped  with  the  latest  improved  machinery  for 
carrying  on  this  work  and  the  buildings  are  well 
tracked.  Nine  men  are  employed  during  the  busy 
season  and  the  output  finds  a  ready  sale.  Ixring 
largely  u.seil  by  the  local  trade.  Tiiis  factory 
has  furnished  tJie  brick  used  in  the  construction 
of  the  great  majority  of  the  buildings  in  .Milford 
and  the  surrounding  district  an<l  the  product  of 
the  tile  works  is  found  on  many  farms,  the  fer- 
tility of  which  has  been  greatly  augmented 
through  this  method  of  drainage. 

On  the  loth  of  May.  1893,  .Mr.  Prutsman  was 
married  to  Miss  Ida  Carr,  a  native  of  this  county 
and  a  daughter  of  .Mexander  and  .\manda  J. 
C^rr.  who  were  born  in  X'irginia  but  Ixcame 
early  settlers  of  Irf>f|uois  county,  ^[r.  and  Mrs. 
Prutsman  are  the  parents  of  one  daughter,  Hat- 
tie,  born  July  7,  i8<>+.  who  is  attending  school  in 
-Milfonl.  ' 

Politically  .Mr.  Prutsman  is  a  republican,  and 
brtad  reading  and  investigation  have  kept  him 
in  touch  with  the  im|x>rt:uit  issues  which  have 
direct  l)earing  upon  the  welfare  of  the  country 
yet  he  is  without  political  aspiration.  He  be- 
longs to  the  Odd  I'ellows  Unlge  at  Milford,  in 
which  he  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs,  and  he  is 
likewise  connected  with  the  encampment,  which 
was  organize<l  in  i<a/>.  while  l)oth  be  and  his 
wife  are  coimecteil  with  the  Order  of  Kelnrkahs, 
in  which  he  lias  served  in  various  offices.  They 
are  much  esteemed  people  with  a  large  circle  of 
warm  friends  who  hold  them  in  high  regar<l  and 
extend  to  them  conlial  hospitality.  Mr.  Pruts- 
man is  classed  with  the  prominent  anil  enter- 
prising business  men  of  Milford  and  Irtx|uoi.s 
county  an<l  is  honored  and  respected  by  all  not 
onlv  liecausc  of  the  success  he  lias  achieved  but 
also  by  rea.son  "•'  ''"    ^'rn'-In forward,  honorable 


U200 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


methods  he  has  ever  followed.  It  is  true  that 
he  entered  upon  a  business  already  established 
but  in  early  manhood  he  set  to  work  to  thoroughly 
master  the  business  in  principle  and  detail,  and 
as  the  years  have  gone  by  has  been  an  active 
factor  in  enlarging  its  scope.  He  has  given  to 
the  public  a  good  product  with  reasonable  prices 
and  has  thus  secured  a  liberal  patronage  and, 
moreover,  while  winning  a  creditable  measure  of 
success  he  has  sustained  an  unassailable  reputa- 
tion in  business  circles. 


GEORGE  M.  WILLIAMS. 

A  man  of  considerable  natural  ability,  George 
11.  Williams  has  been  uniformly  successful  in 
Ijusiness  from  the  beginning  of  his  active  con- 
nection with  agricultural,  commercial  and  finan- 
cial interests  in  this  county,  and  the  methods 
which  he  has  followed  make  his  history  one  of 
interest  to  the  busines  world.  He  has  persevered 
in  the  pursuit  of  a  persistent  purpose  and  gained 
a  most  satisfactory  reward.  He  is  energetic, 
prompt  and  notably  reliable,  and  a  genius  for 
devising  and  executing  the  right  thing  at  the 
right  time,  joined  to  everyday  common  sense, 
are  his   chief  characteristics. 

He  is  a  son  of  Judge  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Bodv)  Williams.  The  father's  birth  occurred 
in  Adams  county.  (  )hi(i,  July  n.  1X20.  lie  was 
a  son  of  Thomas  Williams,  who  was  born  in 
Maryland,  in  1707.  and  the  latter  was  a  son  of 
Captain  John  Williams,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
who  in  1 80 1  removed  to  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
remaining  there  until  1836,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois,  niaking  the  journev  with  ox  teams,  for 
it  was  Ijefore  the  era  of  railroad  travel  and  only 
comparatively  few  pioneers  had  penetrated  into 
this  region.  Captain  Williams  timk  up  his  abndc 
at  Rockford,  which  was  then  a  hamlet  contain- 
ing but  two  cabins,  one  on  each  side  of  the  river. 
He  remained  tlu're  for  six  years  and  in  iSjj 
came  to  Iroc)U()is  county,  locating  in  what  is  now 
Belmont  township,  then  a  sparsely  settled  district. 
The  Williams  family  were  true  pioneers  of  the 
county  and  bore  an  active  and  helpful  ]iarl  in 
the  work  of  development  and  progress  as  the 
county    emerged    from    frontier    conditions    and 


took  on  all  of  the  evidences  of  an  improved  and 
modern  civilization.  Thomas  Williams  entered 
land  from  the  government  and  took  up  the  task 
of  developing  the  farm,  which  up  to  that  time 
was  entirely  destitute  of  improvements,  the  land 
being  wild  and  uncultivated.  In  politics  he  was 
a  prominent  democrat  and  did  much  toward 
shaping  the  early  political  history  of  this  section 
of  the  state.  He  was  also  an  influential  worker 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  thus  con- 
tributed to  the  moral  development  of  the  commu- 
nity. He  continued  to  make  his  home  in  Iro- 
quois county  until  his  death,  which  occurred  Au- 
gust 18.  1857.  while  his  wife  survived  him  and 
passed  away  in  1880.  She  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Elizabeth  Swim  and  was  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky, born  January  2,  1800,  so  that  at  her  death 
she  was  eighty  years  of  age. 

Samuel  Williams  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of 
ten  children,  all  of  whom  were  reared  to  adult 
age  u]Kjn  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Iroquois 
county.  He  spent  fifteen  years  of  his  life  in  the 
state  of  his  nativitv  and  then  came  with  his 
parents  to  IlHnois.  He  worked  in  the  fields  and 
upon  the  home  farm  until  twenty-four  years 
of  age.  when  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  two  years.  In  1844  he 
purchased  a  homestead  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  raw,  wild  land  upon  which  the 
town  of  Woodland  now  stands.  There  he 
built  a  house  and  began  the  task  of  farming 
the  projierty,  making  his  home  there  for  more 
than  a  half  century.  He  bought  additional  land 
from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  per- 
mitted luitil  at  his  death  he  was  the  owner  of 
over  one  thousand  acres.  He  was  a  verv  suc- 
cessful man,  of  sound  judgment  and  fertility  of 
resource,  and  whatever  he  undertunk  lie  carried 
f(irw;ird    tu   successful    completion. 

In  early  manhood  Samuel  ^^'illiams  wediled 
Miss  Catherine  Rody,  the  marriage  being  cele- 
brated March  20,  1846.  She  was  a  daughter 
of  Isaac  llody,  who  went  fnim  Mifflin  county, 
1 '(.■nnsylvania.  tn  Indiana  in  1830,  and  ten  vears 
later,  ill  1S40,  removed  to  Iroquois  county.  Illi- 
nois. .Mrs.  Williams  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  was  a  little  maiden  of  four  summers  when 
with  her  parents  she  left  her  native  state.  Fol- 
lowing his  marriage  Sanniel  Williams  carefully 
conducted   his  business  interests  with  the  added 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIvrfvsiiy  OF  ILLINOIS 


SAMUEL  WILLIAMS. 


(.Ki  )K<;i-:  M.   W  ll.l.l AMS. 


II 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRf>Or<)IS  tV^rVTY.  !I.!.I\<>IS 


•W5 


stinuilu>  "1  h.iMii;;  a  family  i'it  uiiniii  t"  jir^'Mm. 
He  became  one  nl  tlie  iirjpinizers  i*l'  ll>e  I*"irst 
National  I'lank  at  \\  alselci  aiul  was  cho!>en  its 
first  president,  with  lieor^e  C  liarrintjton  as 
its  cashier.  He  was  also  one  tif  the  organizers 
of  the  Citizens  Stale  IJank  of  Watseka  and 
served    as    its    vice    ;  '      r       In    iS7<»   he    laid 

olT  the  village  oi   \\  .  njHm  his  fann  and 

conducted  the  first  store  there  for  st)ine  years 
in  jtartnership  with  Mr.  (iiMHiyear.  Me  also 
Iniilt  and  endowed  the  first  church  in  W'lKidland 
-a  Methiwlist  Episcopal  cluirch.  Readily  did 
he  reco)^iize  the  nee«ls  and  <>pi>ortnnitii-s  of  the 
town  and  county  and  liis  elTorts  were  of  the 
utmost  value  in  pr«>motin^  n)aterial.  intellectual 
and  moral  progress,  l-'ew  «>f  the  pioneers  t<Kik 
so  helpful  or  active  a  part  in  the  wurk  of  jjeneral 
improvement  and  his  name  is  honored  by  all  who 
knew  him.  lie  was  for  ten  years  sui)ervisor  of 
Itelmont  township  and  for  twelve  years  justice 
of  the  pi-acc.  rendering  decisions  which  were 
strictly  fair  and  impartial.  In  18^0  he  was 
elected  judge  of  tin-  county  court  and  filled  that 
position  for  four  years.  Ihe  family  uumliered 
four  children  and  all  were  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  and  were  educated  in  ( inarga  ."Seminary. 
These  are:  Josiah  Ci..  who  is  mentioned  on 
another  jiage  of  this  work:  (ieorge  M..  of  this 
review  ;  John  S..  of  ( )narj;a ;  and  l-'rank  I...  who 
is  living  in  Guthrie.  ( 'klahoma. 

(ieorgc  M.  Williams,  whose  nanu-  introduces 
this  rex-iew.  was  lx)rn  .May  7.  1H5!,  on  the  old 
family  homestead  in  Melmont  township,  where 
he  has  resi<le<l  continuously  since,  lie  mastered 
the  elementary  branches  of  |-".nglish  learninj;  in 
the  public  schools  an<l  subsetpiently  matriculated 
in  '  >narga  Seminary,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated. .\fter  putting  aside  his  te.xt-bcKiks  he 
Ijegan  buying  and  shipping  live  stock,  which 
business  he  follow (.'  -fnly  for  some  \ears. 

The  father  built  a  c  .md  Ji>hn  S..  tieorge 

M.  and  Frank  I.,  engaged  in  the  mantifacturc 
of  butter  ;r  ■  ■  for  a  mimlKT  of  yiiirs.  but 

owing  !■•  •  n  they  sold  out  and  resuine<l 

fanniii  ;,'e  M.  Williams  first  Imught  two 

hun<lre.'.   aero  of   hnd  :    the   villa-^'e  of 

WiMKlJand   and   this   he  .   cultivate   and 

improve,  transfoniiing  it  into  fields  which  arc 
prcxiuctive  and  bring  forth  g<Mvl  animal  har- 
vest*,     lie   has   alsi)   made   a    s|K-cialt\    of   fruit- 


r.iisiii;^     .iMU     lias     imi      sinu      .h  i  i  s     planted     to 

IK-ache.N.  |>ears,  plums  and  apples,  liis  is  the 
oldest  and  most  extensive  frtiit  farm  in  Iroquois 
count}   and  his  ■  '  '     !y  received  as 

authoritx    ujiou  <.rs.   while   his 

fruit-raising  interests  are  to  hint  a  gratifying 
.source  of  inojiue.  He  has  from  time  to  time 
bought  more  land  and  he  now  owns  and  operates 
over  si.x  hundred  acres  of  very  valuable  and  well 
improveil  farm  projKrty  in  this  county.  I  le  is 
al.so  his  father's  successor  as  vice  president  of 
the  Citizens  State  I  tank  at  Watseka,  which  office 
he  has  held  since  iS<;5.  and  he  is  likewise  one  of 
the  l)oard  of  directors. 

In  I'ebruary,  1SS3,  was  celebrated  the  marriage 
of  (ii-orge  .M.  Williams  and  Miss  IJnnu  Mc- 
(iavick,  a  native  of  ( )hio  and  a  daughter  of 
Henry  Mciiavick,  who  was  also  Ixjrn  in  that 
state  an<l  who  in  iSfo  became  a  resident  of  .Mc- 
Lean County,  Illinois.  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Williauis 
are  now  the  parents  of  nine  chiMren  but  they 
lost  two  in  infancy.  Those  who  still  survive  are: 
Cornelia,  who  was  a  student  in  the  We.sleyan 
Seminary  at  IlltMiutington,  Illinois,  and  is  now 
a  school  teacher,  living  at  home;  Jessie,  a  young 
lady  at  home;  llenjamin.  who  is  a  student  in 
( )narga  Seminary;  Josiah.  Mary.  1  )ra  .\nna  an<l 
Donald,  all  at  home. 

When  age  conferred  upon   .Mr.   Williams  the 
right  of  franchise  he  supiMirted   Horace  (ireeley 
for  the  presidency  but  since  that  time  has  ;i' 
voted    with   the   republican   party   and    is   .■ 
wart  champion  of  its  interests.     He  .served  his 
township  as  su|K-rvisor   for  four  years  and  has 
been  sch««>l  director  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
He  is  also  president  <>f  the  village  Imard,  having 
belli    office    for    two   years,    and    WiHwIland    has 
profited   by    his   lalmrs   in    its   liehalf,    for   in    tin- 
office   of  chief   executive  of   the   village   li 
lalwired  for  1  nil  substantial  ini|' 

He  holds  nil  '  willi  the  bine  lo<i 

sons  at  Watseka  and  liis  wife  is  connected  with 
the   ■  '  He  is  also  a  memlu-r 

of  ti  lainp,  the  Royal  Neigh- 

Ix^rs  and  the  I^yal  .\mericans,  ami  his  wife 
hoi'"  '  '1'  in  the  Christi.-m  church,  while 

his  ill    is   indicated   by    his   meinU-r- 

ship  in  the  .MetluHlist  MpiscofMl  church,  of  which 
he  -lee.      .Mr.    Williams    is   a    1  ■  ' 

reji'  .1-    of    an    honored    pionn 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


Decades  ago  when  this  district  was  a  wild  region 
of  swampy  land,  unclaimed  and  uncvdtivated,  his 
grandfather  came  to  this  section  of  the  state 
and  from  that  time  to  the  present  the  name  of 
Williams  has  been  closely  and  honorably  as- 
sociated with  the  work  of  progress  and  improve- 
ment here.  The  career  of  George  M.  Williams 
has  reflected  credit  and  honor  upon  the  un- 
tarnished family  name,  for  in  all  life's  relations 
he  has  shown  himself  a  manly  man,  actuated 
by  high  principles  in  all  of  his  business  and  so- 
cial relations. 


WILLL\M  GOOSEY. 


William  Goosey  is  the  owner  of  eighty  acres 
of  good  farming  land,  situated  on  section  6,  Shel- 
don township,  and  in  addition  to  this  property  he 
likewise  owns  forty  acres  on  section  36,  Concord 
township.  He  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire, 
England,  in  1850,  a  son  of  Leavett  Goosey,  who 
was  likewise  a  native  of  that  country,  and  on 
his  emigration  with  his  family  to  the  new  world 
established  his  home  in  Concord  township,  oper- 
ating rented  land,  for  six  years.  Prospering  in 
his  business  affairs,  he  at  length  accumulated  a 
sum  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  invest  in  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  36,  Concord  township. 
Of  this  tract  only  ten  acres  had  been  cleared  and 
there  was  not  an  improvement  upon  the  place  but 
the  father  aiWvated  the  land  and  in  due  time 
gathered  good  crops  as  a  reward  for  the  care  and 
labor  he  has  bestowed  upoij  the  soil.  He  is  now 
deceased,  his  death  having  occurred  in  Concord 
township,  August  21,   1881. 

William  Goosey  was  a  lad  of  ten  years  when 
he  accompanied  the  family  on  their  emigration 
from  England  to  the  United  States.  He  was 
educated  in  the  schools  near  his  father's  home 
and  aided  in  the  work  of  developing  and  improv- 
ing new  land,  giving  his  father  the  benefit  of  his 
services  until  he  had  attained  liis  majority,  when 
he  began  business  on  his  own  account,  engaging 
in  the  occupation  to  which  he  had  been  reared. 
As  he  prospered  in  his  labors,  he  was  in  due  time 
enabled  to  purchase  land,  in  1875  becoming  own- 
er of  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  which  was  owned 
bv   Joiner  nnil   Vennum.     This  land   was   iniini- 


proved  but  Mr.  Goosey  was  not  unfamiliar  with 
the  arduous  labor  required  in  the  development  of 
a  farm,  and  thus  with  energy  and  perseverance 
he  set  to  work  to  make  a  valuable  property.  He 
first  tiled  the  land,  built  fences,  and  in  due  course 
of  time  brought  the  fields  under  a  good  state 
of  cultivation.  He  likewise  erected  a  good  resi- 
dence, containing  seven  rooms,  built  a  barn  thirty 
bv  thirty-si.x  feet,  corn  cribs  and  other  outbuild- 
ings necessary  for  the  care  of  grain  and  stock. 
He  has  here  engaged  in  farming  to  the  present 
time,  in  addition  to  which  he  raises  good  grades 
of  cattle  as  well  as  Poland  China  hogs,  and  in 
both  branches  of  his  business  he  is  meeting  with 
gratifying  results. 

Mr.  Goosey  has  been  twice  married,  his  first 
union  being  with  ?\Iiss  Lillian  Clayton,  who  was 
a  native  of  England,  but  their  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  Michigan.  She  became  the  mother 
of  one  son,  Charles,  who  is  now  a  resident  of 
Chicago.  For  his  second  wife  J\Ir.  Goosey  chose 
Jane  Davis,  whom  he  wedded  in  Concord  town- 
ship. She  was  born  in  Dearborn  county.  Indi- 
ana, and  by  her  marriage  she  became  the  mother 
of  two  sons,  George  and  Frank. 

Since  coming  as  a  lad  to  the  United  States, 
INlr.  Goosey  has  resided  in  Iroquois  county,  cov- 
ering a  period  of  almost  a  half  century^  so  that  he 
is  familiar  with  the  events  which  have  shaped 
the  history  of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  he 
has  given  valuable  aid  in  the  development  of  its 
agricultural  interests.  He  is  a  democrat  in  his 
political  faith,  and  his  wife  holds  membership  in 
the  Presbvterian  church. 


BENJAMIN  P.  COWAN. 

Benjamin  P.  Cowan,  one  of  the  active  and 
prosperous  farmers  of  Prairie  Green  townshiji. 
also  having  farming  interests  in  South  Dakota, 
is  numbered  among  the  pioneer  sgttlers  of  Illi- 
nois, for  he  took  up  his  abode  within  the  borders 
of  the  state  in  1855,  at  which  time  he  established 
his  home  in  Grundy  county.  A  native  of  Eng- 
land, he  was  born  in  Lancashire,  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1837,  and  there  remained  tmtil  he  at- 
tained the  age  of  eighteen  years,  in  the  meantime 
acquiring  a  fair  education  in  the  public  schools. 


IR<^QlOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


207 


In  1855  he  emigrated  to  the  new  world  and  made 
his  way  at  once  to  Illinois,  settlintj  in  Grundy 
coimty.  He  had  previously  learned  the  carpen- 
ter's trade  and  in  this  state  he  was  identitkd  with 
builtling  operations  for  a  numl>er  of  years. 

.\lr.  Cowan  was  married  in  Morris,  (irundy 
county.  Illinois,  in  .Xu^ust.  iS<n.  to  Mary  .\. 
I'ride  and  unto  them  were  born  two  sons,  W.  11. 
and  i5cn  1'.  Mrs.  Cowan  was  a  native  of  Scot- 
land, where  she  was  reared  to  the  age  of  twelve 
years,  after  which  she  was  brought  to  the  I'nited 
States.  I'ollowing  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
Mr.  Cowan  was  married  alK>ut  twenty-.seven  years 
ago  in  Prairie  lireen  township,  this  county,  to 
Martha  J.  (aiest.  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  by 
this  union  there  are  four  suns  and  one  daughter. 

Following  his  first  marriage  Mr.  Cowan  rented 
land  in  Gnmdy  county  and  in  connection  with 
his  farming  ])ursuits  also  carried  on  carpentering. 
He  came  to  Iroc|uois  county  in  1870  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw 
land.  u|)on  which  he  erected  good  buildings,  while 
he  fenced  the  place  and  transformed  the  land 
into  priKluctive  fields,  lie  also  set  t)Ut  a  grove 
of  mai>le  trees  and  planted  much  fruit.  lie  like- 
wise tiled  the  land  and  added  much  to  its  value 
through  systematic  drainage.  There  is  now  no 
waste  land  on  the  place.  He  also  put  n()  a  g(jiid 
windmill  and  pump  and  carefully  su])erintended 
his  farming  ojKTations  in  this  county  until  1882. 
when  he  left  the  farm  and  with  his  wife  and  sons 
went  to  South  Dakota,  where  he  established  a 
tree  claim.  He  also  bought  land  there  for  him- 
self and  for  his  sons.  He  put  gof>d  buildings 
upon  the  farms  and  has  artesian  wells,  from 
which  he  has  an  unfailing  source  of  (lowing 
water.  The  water  is  i)i]ied  to  the  houses 
and  barns  an<l  is  thus  very  convenient  for 
the  uses  of  the  stock  as  well  as  for  do- 
mestic pnrjKises.  His  principal  crop  is  wheat 
and  he  and  iiis  sons  farni  alK)Ht  seven  hundred 
acres  of  land  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  wheat. 
fla.\  and  barley.  In  the  year  190^1  he  had  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  in  fla.x  and  secured  there- 
from a  g(M3d  yield.  He  lives  upon  a  place  of  two 
hundred  and  seventy  acres  in  Day  county.  South 
Dakota,  which  he  homesteaded  and  improved, 
and  he  also  owns  the  old  home  projierty  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  I'rairie  <  ireen  town- 
ship, carrying  on  his  farming  operations  with  the 


assistance  of  his  sons.  The  two  sons  of  his  first 
marriage  are  l>oth  married  and  live  in  Sot.  ii  Da- 
kota. The  children  of  the  second  marriage  are 
John,  who  is  a  druggist  at  (irafton,  .North  Da- 
kota ;  James,  also  living  in  South  Dakota ;  .\rchic, 
a  student  in  <  )narga  Seminary ;  Joe,  a  \ximg  man 
at  home;  and  Mary,  who  is  now  attending  col- 
lege at  Fargo.  North  Dakota. 

In  former  years  Mr.  Cowan  gave  stalwart  sup- 
port to  the  democracy  but  is  now  e(|ually  earnest 
in  his  a<lvt)cacy  of  rei>ublican  principles.  He  has 
ser\-ed  as  highway  commissioner  for  three  years 
and  has  been  a  memlnrr  of  the  sch«H)l  lioard. 
Community  interests  always  receive  his  endorse- 
ment and  supiiort  and  his  labors  have  been  of 
marked  benefit  to  the  locality  in  which  he  has 
lived.  He  liclongs  to  the  Maptist  church,  while 
his  wife  holds  membership  in  the  (."hristian 
church,  anil  both  are  highly  esleemecl  in  Iro«|uois 
county,  where  they  have  many  friends,  and  also 
in  .South  Dakota. 


THO.\l.\S   LEGCOTT 


.•\  valuable  farming  property  of  two  lumdred 
anil  forty  acres  on  section  30.  t'hebanse  township, 
yields  yearly  tribute  to  Mr.  Leggott.  who  for  a 
long  [H-riod  was  engaged  in  general  agricultural 
l)ursuits  uiHin  that  farm  but  is  nmv  living  in 
Clift<»n.  where  he  also  owns  five  acres  of  land. 
in  the  midst  of  which  stands  his  comfortable 
residence.  A  son  of  John  and  I'llizabcth  (Skclls) 
Leggott.  he  was  born  in  Luddington.  Lincoln- 
shire. Fngland.  December  7.  1826.  and  was  the 
fifth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten  children, 
namely :  J(jse|)h.  William.  Ino.  Henjamin.  Thom- 
as. George.  Mary.  Sarah,  Susan  ancl  Maria. 

Mr.  Leggott  spent  the  first  twenty-seven  years 
of  his  life  in  the  land  of  his  birth  and  is  indebted 
to  its  public-school  system  for  the  educational 
privileges  he  enjoyed.  Investigation  into  busi- 
ness conditions  in  .\inerica  led  him  to  .seek  a 
home  in  the  new  world  an<I  he  sailed  from  Liver- 
p<H>I  on  the  I4tli  of  .\pril.  1833.  landing  at  New 
^'ork  on  the  29th  of  May  following.  He  was 
employed  at  difTerent  ])laces  in  the  cast  for  a 
few  vears  and  finally  made  his  way  westward  to 
Illinois,  eventually  kx-ating  in  Clifton  on  March 


208 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


I,  1861.  Securing  land  in  Chebanse  township, 
he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits, 
in  which  he  was  very  successful,  as  his  present 
accumulation  of  property  indicates.  He  worked 
diligently  in  the  cultivation  and  development  of 
his  land,  brought  his  fields  under  a  high  state 
of  improvement  and  therefore  annually  harvested 
large  crops,  the  sales  of  which  added  materially 
to  his  income  and  in  the  course  of  years  made  it 
possible  for  him  to  put  aside  all  active  business 
cares  and  enjoy  life  in  comfort  and  ease. 

In  1858  Mr.  Liggott  was  married  to  Miss  Anna 
Orton.  and  unto  this  union  three  children  have 
been  born,  but  Lizzie  died  in  infancy  and  Henry 
has  also  passed  away.  The  surviving  son.  Oliver, 
is  a  resident  of  Clifton.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  1891  and  Mr.  Leggott  now  makes  his 
home  in  Clifton  with  his  brother  Benjamin.  In 
politics  he  is  an  independent  republican — that  is, 
he  endorses  the  principles  of  the  republican  party, 
but  at  local  elections  does  not  consider  himself 
bound  by  party  ties  and  casts  an  independent 
ballot.  He  contributes  to  the  support  of  churches 
and  to  all  worthy  movements  which  have  for  their 
object  the  welfare  and  upbuilding  of  the  com- 
munity, and  his  life  may  well  serve  as  a  source 
of  Inspiration  and  encouragement  to  others  who 
have  regard  for  the  true  value  of  character  and 
who  desire  to  win  honorable  success. 


CLASS  ANDERSON. 


Class  .\nderson  is  the  owner  of  a  line  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  situated  on  sec- 
tions II  and  12,  Beaver  township,  where  he  is 
engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  being 
numbered  among  the  practical  and  ])rogressive 
citizens  of  this  part  of  the  stale.  As  the  name 
indicates,  he  is  of  .Swedish  birth,  his  natal  day 
being  December  i.  1832.  His  parents,  John  and 
Rreta  (Lawson)  Anderson,  were  likewise  natives 
of  Sweden,  and  on  emigrating  to  the  new  world 
the  family  made  their  way  to  Yorktown.  Indiana, 
where  they  remained  for  one  year,  when  they 
removed  to  Iroquois  county,  where  the  father 
entered  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  Liml. 
on  sections  11  and  12,  Beaver  townsliiji,  the  year 
of  their  arrival  being  1853.     This  land  was  all 


wild  and  unimproved  but  the  father  at  once  de- 
veloped and  cultivated  the  land  and  he  built  a 
double  rail  pen.  which  furnished  shelter  for  him- 
self and  family  during  the  first  winter,  and 
which  was  subsequently  replaced  by  a  more  sub- 
stantial frame  dwelling.  In  the  family  of  this 
worthy  couple  were  four  sons  and  one  daughter 
but  the  only  surviving  member  is  Class,  whose 
name  introduces  this  record.  The  father  passed 
awav  in  this  county  in   1864. 

.Mr.  Anderson  was  reared  and  educated  in  the 
land  of  his  birth,  and  in  1852,  when  a  young 
man  of  twenty  years,  accompanied  his  parents 
on  their  emigration  to  the  new  world.  When 
he  arrived  in  this  country  he  had  but  fifteen  cents 
in  his  pocket,  but  he  was  an  ambitious  young 
man,  determined  in  his  purpose,  and  through 
hard  work  and  close  application  worked  his  way 
upward  until  he  was  enabled  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  On  arriving  in  the 
United  States  he  made  his  home  in  Lafayette, 
Indiana,  where  he  worked  on  the  construction 
of  the  railroad  which  was  being  built  between 
Lafavette  and  Indianapolis.  He  was  then  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Warren  county,  Indiana, 
for  three  years,  operating  rented  land.  He  then 
came  to  Iroquois  county  in  1836  and  rented  his 
present  home  farm,  comprising  one  hundred  and 
twentv  acres.  He  afterward  bought  the  interests 
of  the  other  heirs  in  his  father's  home  farm.  He 
has  made  all  of  the  improvements  which  are  here 
found,  has  laid  four  hundred  rods  of  tiling  and 
added  nianv  accessories  necessary  to  farm  prop- 
ert\-.  In  1884  he  erected  a  good  barn,  while 
in  1898  he  built  a  modern  country  residence,  con- 
taining eight  rooms  and  supplied  with  all  con- 
veniences and  comforts,  this  being  one  of  the 
nice  homes  of  the  locality. 

On  the  23d  of  October,  1856,  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  Mr.  .\nderson  was  united  in 
marriage  to  ^liss  Kngahurg  Nelson,  who  was 
likewise  liorn  in  Sweden,  and  on  the  23d  of  Oc- 
tober,  KjOf'),  they  celebrated  their  golden  wed- 
ding, at  which  time  all  of  their  children  and 
grandchildren  were  jirescnt,  together  with  about 
one  hundred  neighbors  and  friends.  Of  the  eight 
children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  three 
■ire  now  deceased,  namely:  Augusta  A.,  Cora 
M.  and  John  G.  Those  still  living  are :  Charles; 
I'rank ;  Emma  \'.,  who  resides  in  Clricago;  Jo-- 


MK.  AM)  MRS.  n.ASS  ANDKKSoN. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRoOUOIS  COUNTY.  ii.i.i.\mi> 


.M  t 


scphinc,  at  home:  aiul  Krnot,  wlm  is  attending 
collcfje  at  I-'vanston,  Illinois. 

Mr.  .Xiulcrson  jj'^t^*  I''*  ix'litical  si)|)|Mirt  to 
the  republican  |i.irty  and  has  scrvc<l  as  school 
director,  In-inp  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of 
education  and  providiii).;  his  children  with  )^immI 
ailvantages  in  that  tlirection.  lie  and  his  family 
all  hold  ineinlK-rship  in  the  Methi«li>t  K|)iscoi>al 
church,  in  the  work  of  which  he  takes  an  active 
and  helpful  part.  He  has  now  made  his  home 
in  Iro(|uois  county  for  more  than  four  decades 
and  is  therefore  widely  and  favorahlv  known  as 
one  of  the  substantial  and  leadinj;  citizens  of 
this  section  of  the  state. 


\VILLI.\M   T.   NOLl.V. 

\\  liliam  1".  Xolin,  a  native  son  of  InKpiois 
county  and  one  of  its  extensive  landowners,  his 
real-estate  possessions  aRgrepatinp  fen  hundred 
and  sixteen  acres,  of  which  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  are  in  \'an  I'.uren  county,  Iowa,  re- 
sides on  section  to,  Stockland  towiishii).  ami  il 
was  upon  this  place  that  he  was  Ixirn  June  17. 
i8fi6.  His  father,  i^amuel  K.  Xolin.  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ross  county,  Ohio,  and  a  son  of  Thomas 
N'olin,  who  was  Inrn  in  the  I'uckcye  state.  The 
great-^nind father  of  our  subject  was  Richard 
Nolin.  a  native  of  NMrginia.  who  removed  from 
the  Old  Dominion  to  Kentucky  and  t1eil  from  the 
Indians  to  Ross  county,  <  )hio.  In  1831  his  son. 
ThoiTtas  Xolin.  removed  from  Ohio  to  Fountain 
county.  Indiana,  and  four  years  later  became  a 
resident  of  Uenton  county,  Indiana  where  his 
children  were  reared.     He  died  in  1840. 

Samuel  K.  Xolin  was  one  of  eijiht  children  and 
the  year  1849  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Illinois. 
He  .settled  in  Stockland  township,  where  Ik-  lo- 
cated four  hmidred  acres  of  governmeni  land. 
Not  a  furrow  had  lieen  turned  or  an  imj)rovement 
made  u|x)n  the  place  and  thus  the  arduous  task  of 
developing  new  land  devolved  upon  him.  .\s  the 
years  passed  he  prospered  in  his  undertakings 
and  added  to  his  property  from  time  to  time 
until  he  Ijccame  the  Viwner  of  fotirteen  hun»lred 
acres,  of  which  three  Inindretl  and  sixty  lay  in 
Rcnton  ctHinty.  Indiana,  and  the  remainder  in 
Illinois.     .Samuel   Xolan  thus  in  his  life  demon- 


strated his  exrelleni  business  ca|>acity  antl  marked 
energ\.  He  won  his  success  b\  careful  iiu  -■ 
ment  and  by  untiring  efTort,  his  pathway  i  ■  \  t 
l>eing  strewn  with  the  wrecks  of  other  men's 
fortunes.  He  was  twice  married,  having  in  185,^ 
wedded  Miss  Rachel  I")aw,son,  a  <hiighter  of 
Elisha  and  FV>Ily  Dawson.  Her  death  occurred 
in  1854  and  in  .\ugust,  1857,  Mr  .Xolin  was 
unitctl  in  marriage  to  Miss  Clarissa  Cf>lTelt.  They 
became  the  parents  of  four  children  but  the  sec- 
r>nd  died  in  inf.'iucy.  Those  still  living  are  :  Mrs. 
Mary  X'oliva ;  William,  of  this  review;  and  .Mrs. 
Matilda  J.  Xickel.  The  wife  and  mother  dieil 
in  January.  1800.  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years, 
and  .Mr.  Xolin,  long  surviving  her,  passe<l  away 
in  1902.  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one  years. 

William  T.  Xolin  was  reare<l  upon  his  father's 
fann  and  his  educational  advant;iges  were  those 
afrnrde<l  by  the  district  schools.  When  not  busy 
with  his  text-l)ooks  he  worked  in  the  tiel<ls  and 
when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years  he  began 
working  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand.  He  was 
thus  employed  for  three  years,  after  which  he 
rentid  land  and  engaged  in  fanning  on  his  own 
p.ccornt  near  Moopeston  for  four  years.  On  the 
expiration  of  that  perio<I  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  his  father  and  the  relation  was  con- 
tinued for  nine  years.  Inheriting  the  old  home- 
stead of  three  hundred  and  thirty-six  acres,  and 
purchasing  four  hundred  acres  in  Milford  town- 
ship, he  now  owns  seven  hun<Ired  and  thirty-six 
acres  of  valuable  land  in  Inx^uois  county.  With 
his  farming  he  raises  goo<l  stixk  of  all  kin<ls. 
having  thoroughbred  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  Per- 
cheron  and  Shire  horses  and  registered  Hereford 
cattle.  He  also  breeds,  raises  and  deals  in  regis- 
tcreil  .^Shropshire  sheep,  and  at  the  present  writ- 
ing has  sixty-five  head  of  registered  Hereford 
cattle  in  his  herd.  He  has  large  and  substantial 
buildings  ujion  his  place,  including  two  good 
barns  on  the  home  farm  and  goml  buildings  an'l 
tenant  houses  on  his  other  farms.  He  has  marie 
steady  and  consecutive  progress  in  his  business 
life,  working  persistently  al<ing  lines  of  labor  that 
always  accomplish  desired   results. 

In  January,  i88g,  Mr.  Xolin  was  married  to 
Miss  HuliLi  v..  Peters«>n,  a  native  of  Sweden,  who 
was  an  orphan  and  had  made  her  Ivime  with  Jessv 
Sumner  for  ten  years,  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Xolin  are 
now  the  parents  of  seven  children  :    Garissa,  w  ho 


212 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  (3E 


is  attending-  school  in  Hoopcston  :  Grace  AL,  Rul)y 
E..  Samuel  K..  John  M..  Lester  W.  and  Ruth 
Edith,  all  attending  school  with  the  exception  of 
Ruth  Edith. 

Mr.  and  Airs,  \olin  hold  nienibershi])  in  the 
Alethodist  Episcopal  church  at  Stockland.  in 
which  Air.  Xolin  is  a  trustee,  and  fraternally  he 
is  connected  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Alil- 
ford.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
democracy  and  he  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day  as  every  true 
American  citizen  should  do.  He  was  elected  and 
served  as  supervisor  for  one  term.  At  local  elec- 
tions he  casts  an  independent  ballot  and  he 
stands  for  reform,  progress  and  improvement  in 
citizenship  as  well  as  in  other  relations  of  life. 
In  his  farm  work  he  has  made  steady  advance- 
ment, and  he  heartily  believes  in  raising  high 
grade  stock  and  in  utilizing  the  improved  methods 
of  farming,  realizing  that  the  best  results  are 
thereby  obtained.  He  has  a  reputation  for  busi- 
ness integrity  and  activity  that  is  most  commend- 
able and  therein  lies  the  secret  of  his  success. 


JOHN  PAUL  I'ALLISSARD. 

John  Paul  Pallissard,  state's  attorney  of  Iro- 
quois county  and  a  resident  of  Watseka,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Aroma,  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
January  3,  1871.  He  is  a  son  of  Jean  Cecile 
Edward  Pallissard,  a  native  of  France,  who, 
when  a  young  man,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  the 
early  '50s  with  his  father.  Paulin  Xarcisse  Pal- 
lissard. who  became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
that  town.  The  grandfather  had  selected  land 
in  central  Illinois,  upon  which  he  settled  and 
which  is  still  in  possession  of  the  familv.  The 
mother  of  our  subject,  Herminie  ( Lemoine ) 
Pallissard.  is  a  native  of  Canada  and  a  daughter 
of  John  l'>.  r_.  Lemoine,  a  man  well  known 
among  the  early  settlers  from  Canada. 

John  Paul  Pallissard  of  this  review  was  reared 
ujjon  his  father's  farm  and  continued  to  follow 
the  vocation  of  farming  with  intermissions  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-five.  His  early 
education  was  received  in  the  district  school  on 
his  father's  farm,  and  he  afterward  attended  the 
]nil)lic  schools  at  Kankakee,  St.  \"iateurs  College, 


and  the  Xorthern  Indiana  Normal  School  at 
X'alparaiso.  He  pursued  his  studies  in  those 
different  institutions  in  the  winter  months  and 
in  the  summer  seasons  his  time  and  energies 
were  de\oted  to  the  work  of  the  fields.  Aluch 
of  his  education,  however,  was  obtained  by  study 
while  he  was  following  the  plow.  In  1891  he 
was  .granted  a  license  to  teach  school,  and  fol- 
lowed that  profession  for  some  time,  at  finst  de- 
voting only  the  winter  months  to  it,  while  after- 
ward he  .gave  his  entire  time  to  educational  ser- 
vice for  five  years.  During  the  latter  part  of  the 
time  he  took  up  the  study  of  law  under  the  di- 
rection of  W.  G.  Brooks,  at  St.  Anne,  and  subse- 
quently matriculated  in  the  Bloomington  Law 
School,  from  which  he  won  the  degree  of  L.  L. 
B.  in  June,  1898.  He  then  entered  the  law  office 
of  I^aniel  H.  Paddock  and  Bert  L.  Cooper,  at 
Kankakee,  remaining  with  them  for  some  time. 

Air.  Pallissard  was  instrumental  in  establish- 
ing the  First  National  Bank  at  St.  Anne,  and 
became  its  first  cashier,  remaining  with  that  in- 
stitution for  two  years  but  in  1900  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  and  preferring  the  practice  of 
law  as  a  life  work,  he  removed  to  Watseka  in 
1901  and  has  since  prosecuted  his  profession  here. 
In  the  fall  of  1904  he  was  elected  state's  attorney 
by  the  people  of  Iroquois  county  and  has  since 
occupied  that  position.  He  has  much  natural 
ability  but  withal  is  a  hard  student  and  is  never 
contented  until  he  has  mastered  every  detail  of 
his  cases.  He  believes  in  the  maxim  "there  is  no 
excellence  without  lalior"  and  follows  it  closely. 
He  is  seldom  surprised  at  an  unexpected  dis- 
covery by  an  opposing  law'yer  for  in  his  mind  he 
wei,ghs  every  point  and  fortifies  himself  as  well 
for  defense  as  for  attack.  He  convinces  by  his 
concise  statement  of  law  and  facts  rather  than 
I)y  word-painting  and  the  profession  as  well  as 
the   ])ublic   acknowledge   his   ability. 

Mr.  Pallissard  was  united  in  marriage,  in  1897, 
to  .Miss  1  .ida  1  )tn-and,  of  St.  Anne.  Illinois,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  two  daughters:  .An- 
nette, who  was  born  February  5,  1900;  and 
Rosclla,  Ixirn  September  30,  1902.  Mr.  Pal- 
lissard has  taken  considerable  interest  in  social 
matters,  being  a  member  of  several  fraternal  or- 
ganizations and  of  the  Iroquois  Club  as  well.  In 
])olitics  he  is  a  re])ublican,  having  been  more  or 
less  active  in  political  circles  since  attaining  his 


IRUQUUIS  COUNTY.  II.MV.  .i> 


213 


majority.  He  is  a  great  iKlicvcr  in  oinmoii 
[x?o|)lc  with  whose  cause  he  has  been  assitciatc<l 
all  his  life  and  is  known  as  a  sturdy  opixtnent  of 
monopoly  and  of  misrule  in  municipal  affairs. 


U".   R.  K»  »1;1".K1S,   .\1.  1). 

Dr.  \V.  R.  RolK-rts.  engagetl  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  surgery  at  (."issna  I 'ark.  is  one  of 
the  i)romii)ent  representatives  f)f  the  meilical  fra- 
ternity in  this  iKirt  of  IrcKpiois  county,  where 
he  has  practiced  continuously  for  about  ten  years. 
.\  native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  .McLean 
county,  January  3.  1873.  His  father.  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Roljcrts.  was  one  of  the  pioneer  physicians 
of  that  county  but  for  some  yc-ars  has  lived  re- 
tired at  Corpus  Christi,  Texas. 

Dr.  Roberts  of  this  review  was  reared  to  man- 
hood in  the  state  of  his  nativity  and  at  the  usual 
age  began  his  education,  passing  through  suc- 
cessive grades  until  he  had  completed  a  high- 
school  course.  He  then  took  u|)  the  study  of 
medicine  and  pursued  his  first  course  of  lectures 
in  the  Kentucky  Schrx)l  of  Medicine  at  Louis- 
ville, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1894.  He  then  located  for  practice  in  Got)dland, 
Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  two  years,  and 
in  !><</)  came  to  Iroquois  comity,  settling  at 
Woodworth.  where  he  resumed  practice  and  so 
continued  for  four  years.  In  n^oo  he  took  up 
his  ai)ode  at  Cissna  Park,  becoming  the  successor 
of  Dr.  McCIintock,  and  during  the  intervening 
years  he  has  made  steady  and  gratifying  prog- 
ress in  his  professional  career.  He  has  now  an 
extensive  patronage  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  skilled  and  capable  members  of  the  medical 
profession  in  this  county,  fur  his  ability  has  been 
demonstrated  in  the  excellent  results  that  have 
followed  his  professional  service. 

Dr.  Roberts  was  married  in  Woodwfirth,  on 
the  28th  of  February.  1897.  to  Miss  Jennie  Leath- 
eniian.  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Leathcrman.  of 
Irfx|uois  county,  and  their  home  is  now  blessed 
with  the  presence  of  four  children,  Paul.  I'arl. 
Joseph  aufi   Rhoda. 

In  public  life  and  local  political  circles  the 
Doctor  has  exerted  a  wide-felt  influence.  He  is 
a    demrKrat.    yet    without    aspiration    for    office. 


As  a  publie-spiriiid  citizen,  however,  he  has  re- 
s|Hinded  to  the  call  of  his  fellow  townsmen  who 
have  Sought  his  services  in  public  life  and  he  is 
now  acting  on  the  village  board,  lie  and  other 
members  of  the  Ixord  are  working  harmoniously 
and  effi-ctively  for  the  iK'tlermenl  of  llie  town. 
In  1906  they  made  arrangements  to  entertain 
the  old  Settlers  at  Cissna  Park  and  made  prepa- 
rations to  care  n<it  only  for  the  old  settlers  but 
for  all  who  visited  here  on  that  occasion.  Dr. 
Roberts  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  the  work 
of  making  this  meeting  a  success  and  all  pro- 
claimed it  to  be  the  most  enjoyable  ever  held  in 
the  county.  The  Doctor  is  also  interested  in  the 
cause  of  education,  serving  now  as  a  memlK-r  of 
the  .school  Ixjard  an«l  doing  everything  in  his 
power  to  ]>rom(rte  the  interests  of  public  in- 
struction and  to  arlvance  the  standard  of  the 
schools.  He  has  filletl  all  of  the  offices  in  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  to  which  he  belongs 
and  is  a  past  chancellor.  He  is  also  connected 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .\merica  and  is 
cam])  physician.  Thus  in  community  interests 
he  takes  an  active  and  heljiful  jtart.  He  is,  more- 
over, well  known  to  the  me<lical  profession  in 
Ford,  \'eniiilion  and  Inxiuois  counties  and  is 
accfirdcd  a  place  of  prfuninence  in  its  ranks  by 
rea,son  of  his  knowledge  and  his  conscientious 
discharge  of  the  duties  that  devolve  u])on  him  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession. 


FRF.EM.W  P.  MORRI.^. 

I>eeman  P.  .Morris,  lawyer  and  law-maker, 
whose  connection  with  the  legal  profession  has 
won  him  distinction,  while  his  services  in  the 
state  legislature  have  reflected  honor  upon  the 
community  that  has  honoreii  him.  is  leading  a 
life  of  signal  activity  and  usefulness.  He  wa- 
born  in  (.ook  county,  Illinois,  March  if).  1854. 
His  father.  Charles  Morris,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania. an<l.  reuMiving  westward.  located  on  a 
farm  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  at  an  early  perifKl 
in  the  development  of  that  portimi  of  the  state. 
There  he  ma<le  his  home  until  his  death.  His 
wife,  who  lK>re  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Thom- 
as, was  also  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  a' 
(laughter   of    I'reeman   Thomas,   who   discovered 


214 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  value  of  anthracite  coal  and  operated  the  first 
coal  mine.  He  left  the  Avondale  and  Grand  Tun- 
nel inines  to  his  children  and  their  descendants. 
The  family  of  Charles  ^Morris  numhered  five 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living. 

Mr.  Morris  of  this  review  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Cook  county,  and  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion was  supplemented  by  study  in  Cook  Counts- 
Normal,  the  old  Chicago  University  and  the  Chi- 
cago Northwestern  Law  School.  Thus  having 
prepared  for  the  bar,  he  was  admitted  to  prac- 
tice in  1874  and  came  to  Watseka,  where  he 
opened  a  law  office,  practicing  alone  for  a  time. 
He  then  formed  a  partnership  witli  Robert  Do\ie, 
which  connection  continued  for  about  ten  vears. 
and  for  the  past  fifteen  years  he  has  been  a  part- 
ner of  Judge  Hooper,  practicing  law  in  Iroquois 
county  and  elsewhere  and  being  connected  with 
nearly  all  of  the  noted  cases  of  this  section  of  the 
state.  For  many  years  he  has  been  attorney  for  va- 
rious important  business  interests  and  counsel  for 
the  various  railroads  of  the  county.  His  knowl- 
edge of  the  principles  of  jurisprudence  are  broad, 
comprehensive  and  accurate,  and  as  advocate  and 
counselor  he  has  won  distinction,  the  utmost  con- 
fidence being  placed  in  his  legal  abi!it\- — a  confi- 
dence of  which  he  has  shown  himself  worthy  in 
the  successful  conduct  of  the  litigated  interests 
entrusted  to  his  care. 

Mr.  Morris  has  gained  equal  distinction  in  pub- 
lic life,  where  he  has  figured  prominently  in  con- 
nection with  democratic  interests.  He  has  repre- 
sented his  district  in  the  state  legislature  six 
times,  his  work  there  becoming  a  matter  of  his- 
torical record.  That  he  has  embodied  the  views 
of  the  county  at  large  in  his  legislative  work  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  he  has  so  often  been  re- 
elected, and  as  a  member  of  the  general  assem- 
bly he  has  commanded  the  respect  and  honor  of 
his  political  opponents  by  reason  of  his  fidelity 
to  duty  and  the  spirit  of  unselfish  patriotism 
which  he  has  manifested.  He  has  also  been 
mayor  of  Watseka  and  president  of  the  library 
for  ten  years.  He  is  strongly  opposed  to  misrule 
in  nnmicipal  affairs  and  to  the  machine  ])oIitics 
which  serves  the  purposes  of  the  individual  or 
works  to  the  detriment  of  the  people  at  large. 
On  the  contrary  he  is  interested  in  all  those  plans 
and  purposes  which  are  a  matter  of  civic  virtue 
and  of  civic  pride,  and  his  labors  have  been  di- 


rectly beneficial  to  his  city  and  county  in  many 
ways. 

Mr.  Morris  was  married  in  Colorado,  in  1882, 
to  Miss  Minnie  A.  Lott,  who  was  born  in  La 
Salle  county.  Illinois,  and  they  have  one  son, 
Eugene,  who  is  now  a  student  in  a  law  school  in 
Chicago.  In  addition  to  the  home  property  Mr. 
Morris  owns  farm  lands  in  Iroquois  county  and 
realty  in  Chicago.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Masons  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Carlisle  wrote  that  "history  is  the  essence  of  in- 
numerable biographies"  and  it  is  therefore  fitting 
that  the  sketches  of  the  distinguished  citizens  of 
the  county  should  find  a  place  in  this  volume, 
in  which  connection  Mr.  Morris,  by  the  consen- 
sus of  public  opinion,  is  rated.  He  stands  today 
as  a  high  type  of  our  American  manhood,  who 
has  won  success  in  a  useful  field  of  business  and 
gained  the  respect  and  honor  of  his  fellowmen 
by    his   public   service   and   private   life. 


WILLIAM  S.  HTSLOP. 

^^'illiam  S.  Hislop,  a  representative  of  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Ash  Grove  township,  his 
home  being  on  section  10,  where  he  owns  and 
cultivates  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
was  born  in  Milford  township,  this  county,  Jan- 
uary 30.  1865,  His  father,  Ninian  Hislop.  was 
a  native  of  Scotland,  having  been  born  at  Rox- 
bury,  on  the  boundary  line  between  England  and 
Scotland.  There  he  was  reared,  residing  in 
Great  Britain  imtil  1842,  when  he  took  passage 
at  Liverpool  on  a  westward  bound  vessel  which 
sailed  for  Quebec.  Landing  there,  he  made  his 
way  at  once  into  the  middle  Mississippi  valley 
and  settled  in  Milford  township,  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  in  1859.  Much  of  the  land  was  at  that 
time  still  uncultivated  and  Mr.  Hislop  opened 
up  a  new  farm,  which  he  operated  for  a  number 
of  years,  or  until  1889.  In  1878  he  removed  to 
Ash  Grove  township  and  established  his  home  on 
the  farm  where  his  son  William  now  resides. 
There  he  tilled  the  soil  and  produced  his  crops 
for  a  number  of  years,  when  he  retired  from 
active  business  life  and  is  now  making  his  home 
with  a  son  in  Milford  township,  enjoying  in  well 
earned  retirement  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 


WILLIAM.  S.  HISLOr. 


IROorolS  COUNTY.  M.F.IVols 


William  S.  Hi'-li'i)  lar^cl\  s\K-\n  lii>  >> '11111  upon 
tlu-  I'anu  which  is  \ct  liis  ])laci-  i>l  ri->iili-iicc  ami 
in  thf  coinnuM)  sch<K>ls  of  the  nciKlil>orh(Mj<l  he 
mastcrcil  the  hraiichis  of  leamiiin.  which  arc 
iisiiall\  tauj^ht  in  such  institutions.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  he  iiad  reached  his  majority 
and  afterwanl  workol  for  him  as  a  farm  hand 
for  al«>nt  two  veirs.  t  >n  tiie  expiration  of  that 
l)eritKl  he  iKUijjht  a  half  interest  in  one  lumdre<l 
and  sixty  acres  nf  laiul.  making  a  payment  there- 
on <)f  one  hiuidred  and  tifty  dollars,  lie  reso- 
lutely set  to  work  to  remove  all  inilebti"<lness  and 
has  since  purchaseil  eighty  acres  in  another  tract, 
which  he  now  rents,  lie  has  heen  a  j;<kxI  busi- 
ness man.  careful  in  his  mana.t;enient.  sagacious 
in  his  investments,  and  contmllini.;  his  interests 
witit  an  ability  that  has  hrnufiht  him  }.jralifyinjj 
prosperity.  Purchasinp  the  interest  of  the  other 
lieirs  in  the  old  home  jilace,  he  nnw  has  the  en- 
tire pro|KTty  and  has  expended  larj^e  sums  in 
its  im|)rovenient  and  development.  He  has  put 
in  one  thousand  dollars  worth  of  tile,  has  built 
a  jjihhI  barn  and  cribs  and  has  kept  up  the  place 
in  accordance  with  ideas  of  miKlcrn  pro^jrcss  as 
is  indicated  in  its  well  ke|)l  ajjpcarance  and  its 
productive  fields. 

.Mr.  Ilislop  was  married  in  .\sh  (irove  town- 
shi])  iin  the  t>tli  of  December.  |S<).V  to  Miss  Dora 
.\.  Hickmun.  a  daui;;hter  of  [•..  (i.  Hickman,  one 
of  tl'.e  extensive  lan<lowners  of  .\sh  <  irove  town- 
.shi|).  They  now  have  four  children.  Jessie,  Lil- 
lia  I).,  Kdith  and  .\rthur  W. 

.Mr.  Hilsop  votes  with  the  republican  jiarty 
and  has  <lone  efTective  an<l  valuable  service  for 
the  County  durinfj  two  terms  in  tl'.e  "office  of 
drainage  commissioner.  He  helped  to  put  in 
some  of  the  big  ditches  (if  the  county,  one  being 
tnade  at  a  cost  of  ten  thousand  ilollars.  He  has 
served  on  the  school  board  and  is  a  stalwart 
champion  of  the  cause  of  education.  He  liL-lieves 
in  the  employment  of  gond  teachers,  rcilizing 
that  there  is  no  prqjaration  so  valuable  in  the 
prosecution  of  responsible  duties  as  intellectual 
training.  In  seeking  for  the  causis  which  have 
contributed  to  his  success  ard  led  to  his  present 
prMUunence  in  the  community  we  find  that  they 
are  not  unusual  and  that  they  are  such  as  an\ 
man  might  cultivate.  He  has  displayed  stalwart 
principles  and  unremitting  diligence,  has  been 
watchfii'    "''   •'"    Sii.li.- It!.  .11-    |iointing   '■■   -nti-.-- 


and  iia»  miii/tii  iiis  i'pp<'niini!:c-.  t'>  the  In-st  ad- 
vantage. His  life  has  been  une\enlful  as  far  as 
startling  incidents  or  adventure  is  concerned  yet 
it  has  beei\  il  -iied  l)y  the  most  sultstantial 

qualities  >i|   > 


IIKNKV  L.  DIXKKK. 


Henry  C".  Decker,  uperating  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  of  which  he  is  the 
owner  of  eighty  acres,  which  is  the  old  Deiker 
homestead,  situati-d  on  section  S,  I'rairie  tirnn 
township,  was  l>orn  in  .Milford  township,  Iro- 
<|iiois  county,  December  7,  1S5-.  ;i  sfm  of  Chris- 
ley  Decker,  who  was  born  in  I'age  county,  \'ir- 
ginia,  in  iSi_v  He  was  there  reared  and  mar- 
ried to  .Miss  .Mary  .\nn  Ri>>enlKTger,  who  was 
likewise  a  native  nf  the  t  Md  Domininn.  The  fa- 
ther removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois  about 
184S,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Lovejoy  township, 
InKpiois  County,  where  he  spent  one  winter,  after 
which  he  removed  to  a  farm  in  .Milford  township, 
where  he  purchased  land,  which  he  s<jld  in 
i8<>3,  and  |)urchased  the  farm  in  I'rairie  (ireen 
township,  on  which  the  son  now  makes  his  home. 
His  first  purchase  comprised  a  tract  of  eighty 
acres,  which  he  cultivated  anil  improved  anil  to 
which  he  added  an  additional  tract  of  forty  acres, 
thus  making  altogether  a  tract  of  one  luwulred 
and  tweiny  acres.  He  built  a  goinl  residence, 
a  barn  and  other  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  slock,  and  here  carried  on  general 
agricultural  pursuits  throughout  his  remaining 
days.  His  death  here  occurre<l  in  March.  1881. 
while  bis  widow  still  survives  and  has  now 
reached  the  venerable  age  of  eight) -nine  >ears. 
being  one  of  the  highly  rcs|K'cted  pioneer  women 
of  lro(|uois  County. 

H.  (.".  IX'cker,  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  ten 
children  of  whom  five  are  now  living,  was 
brought  to  this  farm  by  his  ]>arents  when  a  lad 
of  six  years  and  was  here  riared  and  eilucated 
in  the  district  .schools  near  the  home.  He  spent 
bis  bo\Ii 1  ami  youth  in  nuich  the  usual  m  in- 
ner of  frirui  lads.  I)eing  assigned  to  the  various 
tasks  of  the  fields  as  his  age  and  strength  per- 
mittnl.  an<l  he  remained  on  the  home  farm  innil 

hi-    'jri'U     til    tii.'iiilii  M  mI,    wllin    lir    siiiiiiil    iiiin'.n- 


2l8 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ment  at  farm  labor  for  others,  working  in  that 
way  for  two  years,  subsequent  to  which  time  he 
returned  to  the  home  farm  and  worked  with  his 
father  for  one  year,  or  until  the  latter's  death, 
when  he  purchased  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs 
in  the  homestead  property  and  succeeded  to  the 
ownership,  and  here  he  has  since  continued  to 
make  his  home.  Since  taking  possession  of  the 
property  he  has  tiled  the  land  and  further  im- 
proved the  property,  which  is  today  a  valuable 
farm.  He  has  also  installed  a  stock  scale  and 
built  a  feed  mill,  and  in  connection  with  his  farm- 
ing interests  raises  and  feeds  stock  for  the  mar- 
ket, including  good  grades  of  horses,  cattle  and 
hogs.  In  1904  Air.  Decker  purchased  a  thresh- 
ing machine  and  a  corn  sheller  and  in  connection 
with  his  eldest  son,  Merle,  he  is  carrying  on  op- 
erations along  this  line,  and  they  have  a  large 
patronage  not  only  in  their  immediate  locality  but 
throughout  a  large  portion  of  the  county,  and 
during  the  threshing  season  are  kept  very  busy. 
They  have  already  shelled  about  one  hundred 
thousand  bushels  of  corn  and  are  meeting  with 
gratifying  success  in  this  new  venture. 

Mr.  Decker  was  married  in  Watseka.  Illinois 
June  23,  1881,  to  ]\Iiss  Emma  T.  Fidler,  who 
was  born  in  Indiana,  but  was  reared  and  edu- 
cated in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  a  daughter  of 
Andrew  Fidler.  Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife 
have  been  born  four  children,  of  whom  one  is 
deceased:  Henry  Guy,  who  died  when  in  his 
sixth  year;  Merle  F.,  who  is  a  young  man  at 
home  and  assists  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
home  farm  and  also  in  operating  the  thresher 
and  corn  sheller ;  ]\Iusette,  who  has  been  afforded 
liberal  educational  advantages  and  was  formerly 
a  teacher  in  the  schools  of  Iroquois  county  but 
is  now  a  student  in  the  Gem  City  Business  Col- 
lege, at  Quincy,  Illinois;  and  Ivan  J.,  who  is  also 
a  student  in  that  institution. 

Politically  Mr.  Decker  is  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican and  has  taken  an  active  and  helpful  interest 
in  local  affairs,  having  served  as  township  school 
trustee  for  two  years,  township  clerk  for  two 
years  and  for  the  same  period  was  tax  collector, 
while  for  six  years  he  has  been  clerk  of  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Christian  church  in  which  Mr.  Decker 
is  acting  as  a  deacon,  clerk  and  treasurer.  Hav- 
ing  resided    in    Iroquois   count\-   throughout   his 


entire  life,  Mr.  Decker  is  familiar  with  much  of 
the  development  and  progress  that  have  been 
made  in  this  section  during  the  last  half  century, 
and  he  has  been  an  active  factor  in  making  the 
countv  what  it  is  todav. 


JEREMIAH  DAWSOX. 

Jeremiah  Dawson,  who  for  a  long  period  was 
prominently  known  in  Iroquois  county  as  an  ag- 
riculturist and  breeder  of  Xorman  Percheron 
horses  and  shorthorn  cattle,  is  now  living  re- 
tired in  Milford,  where  he  has  made  his  home 
since  1900.  His  residence  in  Iroquois  county, 
however,  covers  a  period  of  more  than  a  half 
century,  for  it  was  in  ]\Iarch,  1851,  that  he  took 
up  his  abode  within  its  borders.  His  memorv, 
therefore,  compasses  the  period  of  its  earlv  pio- 
neer development,  for  at  the  time  of  his  arrival 
the  work  of  improvement  had  been  carried  for- 
ward to  only  a  slight  degree  and  much  of  the  land 
was  still  uncultivated,  the  swamps  undrained  and 
the  timber  uncut.  }ilr.  Dawson  aided  in  the  task 
of  reclaiming  the  wild  land  for  the  uses  of  civili- 
zation and  deserves  prominent  mention  among 
the  honored  pioneers  and  successful  agricultur- 
ists and  stock-raisers. 

A  native  of  ^^'arren  county,  Indiana,  he  was 
born  January  16.  1836.  His  father,  Elisha  Daw- 
son, was  likewise  a  native  of  that  state,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Dearborn  county,  W'here  he 
spent  a  portion  of  his  youth,  while  the  remain- 
der of  his  minority  was  passed  in  Warren  coun- 
ty, following  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  was 
married  in  the  latter  county  to  Polly  R.  Davis, 
a  native  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  subse- 
quently he  carried  on  general  agricultural  pur- 
suits in  Warren  county  for  a  number  of  years, 
or  until  his  removal  to  Iroquois  county  with  his 
family  in  1851.  He  died  in  this  county  at  the 
advanced  age  of  eighty-one  years,  and  his  widow 
is  still  living  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety-four 
years,  being  the  oldest  lady  in  Iroquois  county. 

Jeremiah  Dawson  was  one  of  a  family  of  twelve 
children  and  was  reared  under  the  parental  roof, 
largely  acquiring  liis  education  in  the  common 
schools  of  Indiana,  in  which  state  he  remained 
until  sixteen  vears  of  age.  when  the  familv  came 


IROQl-olS  COUNTY.  HI 


Ml) 


to  IlliiH>is.  Merc  he  assisted  in  the  arduous  task 
of   developing   and   improving   new    land. 

(  )n  the  1st  of  Si-ptenilKT,  lS5<^  occurred  llie 
niarriaj;c  of  Mr.  Dawson  ami  Miss  Mary  M.  Cof- 
filt.  also  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Indiana,  and 
a  dau>;hter  of  .Michael  Coffelt.  who  removed  from 
the  Hoosier  state  to  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
l-'ullowiiifj  his  marriage  .Mr.  I>aw.son  purchased 
forty  acres  of  land  and  later  IxuiRhl  forty  acres 
more  which  he  be^jan  to  farm  and  improve.  He 
encted  a  j;oo<l  two-stopi  resilience  and  also  vari- 
ous o\itl)uilclin|.;s  for  the  shelter  of  jjrain  and 
stock.  He  tiled  and  ditched  his  place  and  broupht 
the  entire  farm  under  a  goixl  state  of  cultivation, 
while  eventually  he  extended  its  bttundaries  by 
the  purchase  of  an  adjoininj^  eighty  acres  until 
he  had  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  his  home 
farm  anil  three  hundred  and  three  acres  in  Con- 
cord township,  Iroquois  county,  holding  that 
property  for  some  years.  He  later  .sold  that  and 
purchased  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Daviess 
county,  Missouri.  He  was  a  breeder  of  pure 
blooded  Norman  horses  for  many  years  and  also 
full  blotxled  shorthorn  cattle  an<l  his  stock-rais- 
ing interests  constitute  an  important  branch  of 
his  business. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  were  born  five 
children,  but  they  lost  their  second  born,  Eva,  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  months.  Edgar  .\.,  the  eldest. 
a  resident  farmer  of  Daviess  county.  .Missouri, 
married  Savannah  Jones,  who  died,  leaving  two 
children.  Homer  LeKoy  and  Ciwyneth.  The  lat- 
ter wediled  .Mellie  .\lexander.  of  Newton  countv. 
Indiana.  Emma  J.,  the  eldest  living  ilaughter.  i> 
the  wife  of  John  English,  and  they  have  one 
daughter.  Loie  Edith,  who  is  with  !hem  at  their 
home  in  Daviess  county.  Missouri.  Ira  I).,  a  res- 
ident farmer  of  Iro<|iiais  county,  marrii-d  Mattie 
Laird,  and  they  have  four  children.  C'lyde  I'., 
Clarence,  N'elta  May  and  Ira  Lee.  and  they  also 
lost  their  second  child.  Daisy  .\.  Ivan  l-'ranklyn 
Dawson,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  al-o  a 
farmer  of  Iroquois  county,  who  wedded  Emma  E. 
Love,  and  they  have  one  sim.   Floyd  \V. 

On  removing  to  .Milford  in  nx)0  Mr.  Daw.son 
purchased  a  good  piece  of  ground,  on  which  he 
erected  an  attractive  and  comfortable  residence. 
where  he  antl  his  wife  reside.  He  has  always 
given  his  political  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party  since  he  proudly  cast  his  first  vote  for  .\bra- 

12 


ham  Lincoln  and  for  four  years,  from  1861  until 
l8t)5.  he  was  constable.  t)therwise  be  has  nci-'rr 
.sought  nor  desired  office,  yet  the  duties  of  cit.. 
ship  are  always  faithfully  perfornn-d  by  him  and 
he  has  co-operated  in  many  movements  which 
have  had  direct  Ix-aring  u|)on  the  welfare  and 
substantial  improvement  of  his  community.  His 
memory  goes  back  t'">  the  ilax  s  when  comparative- 
ly few  of  the  roads  in  the  county  had  been  laid 
out.  when  nnly  here  and  there  was  a  dwelling  to 
indicate  that  the  seeds  of  civilization  had  In-en 
jilnnted  in  the  district.  .Many  evidences  of  fron- 
tier life  were  seen  and  on  the  farms  the  work  was 
done  by  very  primitive  nwchinery  as  conijared 
with  that  in  use  at  the  present  tiay.  The  stock, 
too.  bail  not  Ix'en  graderl  up  to  its  present  high 
state  of  |x-rfection  anil  in  every  department  of  life 
were  seen  indications  which  show  a  remoteness 
from  old  and  imp<irtnnt  commercial  centers.  The 
early  products  of  the  farm  had  to  Ik-  hauled  long 
distances  to  market  but  as  the  years  passed  and 
settlement  increased  all  this  was  changed  and 
Mr.  Dawson  was  anK>ng  those  who  were  foremost 
in  bringing  alniut  development  in  agricultural 
lines.  His  enterprise  and  well  directed  lalwrs 
gained  him  a  gratifying  nu-asurc  of  success  in 
the  conduct  of  his  personal  interests  and  he  is 
now  classed  with  the  substantial  citizens  wlK>se 
possessions  are  sufficient  to  ])ennit  them  to  live 
retired  without  recourse  to  further  active  lal)or. 


H.   r.  SYKES. 


H.  1'.  Sykes.  a  druggist  and  grocer  of  Che- 
banse.  was  born  I'ebruary  17.  1873.  and  is  a 
son  of  Oscar  .'^.  and  Josephine  (Keys)  Sykes. 
His  preliminary  educatinn  was  supplemented  by 
a  course  of  .special  study  preparing  him  for  a 
chosen  life  work.  He  was  graduateil  from  the 
Northwestern  I'niversily  of  Pharmacy  at  Chi- 
cago with  the  degree  of  Ph.  (i.  on  the  4th  of 
I\bruary.  1800.  aiid  after  receiving  practical 
training  as  clerk  in  a  drug  store  in  Chebanse 
he  Iwiught  out  the  establishment  in  which  he  was 
ein|>l.iyed  and  is  today  the  proprietor  of  the 
iinl\  drug  store  in  the  village.  He  carries  a 
large  and  well  selected  stock  and  his  store  is 
characterized    l)v    a    neat    and    tasteful    arrange- 


220 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


ment.  In  1904  he  established  a  grocery  store 
and  has  been  very  successful  in  its  conduct,  re- 
ceiving a  liberal  share  of  the  trade  of  the  town. 
In  connection  with  this  he  has  a  truck  farm  of 
two  and  a  half  acres  within  the  corporation  lim- 
its of  Chebanse  and  his  triple  business  interests 
are  successfully  carrried  on  by  himself  and  his 
father,  Oscar  Sykes.  The  building  in  which  the 
store  is  conducted   is  owned  by  the   latter. 

On  the  9th  of  June,  1897,  in  Chebanse.  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  H.  P.  Sykes  and  Aliss 
Lena  E.  Wakeman,  a  daughter  of  B.  J.  Wake- 
man,  a  prominent  nurseryman  of  Chebanse  town- 
ship. They  have  two  children :  Donald,  born 
January  4,  1902;  and  Hazel,  January  4,  1904. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  are  interested  in  its  various  ac- 
tivities and  contribute  generously  to  its  support. 
Air.  Sykes  is  serving  as  one  of  its  trustees  and 
for  eleven  years  he  has  been  an  exemplary  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Chebanse.  His  po- 
litical allegiance  has  ever  been  given  to  the  re- 
publican party  but  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant 
for  office.  He  has  earned  for  himself  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  careful  man  of  business  and  in 
his  dealings  is  known  for  his  prompt  and  honor- 
able methods,  which  have  won  him  the  deserved 
and  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellowmen. 


FREEDUS  POE  BEACH. 

Freedus  Poe  Beach,  connected  with  agricul- 
tural and  industrial  interests  in  Iroquois  county 
for  many  years,  is  now  living  retired  in  Onarga. 
The  extent  and  importance  of  his  operations  at  a 
former  date  gave  him  a  position  of  prominence 
scarcely  equaled  by  any  in  the  county  and  he  has 
ever  been  a  representative  of  that  class  of  Ameri- 
can citizens  who  while  promoting  individual  in- 
terests also  contribute  to  the  general  welfare.  He 
dates  his  residence  in  the  county  from  1852  and  is 
therefore  one  of  its  oldest  settlers. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Beach  was  born  near 
Columbus  on  the  15th  of  October,  1827.  His 
father,  Samuel  Beach,  was  a  native  of  Connect- 
icut, born  in  1774,  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel 
Beach,  Sr.,  likewise  born  in  the  Charter  Oak 
state.     The  grandfather  was  a  drum  major  in 


the  Revolutionary  war  and  was  a  son  of  Samuel 
Beach,  who  was  the  founder  of  the  family  in 
America.  Born  in  the  little  rock-ribbed  country 
of  Wales,  he  came  from  the  old  world  to  New 
England  during  the  pioneer  epoch  in  the  history 
of  our  country  and  established  his  home  in  Con- 
necticut. Samuel  Beach,  the  father  of  our  sub- 
ject, was  reared  in  Connecticut  and  served  as  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  also  acting  as  a  drum 
major  and  carrxing  a  musket  a  part  of  the  time. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Violet  Case,  a  native  of  Con- 
necticut. He  opened  up  a  farm  in  Ohio  and, 
being  a  surveyor,  he  laid  out  the  city  of  Co- 
lumbus. He  felled  the  first  trees  in  what  is  now 
the  state  house  yard  and  was  closely  associated 
with  the  work  of  establishing  the  capital  city. 
In  Ohio  he  reared  his  family  and  spent  the  great- 
er part  of  his  life.  The  family  numbered  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 

Freedus  Poe  Beach,  the  youngest  of  the  family 
and  the  only  surviving  member,  was  reared  to 
manhood  upon  a  farm  near  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
his  time  was  early  occupied  exclusively  with  the 
work  of  the  fields.  He  is  almost  wholly  a  self- 
educated  as  well  as  a  self-made  man,  but  broad 
reading,  experience  and  observation  have  brought 
him  wide  information,  while  untiring  activity  and 
keen  discrimination  have  gained  him  a  gratifying 
measure  of  prosperity  in  the  business  world.  He 
was  married  in  his  native  state  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1849,  to  Miss  Nancy  Lewis,  also  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  one  child  was  born  to  them  ere  their 
removal  to  Illinois. 

In  1852  they  came  to  this  state,  settling  first  in 
AIcLean  county,  Mr.  Beach  entering  land  from 
the  government  in  Yates  township.  This  was 
the  first  entrv  of  the  township  and  he  thereby 
became  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  Immediately  he  took  up  the  arduous  task 
of  opening  up  a  farm,  breaking  the  prairie  with 
ox  teams,  and  for  several  years  he  carried  on 
general  agricultural  pursuits  there.  He  is  a  car- 
penter and  joiner  by  trade  and  he  worked  in  that 
line,  building  houses  and  barns  for  the  first  set- 
tlers along  the  timber  for  about  two  years.  He 
then  concentrated  his  energies  upon  his  farming 
operations.  Well  fitted  by  nature  for  leadership 
in  public  affairs,  he  took  an  active  and  influential 
part  in  framing  the  early  history  of  the  county 


C 


f/ 


> 

r-. 


LIBRARY 

OFTHt 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IRuyUOlS  COLNTV.  ILLINOIS. 


-•-•3 


anil  ill  ]iroinutiiij;  its  pioneer  progress  an<l  ilcvcl- 
opmi-nt.  Kcalizinjj  the  value  of  education,  he  or- 
)jaiiize<l  the  township  into  sclnxil  districts  in  185O 
and  luiih  the  first  sc1hh)1  house  of  the  townshii)  in 
1S57.  In  iit)S,  he  removed  to  ( Jnarpa,  where  he 
established  a  l>rick  and  tile  yard.  He  manufac- 
tured over  five  thonsaml  dollars'  worth  of  tile 
hefore  sellinp  one  hundred  dollars"  worth,  hut 
when  once  he  had  made  a  sale  the  i|uality  of  his 
prfKluct  hrouRht  him  other  patrons  and  his  husi- 
ness  sixiii  iK'came  a  very  |>rofital)le  enter|>r'se. 
Later  he  huilt  the  first  hrick  husiness  block  in 
Onarjia  and  two  years  later  erectetl  the  first 
hrick  business  bl<K-k  in  (lilman.  both  structures 
lK.inn  two  stories  in  heijiht.  He  also  built  the 
first  hrick  school  house  in  ( )nar>;a  and  two  of 
the  first  hrick  build inps  in  llucklcy  and  all  of 
these  were  constructed  from  brick  of  his  own 
manufacture.  In  this  way  he  has  contributed 
in  substantial  measure  to  the  material  develoj)- 
ment  of  the  county  and  at  the  same  lime  his  la- 
bors have  bnnif^ht  him  a  fjratifyinp  measure  of 
prosperity. 

In  iS^f)  .Mr.  I'icach  removed  to  Delrey.  where 
he  continued  in  the  mamifacture  of  brick  and 
tile.  He  also  built  the  first  elevator  there  and 
conducted  a  urain  business  and  also  a  store  for 
nineteen  years.  lie  was  tiuis  closely  associated 
with  the  business  enteqjrise  and  activity  whereon 
the  tifrowth  and  development  of  a  city  always  de- 
pend. In  i8<)5  he  returned  to  ( )nar!L;a  and  pur- 
chased an  ;ittractive  residence  here,  in  which 
he  has  since  lived  retired.  In  1S71  he  built  the 
first  brick  residence  in  ( )narpa.  it  being  the  finest 
home  of  the  city.  1  le  has  been  lartjely  instrumenfd 
in  improving  and  makiujj;  this  part  of  the  count \ 
what  it  is  totlay  and  has  led  a  life  r)f  great  activity 
and  energy,  resulting  beneficially  to  the  comnui- 
uit\   as  well  as  to  himself. 

In  1904  Mr.  Meach  was  called  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  with  whom  he  bad  long  trav- 
eled life's  journey  hap|)il\,  and  who  was  laid  to 
rest  in  Onarga  cemetery.  Right  children  had 
Ix-en  Inirn  imto  them  in  this  county,  biit  only  fonr 
of  the  number  are  now  living.  Martha,  the  eld- 
est, is  the  wife  of  Dr.  .\.  I..  W'hitcomh  and  the\ 
have  three  children.  Ivlwiu  Ileach.  Pwi^ht  and 
Lewis.  The  Whitcomb  faniil\  reside  in  Rogers, 
Arkansas.  Libhie  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  H.  D. 
Brown,  now    pastor  of  the   Methodist   Episcopal 


church  at  .Seattle,  Washington.  I^vann  is  the 
wife  of  (^"harles  Iverson.  now  of  Los  Angeles, 
California,  and  they  have  one  child,  ("icrard. 
Clifford  I'larl.  an  attorney  at  law  at  I'axton,  Illi- 
nois, is  married  and  has  two  children,  .\ita  and 
Leola.  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Meach  had  two  daughters 
who  reached  mature  years  and  were  married. 
Mary  became  the  wife  of  L'alvin  Clark  and  died 
in  .\rizona.  leaving  four  children.  Carrie  l>ecame 
the  wife  of  a  .Mr.  W'hitam  and  i)assed  away  in 
Nebrask-a.  The  other  chihlren  of  the  family  die<I 
in  infancy.  .Mr.  Meach  was  ag;iin  married  in 
( >narga  in  ii>04  to  .Mrs.  .Mary  Hunt,  a  widow, 
who  died  in  May,  i</y>,  and  on  the  15th  of  .Au- 
gust, ii//),  he  we<lde<l  .Mrs.  Lucina  R.  Haves, 
of  Scott,  (  )hio.  a  daughter  of  Wesley  J.  -Mford. 

Politically  .Mr.  Meach  has  In-en  a  republican 
since  the  organization  of  the  party  and  was  a 
delegate  to  the  first  rejHiblican  state  convention 
of  Illinois  in  iS5'>.  He  was  the  friend  antl  asso- 
ciate of  Lincoln,  Lovcjoy,  Yates  and  other  men 
who  were  |)rominent  in  molding  the  |«licy  of  the 
]:irty  and  figured  conspicuously  in  framing  the 
history  of  the  nation  during  that  period.  He  has 
served  as  a  delegate  to  numerous  county,  con- 
gressional and  state  conventions  and  continued 
his  affiliation  with  the  republican  party  luitil 
1886,  when  believing  that  the  cpiestion  of  tem- 
perance was  the  dominant  issue  befire  the  peo- 
ple he  joined  the  ])rohibition  party  and  calleil  the 
first  prohibition  convention  held  in  Iroquois 
comUy.  He  was  the  first  delegate  sent  to  the 
|irohil>ition  conventions  from  his  county  and  is 
still  a  chamj)ion  of  the  orgrunzation  which  stands 
for  the  sup|>ression  of  the  liipior  traffic.  He  has 
never  sought,  nor  would  he  hold  <iffice.  but  has 
given  his  time  and  energies  to  his  business  af- 
fairs and  to  such  public  service  as  he  could  per- 
form in  a  |)rivate  ca|)acity. 

l-'or  sixty-one  years  he  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  F.piscopal  church,  which  he  joineil 
in  ( )hio,  anil  he  has  served  as  a  delegate  to  the 
three  animal  conferences.  Taking  a  ii«)St  active 
l)art  in  church  work,  he  has  served  for  thirty 
vears  as  •superintendent  of  the  ."simday-school  in 
iMith  McLean  ami  Ir<x]uois  counties  ami  has  put 
forth  untiring  effort  in  In-half  of  the  upbuilding 
of  the  cause  of  Christianity.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  builders  of  the  first  Methodist 
Rpi.scopal  church  at  IX-lrey.  built  in   i.**S2      For 


224 


PAST  AXD  I'RESEXT  OF 


fifty-four  years  he  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
state  and  throughout  the  entire  period  has  com- 
manded the  respect,  confidence  and  friendship 
of  people  not  only  of  his  own  locahty  but 
throughout  Illinois.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  in- 
dividuality and  force  of  character  and  his  fidel- 
ity to  principle  has  made  him  honored  wherever 
he  is  known.  He  deserves  to  be  ranked  with 
those  men  who  have  distinguished  themselves 
by  the  possession  of  those  qualities  of  character 
which  mainly  contribute  to  the  success  of  pri- 
vate life  and  to  the  public  staljility  and  who  have 
therefore  enjoxed  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
those  around  them.  For  a  half  century  he  has 
participated  in  the  business  life  of  Iroquois 
county  and  during  all  that  time  he  has  so 
conducted  the  affairs  entrusted  to  him  as  to  merit 
the  full  trust  of  the  entire  community  and  no 
word  of  censure  has  ever  been  uttered  against 
his  actions. 


JOSEPH  A.  (iRAHAM. 

The  history  of  business  development  and  prog- 
ress ill  \Vatseka  would  be  incomplete  without 
mention  of  Joseph  A.  Graham,  who  was  one  of 
the  most  active  and  influential  residents  of  the 
city  and  also  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Iroquois 
county.  He  figured  prominentli'  in  prunuil- 
gating  republican  doctrines  at  a  time  when  it 
was  unpopular  to  do  so  and  yet  he  lived  to  see 
the  triumph  of  the  princijiles  fur  which  he  stood. 
He  published  the  first  republican  newspaper  in 
Watseka  and  in  fact  brought  forth  the  first 
newspaper  printed  in  Iroquois  county.  Joseph 
A.  Graham  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  \'ir- 
ginia,  Xovember  26.  1823,  a  son  of  James  C. 
and  Isabella  (Henderson)  Graham,  w  lin  were  like- 
wise natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming  until  1833.  He  then 
removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  purchased  land  and  engaged  in  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  until  his  death,  while  his  wife 
also  passed  away  in  the  same  locality. 

Joseph  A.  Graham  was  a  student  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  his  native  county  and  afterward 
of  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  and  his  mental 
discipline    well    qualified    him    for    the    res]ionsi- 


bilities   of   an   active   business    life.     His    school 
days  ended,  he  assisted  his  father  on  the  home 
farm  for  a  few  \ears,  but  thinking  to  find  other 
jiursuits   more   congenial,   he   entered   a   printing 
office  in  Crawfordsville.  Indiana,  and  learned  the 
trade.     Subsequently    he    entered    the    field    of 
newspaper    work    on    his    own    account.     ( joing 
to    Danville,    Indiana,    he   there   engaged    in   the 
publication  of  the  Danville  Weekly  News  in  1847 
and  1848,  after  which  he  returned  to  Crawfords- 
ville and  established  the  Indiana  Christian  Her- 
ald, which  has  since  been  merged  into  the  Chris- 
tian Herald,  now  published  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  one  of  the  leading  religious  journals  of  the 
country.     After  a  short  period  spent  as  editor  of 
the   above   mentioned   paper    Mr.   Graham   went 
to  Danville,   Illinois,   where  he  became   foreman 
in  a  leading  newspaper  oflice,   retaining  the  po- 
sition there  until  January,  183 1,  w^heii  he  came  to 
Iroquois  county.     Here  he  settled  in  ^liddleport, 
now  a  part  of  the  town  of  Watseka,  and  entered 
upon    the    publication    of    the    Iroquois    County 
Journal,    the    first    newspaper   published    in    this 
county.     It  was  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the 
whig    party    and    started    with    a    circulation    of 
about    three    hundred    subscribers.     For    about 
three  \ears  Mr.  Graham  was  editor  and  publisher 
of  the  Journal  and  then  sold  out  to  the  firm  of 
Scott    &    Keady,    who    immediately    made    it    a 
democratic  paper.     At  that  time  ^Ir.  Graham  re- 
moved   to  Janesvillc,   Wisconsin,   where   he   was 
connected  with  the  Janesville  Weekly  Gazette  and 
at   the   same    time    he   published    the    Wisconsin 
Educational    Journal,    a    leading    monthlv    paper 
issued    in    Janesville.     He    was    thus    associated 
with    both   enterprises   until    1856,   when   he   re- 
turnetl  to  Watseka  and  began  the  publication  of 
the   Iroquois   County   Republican,   the  first  issue 
of   which    was    given   out    in    Mav,    1856.     The 
])aper  has  since  had  a  continuous  existence  and 
is  now  one  of  the  leading  jjapers  of  the  county. 
Mr.  (^.raliani  was  associaterl  therewith  until  after 
the  Xcneniber  election,  when  he  sold  out  to  Rob- 
ertson &  .Sheward.     This  ])aper  wielded  a  wide 
innuence  in  political  circles  and  has  ever  been  a 
factor    in    the    upbuilding    and    progress    of   the 
county.     During  the  time  in  which  Mr.  Graham 
had  editorial  charge  great  and  momentous  ques- 
tions were  being  discussed  and  Mr.  Graham,  not 
only  in  his  editorial  cajiacity  but  also  as  a  private 


IROyUOlS  O^l'N'TV.  ILLINOIS. 


225 


citizen,  slmnl  fur  those  principles  wliicii  nuir 
years  later  were  to  receive  vindication  in  the 
election  of  Ahraiiani  Lincoln.  1  le  was  recognized 
as  a  leader  of  the  repnblican  parly  in  this  coun- 
ty and  in  1857  was  placed  on  the  republican 
ticket  for  the  office  of  county  clerk,  but  the  party 
strength  was  then  insufficient  for  the  election  of 
any  of  its  cantlidates  and  Mr.  (irahani  was  de- 
feated by  Daniel  Fry,  although  he  received  a  vote 
ill  excess  of  the  regidar  party  ticket.  In  1858 
and  1859  he  served  as  deputy  sheritT  and  con- 
stable, and  thus  in  active  jwlitical  and  official 
service  time  passed  on  until  the  era  of  the  Civil 
war  was  upon  the  country. 

-Mr.  tirahani  had  been  a  close  and  earnest  stu- 
dent of  the  signs  of  the  times  and  of  the  <|ues- 
tions  which  divided  the  country,  lie  stixxi  as  a 
stalwart  champion  of  the  I'nion  cause  and  in 
i8<>i  enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  1",  Twen- 
ty-tifth  Regiment  of  Illinois  \  olunteers,  for  three 
years,  but  in  January.  18^12.  was  discharged  on 
account   of   disability    caused   by    typhoid    fever. 

Mr.  (iraham  had  been  married  on  the  24th 
of  January.  1848.  to  Miss  Elizal)cth  Wilbite.  a 
native  of  Crawfordsville.  Indiana,  while  her  ]iar- 
cnts  were  of  Hardin  county.  Kentucky.  They 
removed  to  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  at  an 
early  day  when  Crawfordsville  was  a  small  ham- 
let and  .Mr.  Wilhite  luirchasel  a  farm  in  that 
vicinity,  there  carrying  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  until  his  death.  1  lis  wife  likewise  passed 
away  in  that  locality. 

When  discharged  from  the  army  Mr.  (iraham 
rejoined  his  family  at  W'atseka  and  continued  to 
make  his  home  in  "( )ld  Town."  There  he  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  and  in  legal  business 
throughout  his  remaining  days  and  he  owned 
various  pieces  of  ])roperty  in  W'atseka.  his  realty 
hohlings  being  sufficient  to  supply  him  with  a 
g(xid  income.  He  maintained  his  interest  in  ])ub- 
lic  affairs  up  to  the  last  and  was  town  assessor 
here  for  many  years.  He  was  also  notary  public 
and  remained  one  of  tlie  most  stalwart  champions 
of  the  republican  party  until  his  demise.  When 
he  issued  the  first  number  of  the  Irotpiois  Re- 
publican in  1856  the  county  contained  only  five 
or  six  thousand  inhabitants  and  only  about  thir- 
teen hundred  votes  were  cast.  The  democratic 
party  then  had  almost  unbroken  record  for  su- 
premacy in  the  county  and  state.    It  was  an  era  of 


political  revolution.  The  old  things  were  passing 
away.  New  men  were  coming  to  the  fnmt  and 
old  political  watchwords  had  lost  their  potency. 
Immigration  and  the  logic  of  events  were  work- 
ing together  to  shatter  oUl  combinatiuiis  and 
break  down  old  traditions.  Mr.  (iraham  was  a 
part  of  this  revolution,  established  the  first  re- 
publican paper  of  the  county  and  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  the  efforts  of  himself  and  his 
associates  rewarded  by  the  first  republican  vic- 
torv.  He  was  a  man  of  many  good  impulses, 
who  held  malice  toward  none.  His  instincts  and 
sympathies  were  all  on  the  si«le  of  whatever  was 
good  and  jnire.  His  gcxvl  traits  of  heart  and 
mind  were  many  and  the  great  majority  of  those 
who  knew  him  entertained  for  him  genuine  re- 
gard and  warm  friemlship. 

The  death  of  Mr.  (iraham  occurred  December 
2.  1888.  and  the  funeral  services  were  held  in 
the  (  )ld  Town  church,  being  conducted  by  the 
Rev.  L.  I".  Cullom  under  the  aus])ices  of  the 
(irand  .\rmy  of  the  Republic.  His  wife  passed 
away  at  the  old  home  .\pril  13.  K^ii.  -Mr. 
Graham  had  long  been  a  devoted  member  of  the 
( Irand  .\rmy  post  of  W'atseka  and  in  his  earlier 
years  was  identified  with  the  IndeiJcndent  ( )rder 
of  Odd  Fellows.  15oth  he  and  his  wife  were 
memlx-rs  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  they 
stood  for  those  inlhleiU' -  ulii.b  wi.rk-  fi>r  tin- 
betterment  of  mankind 

In  his  will  Mr.  Cirahaiii  left  all  of  lii»  properly 
to  his  wife's  niece.  Mrs.  Loui.sa  (tJaleyl  Carroll, 
for  whom  he  always  had  the  deepi-st  affection. 
She  was  birn  in  Crawfordsville.  Indiana.  Jtdy 
12.  1844.  a  daughter  of  William  W.  and  Lucy 
(Wilbite)  (ialey.  both  of  whom  were  natives  of 
(  >l<lham  county.  Kentucky,  the  former  born  .\n- 
gust  31.  180.V  and  the  latter  December  18,  1809. 
.'\t  an  early  day  they  removed  to  Crawfordsville, 
Indiana,  and  the  father,  who  was  a  tailor  by 
trade,  foIlowe<l  that  ])ursuit  during  the  greater 
]iart  of  his  life  but  in  the  evening  of  his  «lays 
retired  from  active  business  cares.  He  died  in 
Crawfonlsville.  May  27.  1871.  while  his  wife 
passed  away  there  September  i<j.  1853.  Mrs. 
Carroll  is  the  mother  of  two  children.  Kath- 
erine.  the  younger,  is  the  widow  of  Dr.  Farl 
Maker  and  resides  at  Hickory.  North  Carolina. 
She  had  three  children,  Richard  Ik'vcrly,  Charles 
Carroll   and    Katherine   Ileverlv.  but  all  are  <le- 


226 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


ceased.  Charles  W.  Carroll,  born  in  1867.  died 
August  14,  1874.  Mrs.  Carroll  resides  at  the 
old  Graham  home  in  Old  Town,  where  she  owns 
many  building  lots.  She  always  spends  the 
winters  with  her  sister.  Mrs.  George  D.  Hurley, 
in  Crawfordsville.  Indiana,  but  the  summer 
months  are  passed  in  W'atseka. 


SAMUEL  H.  EDWARDS. 

Samuel  PI.  Edwards,  living  on  section  22,  Cres- 
cent township,  is  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Iro- 
quois county,  having  since  April  9,  1856,  made 
his  home  within  its  borders.  Thus  for  a  half 
century  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the  events  which 
constitute  its  history  and  have  molded  its  policy. 
He  has  seen  highly  cultivated  farms  take  the 
place  of  the  swamps  and  the  unbroken  prairie 
and  has  witnessed  the  building  of  the  railroads 
and  the  introduction  of  the  telegraph  and  the 
telephone,  while  the  work  of  improvement  has 
been  carried  forward  along  all  agricultural,  in- 
dustrial and  commercial  lines,  bringing  about 
the  present  degree  of  prosperity  which  the  coun- 
ty now  enjoys. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  born  in  Scioto  county,  Ohio, 
January  14,  1836,  and  is  a  son  of  Jesse  B.  and 
Mary  (Brown)  Edwards,  who  were  likewise  na- 
tives of  the  Buckeye  state,  the  former  born  in 
Scioto  county  and  the  latter  in  Adams  county. 
Mrs.  Edwards  was  the  daughter  of  John  Brown. 
After  the  death  of  her  parents  she  made  her  home 
with  Oliver  Smith  in  her  native  county  until  her 
marriage.  The  young  couple  began  their  domes- 
tic life  u|)on  a  farm  which  Mr.  Edwards  im- 
proved and  cultivated,  bringing  it  under  a  high 
state  of  development.  Six  children  were  born 
unto  them,  Samuel  H.  being  the  eldest  of  the 
sons.  The  wife  and  mother  died  when  her  son 
Samuel  was  fourteen  vears  of  age  and  Mr.  Ed- 
wards afterward  married  Mrs.  Angelina  Smith 
Freeman,  a  widow.  There  were  three  children 
bom  of  that  miion.  In  April.  1856.  the  family 
removed  westward  to  Illinois  and  Mr.  Edwards 
purchased  railroad  land,  investing  in  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  He  lived  upon  that  prop- 
erty  for  several   years   or  until    iSC^y,   when   he 


removed  to  Macoupin  county,  Illinois,  where  his 
last  days  were  passed. 

Samuel  H.  Edwards  is  indebted  to  the  public- 
school  system  of  Ohio  for  the  educational  privi- 
leges he  enjo\'ed.  He  was  a  young  man  of  twenty 
years  at  the  time  of  the  removal  to  Illinois  and 
he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  work- 
ing by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  for  two  seasons. 

bn  the  4th  of  February,  1858,  Mr.  Ed- 
wards was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Oppy.  a 
native  of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Jesse  E.  Oppy,  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  here. 
Mr.  Edwards  rented  land  and  engaged  in  its 
cultivation  for  ten  years.  During  that  time,  how- 
ever, his  business  interests  were  interrupted  by 
his  service  as  a  soldier,  for,  aroused  by  a  spirit 
of  patriotism,  he  offered  his  aid  to  the  govern- 
ment and  on  the  15th  of  August,  1862,  was  en- 
rolled as  a  member  of  Company  F,  One  Hundred 
and  Thirteenth  Illinois  \^olunteer  Infantrv,  at 
old  Middleport,  now  Watseka.  He  joined  the 
regular  army  at  Alemphis,  and  at  Holly  Springs, 
while  on  the  sick  list,  was  taken  prisoner  btit 
was  recaptured  by  the  Union  troops.  For  three 
months  he  was  in  ill  health,  unable  to  take  part 
in  active  field  service.  In  the  meantime  his  regi- 
ment went  to  Arkansas  Post  and  later  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois,  doing  guard  duty  at  that  point  for 
fourteen  months.  Mr.  Edwards  was  on  guard 
and  provost  duty  nearly  the  entire  time  of  his 
three  years"  service.  He  participated  in  the  en- 
gagement at  Eastport,  Tennessee,  and  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  mustered  out  at  Memphis 
and  received  his  discharge  at  Chicago.  The  war 
ended,  he  immediately  rejoined  his  familv  and  for 
three  years  thereafter  continued  to  operate  rent- 
ed land. 

Carefully  saving  his  earnings  during  that  pe- 
riod, Mr.  Edwards  was  at  length  enabled  to  pur- 
chase forty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has  since  built  thereon  a  good  home  and 
made  a  good  farm.  He  has  made  a  specialty  of 
raising  high  grade  stock  of  all  kinds  and  his 
cattle,  horses  and  hogs  have  proved  to  him  a 
profitable  source  of  income,  while  at  the  same 
time  his  fields  have  produced  rich  crops  in  re- 
turn for  the  care  and  h\bnr  he  has  bestowed  upon 
them. 

Mr.  Edwards  was  called  u]ion  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  first  wife  in  Fcliruary,   1S74,  and  on 


UBRARy 

OF  THE 

mmSiVf  Of  lU.INO/<; 


MR.  AXD  MRS.  S.  H.  EDWARDS. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IKonLDlS  COUNTY.  U.l.l.NDLS. 


■23' 


the  14th  day  of  Ma\.  iSjd,  lie  was  a^aiii  mar- 
ried, his  scCKiid  iiiiiiiii  liein^j  with  .Mrs.  Kchccca 
Anil  l-'leiiiiii);.  His  children  were  six  in  miin- 
bcr  hut  four  are  ileccascd — Joel  11..  Nancy  Jane, 
David  L.  aiul  one  who  tlied  unnamed  in  infanc\. 
The  living  are  Mary  J.,  the  wife  of  II.  H.  Look, 
of  Iroquois  township:  and  Iva  I-".,  the  wife  of 
Harvey  L.  Roll,  of  I'lue  l-'arth  county,  Minne- 
sota. 

Politically  Mr.  Kdwards  is  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican, never  niissin;,'  a  presi<lential  election  since 
casting  his  first  hallot  for  chief  m;ij;istrate  in 
support  of  .\hraham  Lincoln,  lie  has  served 
as  hij;hwa\  comniissiniier  for  four  years  and  has 
been  a  nx-mlier  of  the  school  hoard  for  twenty 
years.  His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his 
nieniliershi))  in  the  L'nited  lircthrcn  church  and 
he  aftiliates  with  Williams  post.  .\o.  25,  (\.  A.  R., 
of  W'atscka.  thus  maintaininj^  pleasant  relations 
with  his  old  anny  comra<Ies.  He  is  an  industri- 
ous man,  whose  success  is  attributable  entirely 
to  his  own  efforts  and  is  a  typical  pioneer  set- 
tler, whose  memory  embraces  almost  the  entire 
period  of  the  county's  development,  for  half  a 
century  apo  the  county  j^ave  little  evidence  of 
what  it  w.'is  tn  become  in  the  next  tiftv  vears. 


\     W      IIOCI.R 


The  Hoj;le  fainil\  wu.^  e.-»iablishe<l  in  Illinois 
in  1837  by  I-eonard  Hojjle,  who  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Irn(|uois  county,  the  journey  being  made 
by  wagon.  He  piirchisi'd  two  Iv.uidrifl  acres  of 
land  in  Concord  township,  built  a  log  cabin,  and 
there  took  up  his  abode,  carrying  on  general 
agricultural  ])ursuits  until  his  death.  I  le  was  a 
very  prominent  and  inlluential  man  in  those  early 
days,  aiding  in  the  development  and  progress  of 
this  portion  of  the  state. 

I  lis  son,  William  Hogle,  was  born  in  I'ushoc- 
ton  county.  Ohio,  in  183;,  and  accom|)anied  the 
family  on  the  removal  to  this  state.  He  re- 
mained with  his  father  throughout  the  |K-riod  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  starting  out  ui«in  an 
indej)cndcnt  business  career,  rented  land  in  t'oii- 
conl  town.ship,  and  further  made  arrangements 
for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage 
to  Miss  F.lizabeth  Montgomery,  who  was  liorn  in 


I'ountain  county.  Indiana,  a  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel W.  .Moiitgonier) ,  a  native  of  \  irginia.  He 
lollowe<l  farming  in  l!elmont  lovMiship.  this  coun- 
ty, where  he  servwl  as  justice  of  the  jK'ace  and 
also  as  Mii»ervisor.  William  H  " 
endured  all  the  |>rivations  and  i 
to  life  on  the  frontier,  and  there  nearest  mar- 
keting jioint  was  Chicago,  to  which  city  the  ]>r<  Ki- 
nds of  the  farm  had  to  be  hauled  by  wagon 
from  1844  to  1850.  He  followed  farming 
throughout  a  long  period  and  then  retired  from 
active  business  life,  taking  up  his  ab.xle  in  the 
village  of  Sheldon,  where  his  last  days  were 
passed.  He  was  a  republican  in  his  ])oliticaI 
views  and  wa>  a  liiuhb  ri-^picti-il  ciii/i-n  of  Iro- 
quois county. 

A.  W .  llogle.  the  Son  ol  \\  liham  and  l.li/a- 
bcth  (.Montgomery)  llogle,  was  reareil  to  farm 
life  and  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schiKiIs  near  his  father's  home.  I'pon  starting 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account,  he  was  employed 
by  the  month  at  farm  labor,  during  which  time 
he  carefullx  saved  his  earnings  so  that  at  length 
he  was  enabled  to  engage  in  farming  for  himself 
by  renting  a  tract  of  land.  He  worked  diligently 
in  the  accumulation  of  a  competence,  and  alter 
a  few  years  was  justified  in  the  purchase  of  land, 
l)ccoming  owner  of  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  which 
he  secured  from  the  Uarry  estate.  To  this  he 
afterward  added  a  tract  of  forty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 12.  .Sheltlon  townshij),  which  he  purchased 
from  Miss  Chaniberlin.  He  has  made  all  of 
the  improvements  u|xjn  his  j)r(jperty.  having 
erected  here  a  mo<lern  eight-room  house,  a  goo<l 
barn  twenty-four  by  thirt\-two  feet,  as  well  as 
other  substantial  outbuililings.  He  has  also  tile«l 
and  fenced  the  land  and  altogether  has  a  good 
farm  jiroiierty.  He  is  a  business  man  of  good 
ability  and  sound  judgment,  ever  watchful  of 
o])|H)rtuiiities  leading  to  success,  and  in  addition 
to  his  agricultural  interests  he  is  also  e!i:.;age<I  in 
raising  stock  to  some  extent,  and  in  Ixith  branches 
of  his  business  is  meeting  with  desirable  success. 

(  )n  the  7tli  of  (  >ctober.  i8<)i.  occurreil  the 
marriage  of  .Mr.  llogle  and  Miss  llattie  M. 
(i(«)ding.  who  was  bom  in  Middleport  township. 
Iroquois  county,  in  1871.  Her  father,  .\very 
<iiHHling.  came  to  this  county  from  Indiana,  and 
until  more  recent  years  was  here  engaged  in 
firming.     The  marriage  of  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  llogle 


232 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


has  been  blessed  with  five  children :     Claud  L., 
Lena  ilay.  William  Carl.  Edna  and  Sainuel. 

Mr.  Hogle  follows  in  the  political  footsteps 
of  his  father,  thus  giving  his  support  to  the  re- 
publican party,  while  fraternally  he  is  identified 
with  the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of  America  and  in 
his  religious  faith  is  connected  with  the  United 
Brethren  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hogle  are  both 
natives  of  Iroquois  county  and  therefore  have  a 
wide  circle  of  friends,  among  whom  they  occupy 
an  enviable  social  position. 


ROBERT  H.  DIAL. 


Robert  H.  Dial  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm 
property  of  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  in 
Douglas  township  and  in  addition  to  the  devel- 
opment of  the  fields  he  breeds  and  raises  regis- 
tered Percheron  horses  and  W^elsh  ponies.  He 
also  gives  some  attention  to  hogs  and  cattle  and 
has  become  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading- 
stockmen  of  this  part  of  Iroquois  countv. 

His  parents  were  Elias  and  Ann  Dial,  who 
came  to  Illinois  from  South  Carolina  about  1840 
and  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  Aurora  where  the 
father  engaged  in  farming.  On  one  occasion  he 
returned  from  Illinois  to  his  old  home  in  the 
south,  walking  the  entire  distance,  while  his  chil- 
dren drove  in  a  one-horse  wagon.  He  then  again 
came  to  Illinois,  covering  the  entire  distance  on 
foot  and,  locating  in  Kendall  county,  he  once 
more  took  up  general  agricultural  pursuits.  In 
i860  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county,  settling  on 
Spring  Creek  in  Douglas  township,  where  he 
purchased  a  small  tract  of  land  of  forty  acres. 
In  connection  with  its  development  and  cultiva- 
tion he  also  followed  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
was  thus  identified  with  the  industrial  interests 
of  the  community.  He  was  twice  married  and 
it  was  after  losing  his  first  wife  that  he  made 
the  return  trij)  to  South  Carolina.  He  first  wed- 
ded Miss  Eliza  Dean  and  there  were  four  chil- 
dren by  that  union.  In  1847  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  .Ann  Thomas, 
a  native  of  .Aberdeen.  Scotland.  They  had  four 
sons  and  three  daughters  and  there  are  now  three 
of  the  sons  and  two  of  the  daughters  vet  livintr. 


The  father  departed  this  life  in  1876,  while  the 
mother  survived  until  1S83. 

The  birth  of  Robert  H.  Dial  occurred  in  Kane 
county.  Illinois,  February  9,  1856.  and  he  was 
therefore  a  little  lad  of  only  four  summers  when 
he  came  with  his  parents  to  Iroquois  county  in 
i860.  .At  the  usual  age  he  became  a  pupil  in  the 
country  schools  and  thus  acquired  the  education 
that  has  fitted  him  for  the  duties  of  a  practical 
life.  He  was  early  trained  to  the  work  of  the 
farm  and  has  never  desired  to  change  his  occupa- 
tion, continuously  carrying  on  farming  on  his 
own  account  since  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
now  has  two  hundred  and  sixteen  acres  of  land  in 
Douglas  township  and  the  soil  is  verj-  rich  and 
productive,  responding  readily  to  the  care  and 
labor  that  is  bestowed  upon  it.  In  addition  to  till- 
ing the  soil  he  breeds  registered  Percheron  horses 
and  Welsh  ponies.  All  of  his  stock  is  registered 
and  for  fifteen  years  he  has  follovi'ed  this  pursuit. 
He  also  raises  hogs  of  high  grade  and  cattle  that 
are  standardbred  and  has  been  very  successful 
as  a  stockman. 

Mr.  Dial  was  married  on  the  3d  of  April, 
1884.  to  Aliss  Florence  Eva  Hallam,  of  Doug- 
las township,  a  daughter  of  Salathiel  and  Eva- 
line  (King)  Hallam.  The  mother,  who  was  a 
native  of  Marshall  county,  Illinois,  died  in  Penn- 
sylvania, at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  when 
Mrs.  Dial  was  only  about  a  year  and  a  half  old. 
The  father,  who  was  a  farmer  by  occupation, 
came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Illinois  in  1854  and 
throughout  his  entire  life  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  also  devoted  considerable  time  and 
energy  to  the  purchase  and  sale  of  horses,  which 
proved  to  him  a  profitable  source  of  income.  He 
was  for  a  half  century  a  resident  of  Iroquois 
county,  passing  away  on  the  27th  of  November, 
1904.  I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dial  have  been  bom 
six  children  but  they  have  lost  four.  Those  still 
living  are  Hiram  Earl,  born  August  31,  1891  ; 
and  Mildred  Elizabeth.,  born  January  7,  1902. 

Mr.  Dial  is  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men can;p  at  Crescent  City,  and  his  ])oliticaI  al- 
legiance is  given  to  the  democracy.  He  has  been 
road  commissioner  for  the  past  nine  years  and 
also  school  director  for  the  same  time.  No  public 
trust  rejiosed  in  him  has  ever  been  l>etrayed  in 
the  slightest  degree  and  his  official  duties  are 
therefore  performed  with  (promptness  and  fidel- 
ity.     His  entire  life  has  been  passed   in   Illinois 


IRo<_jL'ii>  i_<'L.Mi.   II.I.INi  lis. 


2ii 


and  during  the  greater  part  of  tlie  time  lie  has 
lived  in  IriKiuois  cuinity,  where  he  is  widely 
known  as  a  representative  business  man,  wiiose 
success  is  well  merited  owing  to  the  business 
principles  he  lias  always  employed  and  his  activ- 
ity and  entcq>rise  in  carryini;  forward  iiis  agricul- 
tural interests. 


W  ll.Ll.V.M    U.   AK.ii  1  IXdAl.l-;. 

William  R.  Xightingale,  the  pojiular  and  effi- 
cient cashier  of  the  i-irst  National  llaiik  of  Cres- 
cent Citv.   which  |)osition  lie  lias  occupie«l  since 
August    IJ,    njoji.   was   Ixjrn   in   Crescent   town- 
ship. December  25.    1H75.      His   father,  John   \V. 
Xighting:de,  was  Ixjrn  in  Kngland,  Seittember  3. 
1850,  and  in  1859  left  his  native  ctnmtry,  accom- 
panying   his     parents    on     their     emigration     to 
America,  the   family   home  being  established   in 
Dutchess  county.  New  York,  where  they  resided 
for   seven    years.     They    then    went    to    Kendall 
county,   Illinois,   and   during  a   ten   years'    resi- 
dence in  that  part  of  the  state  John  \V.  Nightin- 
gale  was   married   to   Miss    .Mice    ISaker   on    the 
i8th  of  February,   1875.     The  following  month 
they  came  to  Iroquois  county   and  began  their 
domestic   life   up<in   a    farm   here.     Si.x   children 
were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  fi>ur  are  yet  liv- 
ing,  namely:     Frederick   G..   Paul   .\.,   Otto  F. 
and    William    R.,    of    this    review.      The    father 
was  a  very  successful  man  and  broke  the  ground 
and    improved    seven    hundred    and    sixty    acres 
of  land  in  Crescent  townshij).     I  le  erected  sub- 
stantial buildings  and  tiled  and  drained  his  place 
until  he  had  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  county. 
He  was  a  very  prominent  man  and  well  known 
and   well   liked   by   all.     His   business   interests 
were  carefully  conducted  and  his  methods  would 
bear    the    most    rigid    examination    and    closest 
.scrutiny.     He  continued  to  reside  upon  his  farm 
five  miles  south  of  Crescent  City  until  called  to 
his  final  rest  May  Ji.  !8<)8,  when  forty-eight  years 
of  age.     Mrs.  Nightingale  still  survives  Iut  Inis- 
band  and  is  living  in  Crescent  City. 

In  the  common  .schr»ols  William  R.  Nightin- 
gale pursued  his  elementary  education  and  aittr- 
ward  attended  Dixon  College  at  Dixon,  Illinois, 
and  a  business  college  at  Kankakee,  this  state, 
from   which    lu-   was   graduated   on   tlii-   JUt    of 


February,  lyoi.  Fntcring  business  life,  he  con- 
ductwl  a  livery  barn  at  Cri-scent  City  for  three 
years  and  since  that  time  has  been  cashier  of  the 
I'^irst  National  liank,  entering  u|)on  the  duties 
of  the  office  on  the  organization  of  the  institu- 
tion. Augu.st  \2,  1903.  The  bank  inaugurated  a 
safe  conservative  jwlicy  that  has  won  uniform 
Confidence  and  the  business  has  steadily  increa.sed. 
That  it  is  a  strong  financial  concern  is  indicated 
b\  the  statement  which  was  issued  September 
4.   i')<yj. 

The  officers  are:  I'eter  McDermott,  presi- 
dent; Charles  A.  Calkin,  vice  president;  J.  B. 
.Sayler.  second  vice  president ;  and  W.  R.  Night- 
ing;ilc-.  cashiir.  The  bank  is  well  housed  in  a 
substantial  little  brick  building,  especially 
e(|ui|)]K'd  for  the  piirpuse  used. 

Mr.  Nightingale  was  married  to  Miss  Corinnc 
Savoie,  of  Crescent  City,  a  daughter  of  F'rank 
.Savoic,  who  resides  near  Crescciu  City.  Two 
cliililren  have  been  Ixirn  of  this  marriage:  John, 
Decemlx-r   *>.    i«j03 :    and    William,    (  )ctober    19, 

Mr.  Nightingale  exercises  his  right  of  fran- 
chise in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the 
democracy  and  his  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing 
his  worth  and  ability,  have  called  him  to  several 
local  offices.  He  has  served  as  justice  of  the 
pe.icc.  as  village  clerk  and  as  collector  and  is 
deeply  interested  in  community  affairs.  He  be- 
longs to  Standard  lodge.  No.  607,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
and  to  Crescent  camp.  No.  1429.  M.  W.  A.  He 
is  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  churches  and  his 
aid  and  co-operation  are  w  ithheld  from  no  meas- 
ure or  movement  that  he  deems  will  prove  of 
general  giX)d. 


()IJ\RR  ADSIT  CLEMENTS. 

A  well  improved  farm  of  one  himdred  and 
twenty  acres  situated  on  sections  7  and  8,  in 
Prairie  dreen  township,  is  the  home  of  Oliver 
.\dsit  Clements,  who  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois, 
his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  old  Gements 
homestead  fann  in  Lovejoy  township.  February 
17.  1880.  His  father.  J.  N.  Clements,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Atliens  county,  Ohio,  Iwrn  in  1840.  He 
served  for  three  years  in  the  war  of  the  Rclx"l- 
lion,  and  following  the  rlosf  of  lii>stilitii<  l.>iMtiiI 


234 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


in  Muncie,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  for  a 
time  but  later  made  his  way  to  Iroquois  county, 
where  he  was  married  to  :\Irs.  Julia  Bradford, 
nee  Adsit,  whose  first  husband  enlisted  for  serv- 
ice in  the  army  and  died  during  his  service.  Mrs. 
Clements  was  born  and  reared  in  .Muncie,  Indi- 
ana, and  her  father  removed  from  that  place  to 
Iroquois  countw  where  he  became  a  very  large 
landowner,  having  some  two  thousand  acres. 
J.  N.  Clements  in  1867  located  on  a  farm  belong- 
ing to  his  father-in-law,  and  later  made  purchase 
of  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  was  ac- 
counted one  of  the  prosperous  and  influential 
men  of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  devoted  his 
active  life  to  agricultural  pursuits,  and  on  retir- 
ing from  business  interests  removed  to  the  vil- 
lage of  Wellington,  where  his  wife  died  in  De- 
cember, 1897.  He  still  survives  and  makes  his 
home  in  Hoopeston,  with  his  son,  Thomas  Clem- 
ents. 

O.  A.  Clements  was  reared  in  much  the  usual 
manner  of  farm  lads,  working  in  the  fields  during 
the  busy  season,  and  when  not  thus  engaged  pur- 
sued his  studies  in  the  schools  of  Wellington, 
completing  the  high-school  course  there  in  1896. 
Subsequent  to  that  period  he  remained  on  the 
farm  with  his  brother  for  one  year,  after  which 
he  clerked  in  a  store  at  Hoopeston.  being  thus 
employed  for  one  year,  after  which  he  again  re- 
sumed operations  on  the  farm,  and  is  now  the 
owner  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  situated 
on  sections  7  and  8.  Prairie  Green  township.  He 
has  tiled  the  land,  erected  good  buildings  and  has 
made  it  a  valuable  piece  of  property,  for  he  fol- 
lows the  most  modern  and  practical  methods  in 
the  prosecution  of  his  farm  work. 

Establishing  a  home  of  his  own.  .Mr.  Clements 
was  married  November  27,  1902,  in  Wellington. 
to  Miss  Edna  i'.ower,  who  was  born  in  the  tiiwn- 
ship  in  which  slie  still  resides,  and  i)ursued  her 
studies  in  the  schools  at  Wellington.  Her  father. 
J.  H.  Bower,  is  now  living  retired  in  that  village. 
The  marriage  of  Air.  and  Mrs.  Clements  has 
been  blessed  with  two  interesting  little  sons  and 
a  daughter.  Wendall  11..  Edna  E.  and  Jnhn  Le- 
Roy. 

Mr.  Clements  has  always  given  his  jiolitical 
allegiance  to  the  republican  ])arty.  and  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  E]5is- 
co]3al  church   at  Wellington.      Mr.   Clements  has 


spent  his  entire  life  in  Iroquois  county,  and  there- 
fore has  a  large  acquaintance  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  highly  esteemed  and  hospitable  young 
people. 


PETER  GARXER. 


Peter  Garner,  who  some  years  since  left  the 
farm  to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  town  life  in  a 
quiet  and  honorable  retirement  from  active  la- 
bor was,  however,  numbered  among  the  leading 
farmers,  stock  raisers  and  feeders  of  Iroquois 
county  for  a  long  period,  during  which  time  he 
resided  upon  a  farm  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  Stockland  township.  His  home  is  now 
in  Milford  and  he  is  highly  esteemed  in  the 
town  and  county. 

Born  in  \\'arren  county.  Indiana,  March  I, 
1848,  he  is  a  son  of  John  Garner,  a  native  of  the 
Hoosier  state,  where  his  youth  was  passed  and 
where  his  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Smiley,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  was  celebrated.  In  1856  he 
removed  w^estward  to  Illinois  and  took  up  his 
abode  in  Alilford  township,  Iroquois  county, 
where  he  made  purchase  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  at  twelve  dollars  per  acre. 
Soon,  bow-ever,  he  sold  that  and  bought  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  in  Stockland  township,  open- 
ing up  a  new  farm  there.  He  afterward  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land 
which  he  also  improved,  placing  upon  it  good 
buildings  and  modern  improvements.  He  reared 
his  family  there  and  carefully  and  energetically 
prosecuted  liis  work.  In  his  later  years  he  re- 
moved to  Milford,  purchased  a  residence  and 
made  his  home  in  the  town  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  January  17,  1891.  His  wife  is  still 
living  at  the  old  home  there. 

Peter  (iarner  was  a  farmer  boy  of  Stockland 
townshio  and  in  retrospect  one  can  see  him  as 
a  pupil  in  the  country  schools  and  later  pursuing 
his  studies  in  Milford.  In  the  jieriods  of  vaca- 
tion he  worked  in  the  fields  and  thus  earlv  be- 
came familiar  with  all  tlie  duties  and  labors  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist,  remaining  with 
his  father  until  twenty-six  years  of  age.  He  was 
then  married  in  ]\lilford  township.  Jamiarv  i. 
1874.  to  Miss  Sarah  ]M.  Dawson,  a  daughter  of 


H 


> 

r 


13 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


^i7 


Wall  Daw  sun,  wlin  was  Ixirn  in  Ohio  ami  came 
from  Indiana  to  Illinois,  lie  was  married  in 
the  Mnckc\c  stale,  however,  to  .Mary  Jane  II 
cr,  a  native  of  kos>  county.  (  )hio,  and  lie  \« 
one  of  the  pioneer  residents  of  Iroijuois  county. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  ("larner  estalilislu-d  tlu-ir  home  on 
a  fann  in  Milford  lowii^hiii.  which  he  rente<l 
for  two  years,  lie  afterward  ojierated  a  rented 
farm  in  I'lelmont  lownship  for  a  ye;ir  and  also  in 
Sheldon  to\\n>hip.  and  ahoni  1875  removed  to 
Stockland  township,  where  he  hej^an  with  one 
hnndreil  and  sixty  acres  of  land  which  uj)  to 
that  time  was  larjjely  undeveloped,  but  he  im- 
prove«l  the  farm.  e<|uipped  it  with  substantial 
I)uildinj;s.  set  out  a  ^^rove  and  an  orchard  and 
added  to  the  fertility  of  the  soil  liy  layini;  many 
rods  of  tilinp.  He  also  fenced  the  fann  and  in 
the  same  manner  apportione<l  it  into  fields.  .\s 
the  years  i>assed  by  and  prosi)erity  accrued  he 
bought  one  hundre«I  and  sixty  acres  more  from 
(k'orjje  \eninnn  and  bejjan  the  further  cultiva- 
tion and  development  of  that  place.  lie  also 
raisetl  st<Kk.  havinjj  pood  prades  of  horses,  cat- 
tle and  hops  upon  his  place.  :md  lie  fe<I  consider- 
able stock  for  the  market.  >liipi)inp  two  carli'.ids 
of  cattle  and  a  carload  of  hops  annuall\.  I  le 
thus  continued  in  business  until  iSi;5.  when  he 
rented  his  farms  and  came  to  Milford.  where  for 
eleven  years  he  has  made  his  home  in  the  en- 
jovment  of  a  rest  which  he  has  irulv  earned  and 
richly  <le.serves. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garner  are  the  i)arents  of  four 
children:  lf>hn.  who  is  married  and  is  a  travel- 
inp  salesman;  Torter.  who  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farminp  in  Milford  township:  I'earl.  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Roscoe  W.  Thome,  a  minister  of 
the  r.;iptist  church  now  located  in  Wolcoti,  Indi- 
ana;  and  Nellie,  who  became  the  wife  of  John 
Snider  and  die<l  .\upust  7.   iWV^i. 

.Mr.  and  .Mrs.  ( iarner  are  people  of  the  hiphest 
respectability,  prcatly  esteemed  by  all  who  know 
them.  Thev  are  devoteil  members  i>f  the  Mil- 
ford Metb(Mlist  Iqiiscopal  church,  in  which  .Mr. 
Gamer  is  ser\inp  as  a  trustee,  and  they  are  l>oth 
affiliated  with  the  I»yal  .\mericans.  a  fraternal 
insurance  orpanization.  His  politictl  views  ac- 
cord with  the  principles  of  democracy  and  f<ir 
six  vears  he  has  rendered  effective  service  as 
hiphway  commissioner  and  has  l)een  a  memlKT 
of  the  schfMil  Ixiard  for  a  n«ml>er  of  years       \1 


most  his  entire  life  has  la-en  passed  in  IrcM|tiois 
county  and  he  has  a  wide  .'icipiaintance  in  Wat- 
^eka,  Milford  an<l  other  section>.  His  name  is 
synonymous  with  activity  and  honesty  in  busi- 
ness life,  with  fidelity  in  office  and  with  propres- 
siveness  in  all  lh:it  |>ertains  to  citizenship,  ami 
he  is  most  loyal  to  the  ties  of  the  home  :ind  of 
friendshij). 


WILLI. \M  J.   MiDorti.M.L. 

For  nvire  than  a  third  of  a  century  the  name 
of  McDoupall  has  fipurcd  conspicuously  and 
honorably  in  connection  with  the  apriciiltnral  <U- 
velopnient  and  business  interests  of  Inxpiois 
county,  and  the  fimi  of  McDoupall  I'rothers  is 
a  stronp  business  combination  in  Daiiforth  and 
this  part  of  the  st:ile.  It  is  com|H)sed  of  William 
J.  and  C.  G.  McDoupall.  Ix>th  enten>risinp  men 
of  keen  iliscemment.  of  nnllappinp  industry  and 
perseverance,  and  of  iiiicnu-ticuK'd  luisiiic---  in- 
tcprity. 

W.  J.  .McDoupall  came  to  tlii>  ■ouiily  wiili  Ins 
parents  on  the  1st  of  .\pril.  |}V>8.  iK-inp  at  tlut 
time  a  younp  man  of  eiphtcen  years.  He  was 
born  in  Jamestown,  Kentnck\.  January  1.  1850. 
his  parents  iK-inp  John  and  .Mary  {  l^jiperson) 
McDoupall.  who  were  married  on  the  uth  of 
.\l)ril.  i84(>.  The  father,  a  native  of  Fort  Ed- 
ward, New  York,  was  l)orn  <  )clober  18.  181.V 
and  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  was  reare<l,  after 
which  he  removed  to  Tennessee  when  .-dxiut  twen- 
ty-seven years  of  ape.  He  cnpapetl  in  te.nchinp 
in  the  collcpc  M  LelniKMi.  that  state,  of  which 
his  brother.  Professor  William  McDoupall.  was 
president,  and  for  several  years  he  devoted  his 
enerpies  to  educational  work  but  later  turned  his 
attention  to  nierchandisinp,  which  he  followeil 
near  Jamestown,  Kentuck).  Sufferinp  heavy 
losses  throuph  a  fire  which  destroyed  his  store, 
he  .-ifterward  Imnphl  a  farm  in  Kentucky  and 
resided  thiTeon  until  his  removal  to  Illinois  in 
18^14,  at  which  time  he  took  up  his  alxMle  near 
Sandwich,  in  DeKalb  county.  There  he  resideil 
until  iS/18.  when  he  broupht  his  familx  to  Dan- 
forth  townshij),  Irrnpiois  county,  and  made  pur- 
chase of  a  farm  of  eiphty  acres  on  section  22. 
whereon  he  resideil  until  his  death,  passinp  away 
■  >ii  the  ')th  of  June.    rS"7.     His  wife,  who  was 


238 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


born  near  Columbia,  Adair  county,  Kentucky, 
March  12,  1820,  was  reared  in  that  state,  and  is 
still  living,  making  her  home  with  her  sons,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  In  the  family  of 
this  worthy  couple  were  five  children,  two  sons 
and  three  daughters,  of  whom  William  J.  is  the 
eldest.  Charles  G.,  the  second  of  the  family,  born 
September  12,  1852,  is  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
McDougall  Brothers.     He  was  married  June  6, 

1893,  at  Ashkum,  to  Miss  Mar>'  Ruckrigel,  of 
that  place.  She  was  born  November  20,  1868, 
and  died  in  Stuttgart,  Arkansas,  in  1902.  Their 
children  are:     Mabel  I.,  who  was  born  Jime  3, 

1894,  at  Danforth,  Illinois ;  Charles,  who  was 
bom  in  Danforth,  June  28,  1895 ;  and  Gilbert, 
bom  September  26,  1898.  Losing  his  first  wife 
Charles  G.  McDougall  has  wedded  Miss  Anna 
Patten,  of  Edmunds,  Oklahoma.  Margaret  Ann, 
the  third  member  of  the  family,  born  January  13, 
1855,  died  January  30,  1882.  Sarah  Elizabeth, 
bom  January  11.  1858.  was  married  at  Kankakee, 
Illinois,  ]\Iarch  14,  1888,  to  Ernest  Severy,  an 
attomey  of  Chicago,  where  they  reside.  Emma 
J.,  born  April  30,  1862,  became  the  wife  of  Dr. 
C.  F.  Smith,  of  Kankakee,  Illinois,  February  10, 
1881,  and  they  have  one  son,  Charles  K.  Dr. 
Smith  is  president  of  the  board  of  education  and 
is  one  of  the  prominent  physicians  of  the  city  in 
which  he  lives. 

William  J.  McDougall  acquired  a  public-school 
education  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois.  Four  years  la- 
ter the  family  home  was  estaWished  in  Danforth 
township  and  the  sons  aided  the  father  in  carry- 
ing on  the  work  of  the  farm  and  in  extending  its 
acreage.  There  was  some  indebtedness  upon  the 
place  at  the  time  of  the  father's  death.  The 
sons  took  up  the  business  of  clearing  all  financial 
obligations  and  have  added  largels-  to  their  ]M-op- 
crty  holdings,  having  today  four  luuidred  acres 
in  Iroquois  county  and  eight  hundred  acres  in 
Arkansas.  They  were  among  the  first  to  lay  tile 
in  this  section  of  the  state  and  have  put  a  large 
amount  of  money  in  drainage.  They  find,  how- 
ever, that  the  capital  is  well  invested  in  this  way, 
for  the  swamp  land  is  reclaimed  and  made  rich 
and  productive.  As  the  years  have  passed  they 
have  added  Id  their  pro]-)erty  until  they  n^w  own 
four  hundred  acres  of  very  valuable  land  in  Iro- 
quois countv   which   yields  to  them  large  crops. 


They  are  also  interested  in  the  elevator  at  Leon- 
ard, known  as  the  Farmers  elevator,  and  this  en- 
terjjrise  is  largely  due  to  the  eftbrts  of  Charles  G. 
McDougall,  who  acted  as  its  manager  for  seven 
years.  The  brothers  are  men  of  excellent  busi- 
ness capacity  and  enterprise,  manifesting  both 
business  ability  and  fidelit}^,  which  command  for 
them  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  their  commu- 
nity and  all  who  know  them  throughout  the 
.state.  They  now  operate  two  hundred  acres  of 
their  land  and  lease  the  remaining  two  hundred 
acres  in  Iroquois  county. 

The  present  home  of  William  J.  McDougall  is 
situated  on  section  23,  Danforth  township,  where 
he  has  lived  since  1890.  He  has  greatly  improved 
the  farm,  adding  to  it  all  modem  equipments  and 
accessories,  and  none  of  the  elements  of  a  mode! 
farm  are  today  lacking.  His  political  allegiance 
is  largely  given  to  the  prohibition  party,  although 
he  at  times  votes  for  the  candidates  on  the  other 
tickets,  and  his  first  presidential  ballot  was  cast 
for  Hayes.  The  family  have  usually  been  Pres- 
byterians but  William  J.  McDougall  attends  the 
Evangelical  church  of  Danforth  because  of  its 
proximity  to  his  home  and  assisted  in  building 
the  house  of  worships  and  now  contributes  gener- 
ously to  the  support  of  the  church. 


JOSEPH  PRUITT,  Jr. 

Joseph  Pruitt,  Jr.  is  a  prosperous  and  pro- 
gressive young  farmer,  operating  the  old  family 
homestead,  which  comprises  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  fine  land,  situated  on  sections  23 
and  24,  Lovejoy  township,  Iroquois  county.  He 
was  born  on  the  farm  which  is  still  his  home,  his 
natal  day  being  February  13,  1880.  His  father, 
Joseph  Pruitt,  Sr.,  is  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Iroquois  county,  having  been  through  a  long 
]ieriod  connected  with  the  agricultural  develop- 
ment of  this  section  of  the  state,  and  more  ex- 
tended mention  is  made  of  him  on  another  page 
of  this  work, 

Mr.  Pruitt,  whose  name  introduces  this  record, 
was  reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming,  and 
his  ])riinary  education,  begun  in  the  district  schools 
near  his  father's  home,  was  later  supplemented  by 
a  high-school  course  in  Wellington  and  Hoope- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


^39 


ston.  stibsc(|iicnt  to  which  time  he  piirsuctl  a 
course  of  study  in  tirccr  (."iillcRC  aiul  later  in 
Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  .\fter  completing  his 
studies  he  returneil  to  the  home  farm,  l>ein(j  for 
six  years  connected  with  his  father  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  home  place  and  for  the  past  two  years 
the  son  has  had  entire  charge  of  the  ])roperty. 
He  follows  the  most  practical  and  in<Klern 
mcthtKis  of  carrying  on  his  a>;ricultnral  pursuits, 
and  each  year  gathers  IxnnUeous  harvests  as  a 
result  of  the  care  and  lalwr  he  licstows  upon  the 
fields.  In  addition  to  his  farm  work  he  is  also 
enpaKcd  in  breediuK  and  raising  pure  blfxided 
Poland  thina  hofjs  and  h<ni(1  prades  of  horses, 
and  this  branch  of  liis  business  is  j)r<>vin(j  a 
protitablc  source  of  income  to  him. 

Cli<x)sinp  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
journey,  Mr.  Pruitt  was  happily  married  on  the 
1 2th  of  February.  i«jo6.  the  lady  of  his  choice 
beinf;  Miss  Leona  Eckman,  an  accomplislutl 
younp  lady,  who  is  al.so  a  native  of  Inxjuois 
county,  where  she  was  reared  and  educated  and 
has  s|K-nt  her  entire  life.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
John  Kckman.  a  well  known  resident  of  this  part 
of  the  state.  Mr.  Pruitt  holds  membership  re- 
lations with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Weilinj;- 
ton.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  havinp  sjK-nt  their 
entire  lives  in  this  county,  are  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  younp  [K'ople,  and  Mr.  Pruitt 
is  also  well  known  in  N'ermilion  county.  They 
have  a  host  of  warm  friends  and  move  in  the 
best  circles  of  socictv. 


.<i.\.ML:i:L  J.  SLo.XN. 


Samuel  J.  Sloan,  livinn  on  section  28.  .Stock- 
laiul  tosynship.  is  one  of  the  enterjirisinp  agricul- 
turists of  his  jiart  of  the  county.  He  ojierates  one 
hun<lre(l  and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  also  engages 
in  bu>ing.  feeding  an<l  shipping  live  st(Kk  and 
his  diuil  interests  constitute  an  element  in  the 
success  which  has  made  him  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  the  community.  He  has  made  his 
home  in  Iroquois  county  since  1886  an<l  is  a  na- 
tive son  of  Illinois,  his  l)irth  having  occurred  at 
Chicago  Heights  in  Cook  county,  .\pril  j8.  i8^>j. 
His  parents  were  William  J.  anrl  Caroline  (.Scott) 
Sloan.     The     father,   a    native    of     Harrisburg. 


Pennsylvania,  went  to  Qticago  when  a  young 
man  and  was  married  there  to  .Miss  Scott,  a  na- 
tive of  C<x)k  county  an<l  a  daughter  of  John  Sc<»tt, 
who  was  t)orn  in  Sotbiid  and  liecame  a  resident 
of  Ciiicago  in  1850.  Prior  to  her  marriage  Mrs. 
Sloan  engage<l  in  teaching  for  several  w-ars. 
Mr.  SKian  was  well  known  as  an  extensive  ilealer 
in  fine  horsi-s,  handling  im|Hirted  ilr.nft  ami  coach 
horses  for  forty  years,  in  which  connection  he 
iKJcame  widely  known.  I'nto  him  and  his  wife 
were  Ixirn  seven  chiMren,  six  of  whom  readied 
adidt  age.  The  father  is  now  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four  years,  while  his  wife  died  in 
OctojK-r,  1906,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 

Sanniel  J.  Sloan  was  reared  in  Chicago  Heights 
and  enjoyed  goinl  educational  privileges.  .\t  the 
early  age  of  sixteen  years  he  began  buying  draft 
horses  for  the  market  and  in  that  capacity  was  in 
the  employ  of  one  man  for  six  years.  Througout 
his  entire  life  he  has  l>een  engaged  in  stock  deal- 
ing and  for  sixteen  years  he  has  operated  the 
I  la/let  farm  of  one  lum<lred  and  sixty  acri-s  in 
coimection  with  his  stock  buying.  In  iqc/t  he 
liought  and  shipj)ed  to  Kohn  l'>n>thers,  of  .\'ew 
York,  eight  draft  horses  averaging  in  weight 
fourteen  hundred  anil  fifty  jMiunds  and  which 
brought  two  thousand  twenty-five  dollars.  Mr. 
.'^loan  is  well  known  throughout  the  county  for 
his  excellent  judgment  of  good  animals  and  as  a 
stock  dealer  has  made  money  for  him"'''  c"! 
others. 

On  the  27th  of  Xovemlnr,  188^1,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Samuel  J.  Sloan  and  Miss  .Vila  M. 
Dazey,  a  native  of  IrtKpiois  county  ami  a  daugh- 
ter of  Aaron  Dazey.  who  was  lK)rn  in  I'ountain 
county.  Imliana,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents  in  i8r>«>.  the  family  honte  being  estab- 
lishc<l  in  Milford  township.  I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
.'^iiMn  have  Inrn  Ixirn  three  children.  Homer,  Por- 
ter and  .Meta.  all  of  whom  are  attentling  school. 

The  parents  and  family  attcml  the  services  of 
the  .Metho<list  l-'piscopal  church  at  .'^tockland. 
Mr.  Sloan  is  a  stalwart  republican  and  has  filled 
the  offices  of  school  diri-ctor  and  tnistee  for  sev- 
eral years,  while  at  the  jjresent  writing  he  is  ser\'- 
ing  as  supervisor  of  Sttx'kland  township.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  connected  with  the  Foresters  of  Mil- 
ford.  The  occupation  to  which  he  was  reared 
he  has  nvxilv  his  life  work  and  his  persistency  in 
following  out  one  line  of  business  is  undoubtedly 


240 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


a  strong  element  in  his  success.  He  early  learned 
to  know  the  good  points  of  horses  and  his  judg- 
ment is  rarely,  if  ever,  at  fault  in  this  particular, 
so  that  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  stock  he  has 
conducted  a  good  business. 


WILSON  S.  KAY. 


Wilson  S.  Kay.  who  for  many  years  was  one 
of  the  distinguished  and  able  lawyers  of  central 
Illinois  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  the 
oldest  member  of  the  Iroquois  county  bar,  pos- 
sessed in  large  measure  the  qualities  that  com- 
mand honor  and  respect  and  that  win  success. 
In  all  of  life's  relations,  whether  as  educator, 
lawyer,  political  leader  or  friend,  he  displayed 
sterling  traits  of  character  that  supplemented 
strong  intellectual  force  and  marked  ability.  He 
was  the  associate  and  friend  of  many  of  the 
distinguished  sons  of  Illinois,  who  regarded  him 
in  every   way   as  a  peer. 

A  native  of  Indiana,  Wilson  S.  Kay  was  born 
near  Greencastle,  in  Putnam  county,  on  the  31st 
of  October,  1831,  and  was  a  son  of  William  D. 
and  Ruth  (  ^^'right)  Kay.  the  former  a  native  of 
]\Iar\land,  while  the  latter  was  born  near  what 
is  now  known  as  Little  Mills,  in  West  \'irginia. 
The  father  removed  with  his  parents  from  Mary- 
land to  Pittsburg.  Penns_\'lvania,  and.  being  left 
an  orphan  when  only  si.x  or  seven  years  of  age. 
he  was  ajiprenticed  to  the  glass-blower's  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  some  time  after  complet- 
ing his  term  of  indenture.  Subsequentlv  he  be- 
came a  resident  of  West  Mrginia.  in  which 
state  he  was  married  and  later  he  lived  at  dif- 
ferent times  in  West  Virginia  and  ( )hiii,  remov- 
ing eventually  to  Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  and 
afterward  to  a  farm  near  Greencastle,  in  I'ut- 
nam  county,  that  slate.  When  a  few  months  had 
pas.sed.  however,  he  returned  to  \'irginia  and 
soon  afterward  went  to  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  where 
he  conducted  business  as  a  furrier.  .\t  a  later 
date  the  family  took  up  their  abode  upon  a  farm 
in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  where  thev  lived 
until  1837,  when  William  I).  Kay  sold  his  prop- 
erty and  at  the  .solicitation  of  a  friend  invested 
his  money  in  a  .steam-mill  outfit,  which  he  in- 
tended to  oix-rale  in   Illinois.     L'])on  his  arrival 


in  this  state,  however,  he  found  conditions  so 
entirelv  different  from  what  had  been  represented 
that  he  took  his  engine  no  further  than  Perrys- 
ville  on  the  Wabash  river,  a  place  about  four- 
teen miles  east  of  Danville.  The  following  sea- 
son he  set  about  erecting  a  sawmill  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Wabash  and  two  and  a  half  miles 
below  Perrysville.  When  he  had  nearly  com- 
pleted it  he  became  ill  with  what  was  termed 
milk  sickness  and  passed  away.  His  widow 
with  her  children  later  removed  to  Iroquois  coun- 
tv.  Illinois,  where  her  father.  Jonathan  Wright. 
lived.  Xo  portion  of  her  husband's  estate  ever 
reached  the  widow  or  any  of  the  children.  When 
about  seventeen  years  of  age  \\'ilson  S.  Kay 
began  an  investigation  concerning  his  father's 
affairs  by  going  to  Covington,  Indiana,  where 
the  estate  was  settled  and  there  he  found  that 
the  administrators  had  caused  the  whole  of  the 
estate,  eighty  acres  of  excellent  timber  land  with 
plenty  of  coal  on  it  together  with  the  steam  saw- 
mill, to  be  sold.  It  was  then  bought  in  by  the 
administrators  for  the  sum  of  eleven  dollars. 
About  1845  Mrs.  Ka\'  married  again,  becoming 
the  wife  of  Isaac  Courtright.  a  prominent  pio- 
neer settler  of  Iroquois  county.  Her  death  oc- 
curred in  Texas,  a  small  town  in  ]\IiddIeport 
township,  in  July.  1854.  She  died  of  cholera 
and  her  luisband  died  of  the  same  disease  the 
following  day. 

Wilson  S.  Kay  was  a  little  lad  of  seven  years 
when  with  his  widowed  mother  and  his  brothers 
and  sisters  he  returned  to  Iroquois  county  in  the 
summer  of  1838.  He  and  one  of  his  sisters,  who 
were  the  two  oldest  members  of  the  family,  found 
homes  with  strangers.  Wilson  S.  Kay  living  with 
.Samuel  Harper  near  Onarga  for  a  few  months, 
after  which  he  spent  four  years  with  Thomas 
\'ennum,  Sr.,  near  Milford-on-the-Mound.  At 
intervals  as  opportunity  offered  he  attended  the 
district  schools  and  later  had  the  licnefit  of  a 
year's  instruction  in  the  Milford  school.  He  was 
fourteen  years  of  a.ge  when  he  went  to  the  home 
of  his  sister  near  IMilford.  there  working  for  his 
bo.ard  and  the  opportunity  of  continuing  his  edu- 
cation. He  displayed  special  aptitude  in  his 
studies  and.  using  his  advantages  in  the  best  pos- 
sible way,  thus  became  ec|uipi)ed  for  the  profes- 
sion of  teaching,  which  he  followed  at  r)unkum 
for  a  vear.     The  mone\   thus  earned  enabled  him 


W  II. SON"  S.  KAV. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of   ILLINOIS 


IR()QL\)IS  "  '  •'   ^  !  V,  ILLINOIS. 


-'4.? 


to  {x-conic  a  student  in  Moinit  Morris  Seminary 
in  (  t^lc  county.  lIliihMs.  and  latter  he  a^ain  en- 
ffaned  in  teacliin^  for  a  few  years,  tliis  heiiiK 
folluwcd  by  a  course-  of  study  in  Asbury  ( now 
De  Pauw )  University,  of  (ireencastle,  Indiana. 
He  was  endowed  by  nature  witli  strong  mentality 
and  he  tlevelo|x-d  iiis  latent  |)ower>  tbrou);li  close 
application  while  in  schtnil  and  by  broad  readini; 
and    investigation    in    his    leisure    hours. 

On  the  i8th  of  July.  1832.  .Mr.  Kay  was  mar- 
ried in  lriM|uois  county  to  Miss  Susannah  Lrilch- 
field,  who  diid  in  .Si|»tember.  1855.  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  a  son.  William,  who  died 
in  infancy.  ( )n  the  6th  of  March.  i€S58.  Mr.  Kay 
weilded  .Miss  Livonia  M.  I'.urlin^nnc.  of  ( »nar- 
ga.  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  .\bner  and  Livonia 
(Turner)  Hurlinjjame.  She  was  lx>rn  in  New 
Berlin,  Chenango  county.  Xcw  York,  and  in  1835 
came  with  her  widowed  mother,  two  sisters  and 
a  brother  to  Illinois.  The  second  marriage  wai; 
blessed  with  five  children.  William  .\l)ner.  who 
was  l)orn  .\pril  2.  iWo.  die<l  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een months.  McClellan.  who  was  born  t  )ctobcr 
18.  1861.  for  many  years  jiracticed  law  with  his 
father.  He  was  educated  in  the  Watseka  public 
schixjl.  the  ( )narga  Seminary.  Michigan  State 
L'niversity  and  the  .Vorthwestern  University  of 
Evanston.  Illinois,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1884,  when  he  entered  into  partnershi]>  with 
his  father  and  Judge  Ivvans.  the  firm  later  be- 
coming Kay  &  Kay.  He  married  Llla  .Martin, 
of  Watseka.  Wilson  S..  born  IXvember  I'l, 
i8(._^.  diol  .May  21.  1872.  Livonia  Ruth.  Ixirn 
October  2.  iS^'i",  was  graduated  from  the  N'orth- 
western  University  at  I'"vasiiin  in  i8<;i  and  now 
ovMis  and  occupies  the  beautiful  Kay  homestead 
on  West  Walnut  streil  in  Watseka.  Donaltl 
Rurlingame.  Ixirn  June  ij.  1874.  died  in  Novem- 
ber of  the   same  year. 

When  first  married  .Mr.  Kay  lived  in  a  cabin 
near  Itunktun  and  taught  school  in  tliat  village. 
Subse<iuently  he  removed  to  Middle]>ort.  then  tlte 
county  seat,  and  in  i8frfi  he  made  his  home  alK>ut 
midway  l)etween  the  old  and  new  town,  now 
Watseka.  Ambitious  to  enter  other  professional 
life,  he  t<Kik  up  the  study  of  law  in  Middleport 
under  the  flirectioii  of  James  l-"letcher  and  in 
1837  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  after  which  he 
entered  upon  active  practice  in  Watseka.  From 
that  time  until  his  death  he  remained  in  active 


practice  and  was  accordetl  a  |)osition  of  promi- 
nence seconci  to  no  member  of  the  Innjuois  coun- 
ty bar.  In  fact  his  thorough  umlerstanding  of 
the  principles  of  jurisprudence,  his  correct  ap- 
plication of  his  legal  knowledge  to  the  [Xiints  at 
issue,  his  strength  in  argument  and  his  logical 
deductions  nude  him  the  peer  of  many  of  the 
ablest  memlKTs  of  the  |)rofession  in  Illinois.  .\ 
coiUemporary  biographer  said  of  him:  "He  |>os- 
.sessed  certain  eleiueius  of  dis|>osition  without 
which  success  in  the  legal  profession  is  hardly 
attainable — industry,  energ> .  ability,  tact  and 
last,  but  not  leiist.  comb.itiveness  and  true  cour- 
age. He  trusted  nothing  to  chance  that  his  sa- 
gacity deemed  necessary  to  his  case  when  care 
and  work  would  insure  success;  consequently  he 
won  the  reputation  of  Ix-ing  a  conservative  and 
safe  man  to  entrust  with  important  cases  and 
his  success  in  court  fully  justified  the  general 
popular  o|)inion  of  him." 

Mr.  Kay's  prominence  was  not  limited  alone 
to  the  profession  in  which  he  gained  a  ])osition 
of  marked  distinction,  for  he  became  a  recognized 
leader  in  other  walks  of  life.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  state  central  c<»nunittee  of  the  national 
democratic  party  and  supported  Palmer  and 
r.uckner  iluring  the  campaign  of  !8«/).  He  was 
one  of  the  three  judges  of  the  court  of  claims 
apiwinted  by  Ciovernor  Fifcr  in  1880.  He  was 
long  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  repri-senta- 
tives  of  denuKracy  in  his  portion  of  the  state 
and  his  o]iininns  were  frit|ueiuly  decisive  factors 
in  the  councils  of  his  |)arty.  In  .Masonry  he 
attained  the  Knight  Templar  degree.  In-longing 
to  Watseka  liMlge.  No.  44<>.  .\.  F.  &  .\.  M.; 
Watseka  clia|)ter.  .\o.  114.  R.  .\.  M:  and  Ivan- 
hoe  commandery.  K.  T..  of  Kankakee,  while 
later  his  membership  was  transforme<l  to  Mary 
coinmantlery  of  Watseka.  He  was  also  ctin- 
necte<l  with  the  t  )rder  of  the  Eastern  Star  and 
with  the  Odd  l-'ellows  and  at  the  time  of  his  de- 
mise was  one  of  the  oldest  Masons  of  the  county. 
That  he  <lisj)layed  business  ability  asiile  from  his 
]»rofession  is  indicated  by  his  jutlicious  invest- 
ment in  pro|K-rty  and  he  In-canK-  the  owner  of 
over  five  hundred  acres  of  farming  land,  aliout 
four  hundred  acres  of  which  was  adjacent  to 
Watseka  on  the  southwest,  while  thirty  acres  lay 
inside  the  corjxiration  limits.  Mr.  Kay  at  all 
times  displayed  sound  judgment,  whether  in  mat- 


244 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ters  relating  to  his  profession  or  to  public  or 
private  interests.  He  stootl  tor  progressive  and 
public-spirited  citizenship  and  was  the  opponent 
of  misrule  in  all  niunici]3al  or  state  affairs.  He 
had  high  ideals  of  right  and  wrong  and  his  life 
exemplified  his  principles.  Moreover  the  strong 
traits  of  his  character  were  manifest  in  the  way  in 
which  he  faced  the  hardships  and  privations  of 
his  earlier  \ears  and  molded  opportimitv  to  his 
own  ends,  gradually  working  his  way  upward 
until  he  occupied  a  prominent  position  among 
the  sucessful  residents  of  Iroquois  county,  com- 
manding at  the  same  time  the  respect  and  honor 
of  the  people  of  intellectual  force,  who  regarded 
him  as  an  equal,  while  from  the  great  mass  of 
humanity  he  received  the  deference  which  is  al- 
wavs  accorded  true  worth. 


DAXIEL  M.  .MARQUIS. 

Daniel  2vl.  Marquis  is  one  of  the  old-time  resi- 
dents of  Iroquois  county,  and  is  successfully  con- 
ducting a  brick  and  tile  factory  at  Mil  ford.  He 
also  mantifactures  cement  blocks  for  building 
purposes  and  there  is  large  demand  for  these. 
His  energies  are  directed  along  well  defined  line? 
of  labor  leading  to  success  and  the  years  have 
brought  him  a  gratifying  measure  of  prosperitv. 

Born  in  Logan  county,  Ohio,  February  14. 
1836,  Mr.  ]\Iarquis  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Marquis, 
a  native  of  \'irginia.  The  father  accompanied  his 
parents  on  their  removal  to  Knox  count\-,  ()hio. 
where  he  followed  farming,  and  in  that  county 
he  married  Lucinda  Axtel,  a  native  of  Washing- 
ton county.  Pennsylvania,  .^ubseciuently  he  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits  in  Knox 
county  for  two  years  and  then  removed  to  Logan 
county,  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days,  pass- 
ing away  on  the  12th  of  April,  1865.  when  fifty- 
six  years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1884,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two  years. 

Daniel  ^M.  Mar(|uis  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
children,  eight  of  whom  reached  years  of  matu- 
rity. He  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  and 
when  a  young  man  followed  carpentering  for  ten 
years.  He  was  early  trained  to  habits  of  indus- 
try and  economy  and  the  lessons  wliich  he  thus 
learned    in    youth    have    been    of    much    jiraclical 


value  to  him  in  his  business  life.  In  1858  he 
made  a  trip  westward  to  Omaha,  Nebraska,  trav- 
eling part  of  the  way  by  stage,  and  for  three  years 
he  followed  carpentering  there.  Returning  to 
Ohio,  he  was  married  on  the  loth  day  of  Septem- 
ber. 1862,  to  Miss  Sarah  B.  Downs,  a  native  of 
( )hio,  and  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Downs,  who  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire  and  became  an  early 
resident  of  Logan  county,  Ohio.  Soon  after  his 
marriage  Mr.  Marquis  removed  westward  to  Illi- 
nois and  purchased  si.xty  acres  of  prairie  land  in 
Iroquois  county.  He  there  built  a  house,  which 
he  improved  and  he  bought  more  land  from  time 
to  time  until  he  had  become  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  five  acres,  constituting  a  valuable 
property  in  Milford  township,  owing  to  the  care 
and  labor  which  he  had  bestowed  upon  the  fields 
and  which  brought  them  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation. 

Air.  Marquis  lost  his  first  wife  in  1881,  and  on 
the  loth  of  September,  1884,  he  was  again  mar- 
ried, his  second  union  being  with  Alary  Louisa 
Strain,  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  daughter  of 
David  Strain,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Iroquois 
county.  He  was  a  native  of  Washington  cotmty, 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1818,  and  there  he  grew  to 
manhood.  In  1834  he  came  to  Illinois  and  estab- 
lished his  home  in  Iroquois  county,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  occupation  of  farming.  In  1840  he 
was  married  here  to  Aliss  Sarah  Haney,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  Washington  county,  Indiana,  in 
1823.  She  is  now  in  her  eighty-fourth  year  and 
makes  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Marcpiis. 
Her  husband  died  January  12.  1866.  at  the  age 
of  fort)-seven  years,  after  which  she  carefully 
reared  their  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
reached  vears  of  maturity.  Mrs.  Marquis  is  the 
eldest  of  this  family  of  two  sons  and  six  daugh- 
ters. She  has  one  sister  in  this  county — Mrs. 
I'rank    Fndsley,    of    Milford. 

Mr.  Man|uis  continued  to  engage  actively  in 
farming  until  1884.  when  he  sold  his  land  and 
turned  his  attention  to  industrial  pursuits,  ])ur- 
chasing  a  brick  plant,  which  in  ]Ht)j  hv  removed 
to  its  present  location  in  .Milford.  lie  has  in- 
stalled new  and  iniprnved  machinery  and  is  ])re- 
pared  to  make  eighteen-inch  tile.  \\'hen  running 
to  the  full  capacity  the  output  is  fifteen  thousand 
brick  per  day,  and  from  two  to  four  thousand  tile 
dailw    while    employment    is    furnished    to    from 


IRugUOlS  COUNTY.  II.I.INc  »1S. 


245 


eipht  to  ton  men  in  tlie  busy  soason.  Mr.  Mar- 
quis is  thi>roiijjhly  conversant  with  the  Ix'si  nictli- 
otis  of  pnnhiciiiR  these  proilucts.  keeping  in  touch 
with  tile  iniproveinents  that  liave  In-en  made 
thnuifih  invention  and  experiineiu  and  he  fintis 
an  excellent  sale  for  his  output.  He  also  manu- 
factures cement  lil<x-ks  for  building  purposes  and 
this  part  of  his  business  is  jjrowinK  ra|>idly. 

In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Manpiis  is  a  .Ma- 
son. belt>npinjj  to  the  lodjje  at  .Mil ford,  and  his 
wife  is  connected  with  the  l-'asteni  Star.  .She  is 
also  a  memlK'r  of  the  .Metho<list  Episcopal  church 
and  is  a  lady  of  many  pood  (|ualities.  .Mr.  Mar- 
quis votes  with  the  ilemocracy  on  national  ques- 
tions. He  has  never  .sought  or  cared  for  public 
office,  serA'inp  at  i>ne  time  as  road  commissioner 
for  two  terms  but  otherwise  holding  no  ])ositions 
of  |)olitical  preferment.  I  le  belongs,  however,  to 
that  class  of  representative  .\merican  citiy.ens 
who,  while  advancing  individual  interests  con- 
tribute also  to  the  public  welfare.  He  has  now 
reached  the  Psalmist's  allotted  span  of  three 
score  years  and  ten  and  his  has  lx?en  an  active 
life  characterized  by  stalwart  pur|K)se,  by  fidelity 
to  principle  and  by  honor  in  all  his  relations  with 
his  fellowmcn.  He  is  a  genial  and  c<iurteous  gen- 
tleman and  his  position  in  i)ublic  regard  is  one  of 
prominence. 


HIR.\M    H.   HOTALl.\(l 

Hiram  H.  Hotaling  is  a  retired  farmer  residing 
in  Crescent  City  and  his  intense  and  well  directed 
activity  in  former  years  onstituted  the  basis  of 
a  success  that  now  enables  him  to  live  comfort- 
ably without  recourse  to  further  lalxir.  .\  na- 
tive of  N'ew  York,  he  was  born  in  ( )nondaga 
county,  Septenil)er  22,  185^).  and  is  a  son  of  (iar- 
rett  H.  and  Harriet  (Wallace)  Hotaling.  The 
father  was  a  miller  in  Haldwinsville,  New  York, 
but  both  he  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased,  the 
latter  having  dei«rted  this  life  when  their  son 
Hiram  was  only  eleven  years  of  age.  The  father 
long  survived  and  passed  away  in  January,  1905. 
Hiram  H.  Hotaling  was  educatcfl  in  the  common 
schools  of  Xew  York,  in  the  high  schiM)l  of  Syra- 
cuse and  in  Haldwinsville  .Academy,  and  thus  was 
well  equipped  by  liberal  intellectual  training  and 


culture  for  the  responsible  and  practical  duties  of 
life.  in  1870,  wlien  twenty  years  of  age,  he 
came  to  the  west,  living  in  Chicago  for  one  wm- 
ter,  after  which,  in  the  spring  of  1877.  he  went  to 
Colorado.  .\  few  months  later,  however,  he  re- 
turned to  Chicago  and  in  July,  1877,  came  to 
lro<|uois  county,  establishing  his  home  u]M)n  a 
farm  in  Danforth  township  near  <iilman.  His 
first  purchase  of  land  in  this  county  comprised 
seventy-six  acres  and  came  into  his  jMissession 
in  1881.  .\t  a  later  date  he  sold  that  and  iKiught 
three  hundred  and  eight)  acres,  also  in  Ifcmfnrth 
lownshi]).  which  he  still  owns.  He  im|»roveil  all 
of  his  land,  tiled  it  and  converted  it  into  rich  and 
]>roduclive  fields,  raising  the  cereals  Ix-st  adapted 
to  soil  and  climate.  He  also  raised,  Ijought,  fed 
and  shipped  sttx'k.  In  fact,  his  farm  is  largely 
devoted  to  live-st<x"k  interests  and  he  Ix-came  well 
known  in  the  county  as  a  leading  stockman. 

.Mr.  Hotaling  was  married  in  i8S<j  to  .Miss 
Frances  K.  Ilallam.  a  daughter  of  Doc  S.  Hal- 
lam,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Irocpiois  county  and  a 
well  known  character  in  an  early  day.  He  came 
to  Illinois  from  \\'ashingti)n.  Pennsylvania,  and 
in  the  Keystone  state  was  a  chum  to  Major  Har- 
rington, of  Watseka.  He  was  a  great  lover  of 
dogs  and  horses  an<l  was  a  typical  pioneer  set- 
tler, widely  known  in  the  county  and  having  the 
warm  friendship  of  many  with  whom  he  came  in 
contact.  I'nto  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Hotaling  have  been 
born  ten  children :  Harriet,  the  wife  of  Charles 
A.  Lee,  of  Danforth  township:  Crace  and  Garrett 
H.,  who  are  living  at  home:  (ieorge  E.,  who  is 
in  the  livery  business  at  Crescent  City  :  Homer, 
-Mbcrt,  Jeanette.  Edith  and  Mal)el,  all  of  whom 
are  still  under  the  parental  rtHif:  and  one  child, 
who  died  unname<l  in  infancy. 

Mr.  Hotaling  gives  his  political  allegiance  to 
the  rejniblican  party  and  is  prominent  in  its  lo- 
cal ranks,  while  his  opinions  have  fre<piently  been 
decisive  factors  in  its  councils.  He  has  served 
as  assessor  and  supervisor  of  I")anforth  and  was 
the  only  republican  supervi.sor  Danforth  township 
has  ever  had.  the  fact  of  his  election  indicating  his 
))ersonal  popularity  and  the  confidence  ami  trust 
re|M»sed  in  him  by  his  fellow  townsmen.  .Socially 
he  is  comiecte<l  with  Crescent  Citv  lotlge.  N'o. 
('>oj.  I.  ( ).  ( ).  F.,  also  with  the  Inxpiois  encamp- 
ment at  Watseka.  He  is  likewise  a  memln-r  of  the 
Mo«lern    WiwKlmen  camp   at    Crescent    City   and 


246 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


he  and  his  wife  are  connected  widi  the  Royal 
Neighbors  there.  He  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs 
in  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  and  has  been  president 
of  the  Iroquois  County  Agricultural  Society  for 
ten  years  without  drawing  any  salary  for  his 
services.  He  has  discharged  the  duties  of  the 
position  with  marked  capability  because  of  his 
deep  interest  in  agricultural  progress  and  be  has 
helped  to  make  the  fair  held  by  the  society  one 
of  the  best  in  the  state.  For  twenty  years  he  act- 
ed as  superintendent  of  the  horse  department  and 
has  done  much  to  stimulate  an  interest  in  high 
grade  stock  and  thus  promote  the  value  of  live- 
stock interests  in  the  county.  'Mr.  Hotaling  has 
justly  earned  the  proud  American  title  of  a  self- 
made  man,  as  with  limited  capital  he  came  to  the 
west,  dependent  practically  upon  his  own  re- 
sources for  all  that  he  has  achieved  and  enjoved  in 
life.  His  close  application  to  his  business,  his 
unremitting  diligence  and  his  ability  in  control- 
ling agricultural  interests  have  been  an  ele- 
ment in  a  success  which  is  as  honorable  as  it  is 
gratifying-. 


JAMES  F.  HARWOOD. 

Among  the  lo_\-al  soldiers  of  the  Union  that 
Iroquois  county  furnished  to  the  government 
during  the  darkest  hour  of  the  historv  of  the 
country,  James  F.  Harwood  is  numbered,  and 
for  three  years  he  served  as  a  valiant  defender 
of  the  stars  and  stripes,  participating  in  many 
of  the  important  Iwttlcs  in  which  that  emblem  of 
the  Union  cause  led  the  troops  forward  to  vic- 
tory. He  is  now  successfully  farming  in  Iro- 
quois township.  He  is  a  western  man  by  birth, 
training  and  perseverance,  and  the  spirit  of  en- 
terprise and  progress  which  has  been  dominant 
in  the  upbuilding  of  this  section  of  the  country 
is  manifest  in  him. 

He  was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  March  21.  1834,  and  was  a  lad 
of  eight  years  when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  in  company  with  his  parents.  His  fa- 
ther, Frederick  Harwood,  drove  across  the  coun- 
try with  horses  and  carriage,  arriving  in  the 
month  of  April,  1842.  He  established  his  home 
near  Crescent  City,  trading  his  horses  and  the 
carriage   for  a   farm.      He  also  entered   govern- 


ment land  adjoining  the  tract  which  he  pur- 
chased and  with  characteristic  energy  he  began 
to  clear  and  cultivate  the  land,  transforming  the 
wild  prairie  in  course  of  time  into  rich  and  pro- 
ductive fields.  When  he  arrived  here  there  were 
only  three  cabins  within  miles  of  his  place.  It 
seemed  that  the  work  of  development  and  civil- 
ization had  scarcely  been  begun  in  this  part  of 
the  state,  for  much  of  the  land  was  still  un- 
claimed and  was  raw  or  a  swamp.  He  had  a 
farm  where  the  town  of  Crescent  City  now 
stands  and  died  upon  that  place  when  sixty-six 
\ears  of  age.  Local  advancement  and  national 
progress  were  always  causes  dear  to  his  heart. 
His  wife  long  survived  him  and  died  at  the  age 
of  seventy-eight  vcars. 

James  F.  Harwood  was  largely  reared  amid  pi- 
oneer scenes  and  environments  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, and  his  memory  bears  vi\-i(ll\-  the  imj^ress  of 
many  of  the  early  historic  annals  of  this  part 
of  the  state.  He  was  a  student  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  the  summer  seasons  worked  in  the 
fields,  thus  gaining  practical  knowledge  of  the 
best  methods  of  carrying  on  the  farm.  He  has 
always  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  and  in  early  life 
worked  out  as  a  farm  hand  for  ten  dollars  per 
month.  Saving  his  earnings,  he  at  length  ac- 
cumulated capital  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  pur- 
chase forty  acres  of  land  at  two  dollars  and  a 
half  per  acre.  He  made  this  purchase  in  1856 
and  subsequently  he  bought  the  farm  whereon 
he  now  lives  at  four  dollars  per  acre.  All  of  the 
buildings  upon  it  have  been  erected  by  him  and 
the  work  of  improvement  has  been  carried  for- 
ward until  he  now  has  a  fine  farm  property 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres.  He  has  sold 
his  other  farms  and  still  deals  in  real  estate, 
adding  materially  to  his  income  in  this  way.  He 
is  a  good  business  man,  sagacious  and  far-sighted, 
and  through  the  careful  direction  of  his  efforts 
has  met  with  gratifying  success. 

In  1862  Mr.  Harwood  enlisted  in  the  army 
as  a  member  of  Company  A,  Seventy-sixth 
Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers  under  Captain 
Harrington.  He  served  for  three  years  with 
that  command  and  the  nature  of  his  service  is  in- 
dicated by  the  fact  that  he  was  a  participant  in 
the  sanguinary  battles  of  \'icksburg  and  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  Rlakelx'.  Alabama,  and  man\'  others. 


MR,  WD  MRS.  JAMES  F.  HARWOOU. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


-249 


Alth<>uj;li  lu"  was  iK'vcr  wmiiidcil  he  framciitly 
was  in  tlic  thickcsl  of  the  f^hl  aiul  at  one  time 
was  in  the  rejjiment  hospital  witli  measles.  He 
reci'iveil  an  houoralile  disch.ir^e  at  (iaiveston. 
Texas,  in  iS<i5,  ami  \wi»g  sent  tlience  to  Chica^jo. 
was  imistiTed  out  and  |>aid  otT  in  tliat  city,  after 
which  he  returned  home.  In  iiis  citizenship  he 
has  since  manifested  the  same  loyalty  which  he 
(lisplaved  when  upon  southern  hattle-fields  he 
followed  the  starrv    hanner  of  the  nation. 

Mr.  Harw<x>d  was  marrietl  to  Miss  I'aimie 
Kerh\.  of  Iro<|Uois  coimty.  and  they  have  three 
children:  James,  who  we<lded  (iertrude  Lamp- 
Ik'II  and  lives  near  his  father:  Peter  and  Helen. 
Ixith  at  home.  Politically  .Mr.  Ilarwood  is  ;i 
democrat  hut  not  an  active  politici:in.  lie  he- 
lonjjs  to  the  tirand  .\rmy  of  the  Rcpnhlic  hut 
his  time  and  ener^es  have  larijely  throutrhout 
his  life  lieen  centered  upon  his  farmin^j  inter- 
ests, and  his  close  application  and  unfallerin).; 
cncrjjy  have  made  him  a  successful  man. 


CAPTAIN"   KLK.WAII   DOOLITTLE. 

Captain  Llkanah  Doolittle.  who  ileparted  this 
life  in  (  )narjja,  November  n>.  i!^;".  won  his  title 
hy  valorous  service  in  the  Civil  war  and  for  many 
years  was  counted  with  the  re])resentative  citi- 
zens of  Ir(X|iiois  county.  Me  was  horn  July  iCt. 
iS2t).  in  New  York  city,  whence  his  father  re- 
moveil  to  Oneida  county.  .\'iw  York,  and  later 
to  Newark.  New  Jersey.  Captain  Dixilittle  re- 
ceived liberal  educational  advantages  in  the  east- 
ern metropolis  and  In-came  a  civil  cnyini-er  by 
profession.  I-'ollowing  that  ])i;rsuit.  he  was  en- 
gaged with  railroad  survey  anil  construction  work 
between  Ojjdensburjj  and  Plattsburg.  New  York, 
and  in  1831  he  came  west  to  Illinois,  making  his 
way  to  Chicago,  where  he  soon  entered  into  busi- 
ness relations  with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company  as  a  civil  engineer.  Hstablishing  his 
home  in  Irocjuois  coimty.  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  county  surveyor,  which  ])osition  he  ac- 
cei)tably  filled  until  1858.  when  he  returned  to 
Connecticut,  where  his  people  were  then  living. 
He  remained  in  New  England  until  after  th.  out 
break  of  the  Civil  war. 


When  the  call  for  triK>ps  was  made  ami  men 
from  all  stations  of  life  Hocke<l  to  the  standard 
of  the  nation,  going  from  the  workshop.  . 
room,  the  offices  and  the  fields,  he  too  j' 
army,  enlisting  in  18(1.2  in  the  Twentieth  Connec- 
ticut N'olunteer  Infantrv.  in  which  he  was  com- 
missioned first  lieutenant,  l-ater  he  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  captain  and  served  for  eight- 
een months,  when  he  resigne<l  and  returned 
home.  He  was  in  a  lunnlKT  of  iu)|iorlani  engage- 
ments but  suffered  a  sunslnjkc  on  the  fieUI  of 
<iettysburg  and  this  incapacitated  him  for  fur- 
ther duty,  so  that  he  gave  up  his  ]Kisition  and  re- 
turned to  the  north.  He  tiKik  part  in  a  nmnlnT 
of  the  hotly  contestid  engagements  of  the  war, 
incluiling  the  sangumary  conflict  at  (iettysburg 
where  cliarge  after  charge  was  made  by  the 
Union  troo])s  and  repulsed  until  at  last  they  were 
able  to  hold  their  ground  ami  another  4th  of  July 
prix-Iaimed  a  victory  for  the  Union  an<l  the  re- 
|>ublic.  the  birth  of  which  had  been  celebrated 
eighty-seven  years  In-fore. 

In  i8<i«i  Captain  Doolittle  again  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  at  <  )n:irga.  where  he  engaged  in  merchan- 
ilising.  Ill  became  one  of  the  prosperous  busi- 
ness men  of  the  county  and  was  widely  known  in 
conmiercial  circles.  He  had  been  married  dur- 
ing his  earlier  residence  in  <  )narga.  Miss  Try- 
phenia  Pangborn  becoming  his  wife  in  1832.  She 
was  a  native  of  (  )hio  but  was  reared  in  IriHpiois 
comity,  her  father.  Thomas  .\l.  Pangborn.  hav- 
ing been  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  county,  lo- 
cating here  in  1837.  He  entered  land  from  the 
government,  broke  the  prairie  and  develo|H'd  a 
farm  which  is  still  in  possession  of  the  faniily. 
It  was  after  the  return  of  Captain  I")c)olittle  to 
<  )narga  that  he  lost  his  first  wife,  who  passed 
away  in  i8(')S.  There  were  four  chiMren  by  that 
marriage,  of  whom  two  arc  living:  Milton,  who 
is  married  an<l  resides  in  Nebraska;  and  Thonias 
K.,  who  is  marrie<l  and  lives  with  his  brother  in 
northern  Nebraska.  The  ebler  brother.  Milion. 
has  two  children,  Charles  .Marston  and  Helen  .\., 
while  Thomas  K.  Doolittle  has  six  children:  Mil- 
ton F...  Warren  .\..  Thomas  P..  .\daline  .\.,  Em- 
ily J.  and  I  losmer.  ( )n  the  26th  of  .\ugust,  i8<h;. 
Captain  Doolittle  was  again  married,  his  second 
union  iK-ing  with  Miramla  Panglxirn.  who  was 
Uirn.  reared  and  educated  in  lriH|iiois  county.  In 
his  [Kilitical   views  the  Captain   was  a  democrat 


250 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


where  national  issues  were  involved  but  at  local 
elections  cast  an  independent  ballot,  supporting 
the  men  whom  he  regarded  as  best  qualified  for 
office.  After  his  marriage  he  located  on  the  old 
home  farm,  where  he  resided  for  several  years, 
when  his  residence  was  destroyed  by  fire  about 
1884.  He  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Onarga, 
where  he  purchased  residence  property  that  is 
now  occupied  by  his  widow,  it  being  her  father's 
old  home.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Epis- 
copal church,  while  his  wife  was  reared  in  the 
Methodist  church  and  is  a  member  of  the  con- 
gregation of  that  denomination  at  Onarga.  Cap- 
tain Doolittle  belonged  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  held  membership  in  the  lodge,  chapter 
and  commandery,  becoming  a  Knight  Templar  at 
New  Haven,  Connecticut.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 
From  the  time  of  his  return  in  1866  Captain  Doo- 
little continuously  made  his  home  in  Iroquois 
county,  either  upon  his  farm  or  in  the  county  seat. 
He  was  well  qualified  for  the  profession  of  civil 
engineering  and  he  was  equally  able  in  his  farm- 
ing operations,  w'hich  were  carefully  managed 
and  brought  to  him  a  good  financial  return.  In 
citizenship  he  was  ever  loyal  and  progressive, 
manifesting  the  same  fidelity  to  the  country  that 
he  displaved  when  on  southern  battle-fields  he 
followed  the  stars  and  stripes.  In  every  relation 
of  life  he  was  honorable  and  reliable  and  his  death 
was  therefore  the  occasion  of  widespread  regret. 
Mrs.  Doolittle,  since  the  Captain's  demise,  has 
traveled  to  some  extent  in  the  west,  visiting  the 
Pacific  coast  on  two  different  occasions  and  also 
Nebraska.  At  her  husband's  demise  she  took 
charge  of  the  farm  and  business.  She  now  has 
with  her  her  husband's  grandson,  Milton  E.  Doo- 
little, whom  she  is  educating,  he  being  now  a  stu- 
dent in  the  Dakota  \\'esleyan  University,  at 
Mitchell,  South  Dakota. 


W.  O.  CARRINGTON. 

W.  O.  Carrington,  a  farmer  of  Loda  town- 
ship, living  on  section  22,  his  land  adjoining  the 
village  of  Loda,  has  made  his  home  in  Iroquois 
county  since  1864.  He  is  a  native  of  the  neigh- 
boring state  of  Indiana,  where  his  birth  occurred 


in  Putnam  county,  on  the  17th  of  March.  1847. 
His  father,  ^lilton  Carrington,  was  a  native  of 
Kentucky  and  was  there  reared  and  married,  set- 
tling afterward  in  Indiana,  where  he  lost  his  wife. 
Subsequently  he  was  married  in  Henry  county, 
Indiana,  to  Nancy  Sears,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
and  to  provide  for  his  family  he  followed  agri- 
cultural pursuits.  In  1864  he  came  to  Iroquois 
county,  settling  in  Ash  Grove  township,  but  he 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  home, 
for  his  death  occurred  the  following  year.  His 
wife  long  survived  him  and  died  in  Loda  in  1899. 

\\  .  O.  Carrington  was  a  young  man  of  seven- 
teen years  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  fam- 
ily to  this  county.  He  had  attended  school  to 
some  extent  in  Indiana  but  his  educational  priv- 
ileges were  somewhat  limited  and  he  is  largely 
indebted  to  the  school  of  experience  and  reading 
in  leisure  hours  for  the  knowledge  that  he  has 
acquired  and  which  makes  him  a  well  informed 
man.  Reared  to  the  occupation  of  farming  he 
has  made  it  his  life  work.  For  several  years 
he  operated  rented  land,  and  he  completed  his 
arrangements  for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by 
his  marriage,  on  the  ist  of  April,  1871,  in  Loda 
to  Miss  Havannah  Willis,  who  was  born  in 
Michigan  but  was  reared  in  Iroquois  county. 
For  three  years  thereafter  Mr.  Carrington  was 
employed  by  the  year  at  farm  labor,  after  which 
he  rented  land  and  was  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own  account  for  a  number  of  years.  Care- 
fully saving  his  earnings,  in  1903  he  purchased 
a  neat  and  well  improved  farm  of  forty  acres 
on  section  22,  Loda  township.  In  the  midst  of 
this  stands  a  large  residence  and  in  the  rear  of 
the  dwelling  there  is  a  good  barn  and  other  build- 
ings affording  ample  shelter  to  grain  and  stock. 
The  farm  adjoins  the  corporation  limits  of  Loda 
and  in  its  care  he  displays  good  management  and 
practical  methods. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carrington  have  been  born 
four  children  :  Charles  M. ;  Frances  A.,  the  wife 
of  C.  L.  Whittaker,  of  Buckley,  by  whom  she  has 
four  children ;  Edward  Otis,  who  is  married  and 
is  a  telegraph  operator  and  station  agent  at 
Birkbeck,  Illinois ;  and  John  Wesley,  at  home. 
Fraternally  a  Mason,  his  membership  being  with 
the  blue  lodge  at  Loda,  Mr.  Carrington  is  also 
connected  with  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  the 
Knights  of  Pvthias.     In  the  last  named  he  has 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  Ikl.IXOIS. 


25' 


served  through  all  of  the  chairs  ami  is  a  past 
chancellor.  His  wife  is  a  memher  of  the  Chris- 
tian  church.  He  votes  with  thi-  republican  party 
and  although  he  is  not  a  politician  in  the  sense 
of  office  seeking  he  has  servetl  as  highway  coni- 
niissioner  of  I'igeon  (irove  tcnvnship  and  has 
been  on  the  school  board  for  several  vears. 


nil  ».\iA.s  1-.  w  ii..M)\. 

Thomas  V.  Wilson,  engaged  in  general  fann- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  section  ^^.  Ashknni 
township,  has  in  addition  to  this  proi>erty,  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  located  along 
the  Ircxpiois  river  and  a  fine  home  and  other 
residence  property  in  the  village  of  Ashkum,  all 
of  which  indicates  that  he  is  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  the  county  and  his  position 
has  been  gained  by  close  application,  earnest 
purpose  and  commendable  business  methods. 

liorn  in  Danville,  Illinois.  June  5.  1850,  he 
was  only  two  years  of  age  when  brought  to  Iro- 
quois county  by  his  parents.  John  and  Amy  (Car- 
son) Wilson,  who  located  in  Iroquois  township. 
The  father  was  born  in  Baltimore.  Maryland,  and 
when  a  yoimg  man  came  to  Illinois,  being  mar- 
ried in  Danville,  where  he  engaged  in  teaching 
school.  He  was  a  surveyor  by  profession  and 
followed  that  pursuit  throughout  his  entire  life 
although  to  some  extent  he  also  engaged  in  other 
vocations,  and  in  this  capacity  he  became  well 
known  throughout  the  state  as  well  as  locally. 
He  did  survey  work  for  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road and  also  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  his 
business  contracts  called  him  into  various  sections 
of  the  country.  He  served  for  years  as  county 
surveyor  of  Iroquois  county,  proved  a  most  ca- 
pable official  as  was  indicated  by  his  retention 
in  the  position  through  a  long  period.  He  was 
also  postmaster  at  Plato,  this  county,  for  a  great 
many  years  but  had  to  give  up  the  office  just 
before  his  death,  being  at  that  time  the  oldest 
postmaster  in  the  state.  He  died  fin  his  farm 
on  the  Iroquois  river.  July  l.  iS*j\.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years  and  ten  months,  while  his 
wife  survived  him  for  but  three  months.  She 
was  a  representative  of  an  fild  Xew  England 
family.  In  the  Wilson  family  were  eight 
14 


children,  five  sons  and  three  daughters:  John 
and  .\lfrtd.  who  are  living  u|M)n  the  hume 
farm;  Uruce.  who  follows  farming  near  Wat- 
seka :  Joseph,  who  is  connected  with  the  live- 
stock business  in  Chicago  at  the  Union  Stuck 
Yards;  Mrs.  i'auline  Greenwoixl,  a  resident  of 
Washington;  Isabella,  the  wife  of  William  Dixon, 
of  this  county;  and  a  half-sister.  Mrs.  liliza 
lieynolds.  who  is  .1  vvid.  lu-.  now  living  in  the  state 
of  Washington. 

Thomas  F.  Wilsuu  was  reared  in  Iro<iu<iis 
county.  Mis  educational  privileges  were  rather 
limited  but  his  training  at  farm  labor  was  not 
meager.  He  has  followed  farming  during  much 
of  his  life  and  for  the  past  thirty-eight  years 
has  resided  in  Aslikum  township,  wlure  he  luiw 
owns  and  controls  good  propirty  on  section  ^i. 
The  soil  is  very  rich  and  productive  and  brings 
forth  good  crops  in  reward  for  the  care  and 
labor  which  he  bestows  upon  the  fields. 

Mr.  Wilson  has  been  twice  married.  He  first 
wedded  Miss  Melissa  Fulford.  l-'or  his  second 
wife  hechose  Miss  Ca/rie  Hurley,  of  Chebanse, 
Illinois,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  1870, 
but  in  her  girlhood  days  came  to  this  state  with 
wife  he  chose  Miss  Carrie  Hurley,  of  Chebanse, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  five  children,  all  of 
whom  were  born  in  .\shkum  and  all  are  at  home, 
namely :  Agnes,  Fremont,  Richard.  Helen  and 
( )rville. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  democrat 
but  without  aspiration  for  office.  He  belongs  to 
the  Congregational  church  of  Ashkum  and  his 
interest  centers  in  those  lines  of  life  and  public 
activity  which  have  for  their  object  the  welfare 
and  substantial  development  of  the  community. 


MILTON'  H.  COX. 


Milton  H.  Cox.  who  has  retired  from  agricul- 
tural life  and  makes  his  home  in  the  village  of 
Chebanse.  was  born  in  Marshall  county,  \'ir- 
ginia,  October  17,  1850,  and  is  a  son  of  Samuei 
and  Rho<la  (Gray)  Cox.  wlio  were  natives  of 
that  county  and  in  18^)5  became  residents  of  Belle 
Plain  township,  Marshall  county.  Illinois.  The 
father  departed  this  life  in  1880.  since  which  time 


252 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


the  mother  has  Hvcd  witli  her  son.  .MiUon  H. 
Cox,  and  is  now  eighty-three  years  of  age. 

In  the  state  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Co.x  of  this  re- 
view spent  the  lirst  fifteen  years  of  his  life  and 
then  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to 
the  middle  west.  He  was  afforded  a  common- 
school  education  but  he  started  out  in  life  with 
verv  limited  financial  resources.  He  was  reared 
to  the  occupation  of  farming  and  resorted  to  that 
department  of  activity  as  a  means  of  livelihood, 
continuing  to  engage  in  general  farming  pursuits 
up  to  the  time  of  his  retirement  from  active  life. 
He  worked  persistently  and  energetically,  plac- 
ing his  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  adding  many  modern  improvements  to  his 
farm.  As  the  years  passed  he  harvested  good 
crops  and  thus  added  to  his  income  from  the 
sales  of  both  grain  and  stock.  He  is  still  the 
owner  of  five  hundred  and  seventy-five  acres  of 
rich  and  productive  land  in  Lincoln  township, 
Calhoun  county,  Iowa. 

Mr.  Cox  was  married  on  the  loth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1869,  in  lielle  Plain  township,  Marshall 
county,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Cynthia  Perry,  a  resident 
of  that  place,  and  they  have  become  parents  of 
eight  children :  Franklin  P.,  who  is  ojjerating 
one  of  his  father's  farms  in  Calhoun  county, 
Iowa :  T,  \\'illard,  who  is  farming  in  North  Da- 
kota;  Gertie  P..,  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Nordhausen, 
who  is  operating  a  part  of  her  father's  land  in 
Iowa ;  Mary,  who  makes  her  home  with  her  par- 
ents ;  Cora,  the  wife  of  George  Blaney,  a  farmer 
of  Chebanse  township:  Lillian,  the  wife  of 
Harvey  Allen,  who  is  farming  a  part  of  her  fa- 
ther's land  in  Iowa;  .\rthur  M..  a  printer  of 
Chebanse;  and  Oma,  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Cox  has  always  given  his  political  sup- 
]xjrt  to  the  democracy  but  in  more  recent  years 
has  had  strong  prohibition  tendencies  because  of 
his  attitude  on  the  temperance  question.  He  was 
police  magistrate  of  Chebanse  in  1903  and  1904 
and  served  as  school  director  for  eight  years. 
In  early  life  he  held  membership  with  the  Chris- 
tian church  but,  as  there  was  no  congregation 
of  that  denomination  in  this  part  of  the  county, 
after  his  removal  to  Illinois  he  placed  his  mem- 
bership with  the  Congregational  church,  of  which 
he  is  now  a  trustee.  He  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge.  No.  570,  of  Chebanse, 
and  passed  through  all  of  the  chairs  but  the  lodge 


has  since  been  disbanded.  He  belongs  to  Iro- 
quois camp.  No.  994,  ^I.  W.  A.,  in  which  he  has 
also  filled  most  of  the  offices.  His  life  has  been 
characterized  by  the  performance  of  each  day's 
duty  as  it  has  come  to  him  and.  brooking  no 
obstacle  that  honest  effort  can  overcome,  he  has 
steadily  worked  his  way  upward  until,  having 
long  since  left  the  ranks  of  the  many,  he  today 
stands  among  the   successful   few. 


W.  T.  WARD. 


W.  T.  Ward,  who  for  the  past  nine  years  has 
lived  retired  in  (  )narga.  but  for  nearly  forty 
\ears  was  actively  engaged  in  farming  in  Wood- 
ford and  Iroquois  counties,  Illinois,  is  a  native 
son  of  West  Mrginia.  His  birth  occurred  in  Mar- 
shall county,  November  15,  1839.  His  father, 
John  Ward,  was  born  in  the  Old  Dominion  and 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  Ward,  also  a  resident  of 
\'irginia.  In  the  state  of  his  nativity  John  Ward 
was  reared  and  after  arriving  at  years  of  ma- 
turitv  he  was  married  there  to  Harriet  Wheeler, 
a  native  of  .Maryland.  Mr.  Ward  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming  in  \"irginia,  reared  his 
familv  there  and  made  the  place  his  home  until 
about  1856.  His  wife  survived  him  and  came  to 
Illinois  in  1860.  settling  in  Woodford  county.  In 
their  famil\-  were  two  sons  and  five  daughters 
who  reached  adult  age  :  John  S..  who  is  living 
in  Des  Moines,  Iowa :  W.  T.,  of  this  review : 
Emma,  the  wife  of  Perry  Beckelhymer,  also  of 
Des  Moines,  Iowa;  Henrietta,  the  wife  of  W.  S. 
Wayman;  Mary  A.  and  Ellen  W.,  who  died  in 
West  Virginia;  and  Elizabeth,  who  died  in 
Woodford  county,  Illinois. 

In  his  native  state  W.  T.  Ward  spent  the  days 
of  his  childhood  and  youth  and  when  a  young 
man  came  to  Illinois.  1  Te  was  married  in  Wood- 
ford county,  September  26,  1869,  to  Miss  Mar- 
tha Ellen  Burnham,  who  was  born  and  reared 
in  Tazewell  county,  this  state.  They  began  their 
domestic  life  upon  a  farm  in  Woodford  county, 
where  for  many  years  he  carried  on  general  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  and  also  engaged  in  the  rais- 
ing and  feeding  of  .stock.  In  1882,  however,  he 
sold  his  property  there  and  in  the  spring  of 
1883  came  to  Iroquois  county,  purchasing  an  im- 


UBRARy 


W.   T.   WARD. 


MRS.  W.  T.  WARD. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IR()QLX)IS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


■»57 


proved  farm  of  ihrcc  Iniiulrcil  ami  twenty  acres 
in  .\rtcsia  township.  Locating  thereon  he  took 
up  tlK*  task  of  furliier  tlevclopinj,'  anil  iinprov- 
ini;  tlie  property.  He  tiled  and  fenced  the  land, 
brought  his  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  in  coiniection  with  the  raising  of  cereals 
iK'st  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climatic  conditions 
he  al.so  engaged  in  niising  high  gr.tile  horses  and 
cattle.  He  continued  to  live  upon  the  farm  until 
i8</>.  when  he  removed  to  ()narga,  where  he 
purchase<l  a  residence  that  he  has  since  occupie<I. 
I'or  the  past  ten  years  he  has  lived  retired  in 
the  enjoyuKnt  of  the  fruits  tif  his  former  toil, 
having  actjnired  a  comiK'tency  sufficient  to  sup- 
ply him  with  all  the  comforts  and  many  of  the 
ki.xuries  of  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ward  Ix-came  the  parents  of  five 
children :  Charles  \\'..  who  is  now  a  teacher 
of  linglish  ant!  elocution  at  the  Jacoh  Tome  In- 
stitute at  Fort  Deposit.  Maryland;  Isaac  H..  of 
Onarga,  who  is  niarried  ;md  h;is  one  child,  .\lar- 
jorie  .Mice;  Mary  Lllen,  the  wife  of  C  .M.  Can- 
non, a  farmer  of  this  county.  l>y  whom  she  has 
five  children.  ( irace  .\..  l'rl)an  \\'..  Ward, 
Charles  R.  and  Wendell;  W  illelta.  the  wife  of 
Dr.  J.  C".  De  I'ries,  of  Thawvillc.  by  whom  she 
has  one  son.  Walter;  and  Walter  T.  W;ird.  who 
was  a  student  in  the  high  scIiikiI  and  also  in 
the  seminary  at  Onarga.  completing  Iwth  courses 
and  now  taking  a  ctmimcrcial  course  in  the  (iran<l 
I'rairie  Seminary. 

The  parents  are  consistent  memlxrrs  of  the 
Methodist  Rpisco|)al  church,  in  which  .Mr.  W'anl 
is  now  serving  on  the  ollicial  Ixiard.  and  formerly 
he  was  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-schixjl 
while  on  the  farm.  He  has  taken  a  most  active 
and  helpful  part  in  matters  relating  to  the  general 
welfare  as  well  as  to  the  upbuilding  of  the 
church  and  his  intUience  has  been  a  imtent  ele- 
ment for  public  j)rogress.  A  life  long  republican 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  Iwllot  for 
.\braham  Lincoln  in  |W<4.  he  has  supported  each 
presidential  nominee  of  the  |)arty  since  that 
time.  He  has  never  sought  or  desired  office  for 
hinjself  an<l  while  on  the  farm  gave  his  undi- 
vided attention  to  its  development  and  manage- 
ment. He  is  now  serving,  however,  for  the 
fourth  year  as  jus-tier  of  the  ]>cace  ami  his  de- 
cisions are  strictly  fair  and  impartial.  He  ha< 
liccn  a  delegate  to  coimty  conventions  and  his  in- 


terest in  (Kiliiical  afTairs  is  that  of  a  public- 
spirited  citizen.  Mr.  Ward  has  s|>cnt  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  this  section  of  Illinois  and  for 
ftnir  decades  was  accounted  one  of  the  leading 
representatives  of  agricultural  interests.  Invcs- 
tig.ition  into  his  business  career  show- 
that  are  worthy  of  ailmiration  and  < 
:md  proves  that  success  is  not  a  nuitter  of  genius 
but  is  the  outcome  of  clear  judgment.  exiK-rience 
and  imiustrv. 


l-R.WK  D.\kLL\<.. 


I'rank  Darling,  a  resident  fanner  of  Concord 
township,  where  he  was  lx»rn  July  15.  1870.  is 
now  meeting  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  success 
in  his  chosen  life  work.  He  is  a  son  of  Lyman 
Darling,  who  is  mentioned  on  another  pafjc  of 
this  Work,  and  umler  the  |>arenta!  r<.»ii  he  siK-iit 
the  days  of  his  lioyhiHwl  and  youth,  entering  the 
public  schools  at  the  usual  age  and  therein  ac- 
•piiring  a  go<Kl  Lnglish  education.  When  not 
busy  with  his  text-l>ooks  he  worked  for  his  fa- 
ther ami  riinained  at  home  until  i8<)2,  when  at 
the  age  of  twenty-two  years  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account.  He  first  rented  eighty  acres 
of  land  from  bis  father  and  cultivated  it  for  one 
year.  I  le  afterward  livwl  on  the  TihUI  farm 
for  five  years  and  for  one  year  on  the  farm 
owned  by  Mrs.  Fry.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
]teri<Kl  he  removed  to  his  father's  farm  of  one 
lumdred  and  fifty-five  acri-s  in  (."oncord  town- 
shi|),  on  which  he  has  since  resided,  here  carrying 
on  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  an«l  raising  stock. 
He  is  practical  and  >ystemalic  in  his  metlnKls. 
progressive  in  all  that  he  undertakes  and  as  the 
result  of  his  carefully  directetl  laUjr  is  meeting 
with  desirable  success. 

.Mr.  Darling  was  marrie<l  in  Concord  town- 
ship, in  i8i)i,  to  Miss  .\nnie  .Maggs,  who  was 
Ixjrn  in  <  )hio  in  iWh>.  They  have  iK-conu-  the 
parents  of  six  children:  Wclthy.  Herschel.  Wil- 
liam, N\ta.  Maynar<l  and  Koyal.  The  p.irents 
hold  membership  in  the  Fresbyterian  clnircli  ami 
are  people  of  genuine  worth,  enjoying  in  large 
measure  the  friendship  and  regard  of  those  with 
whom  the>  have  come  in  contact.  .Mr.  Darling 
is  a  member  of  the  MorlctTi  Woodmen  camp  and 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


his  political  support  is  given  to  the  democracy. 
For  two  years  he  served  as  tax  collector  but  he 
has  never  had  ambition  for  office,  preferring  to 
concentrate  his  energies  upon  his  business  aft'airs 
and  thus  provide  a  comfortable  living  for  his 
familv. 


L.  T.  STOUTEMYER. 


L.  T.  Stouteniyer,  well  known  throughout  the 
community  as  Deacon  Stoutemyer,  resides  on  sec- 
tion 30,  Onarga  township,  and  his  time  and  at- 
tention are  given  to  farm  work,  for  he  owns  and 
cultivates  a  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  within 
a  half  mile  of  the  city  of  Onarga.  His  residence 
in  Iroquois  county  covers  a  period  of  only  seven- 
teen years  but  he  has  lived  in  Illinois  since  1865, 
coming  to  this  state  when  a  young  man  in  his 
twenty-fourth  year.  He  was  born  in  Aliami 
county,  Ohio,  near  New  Carlisle,  December  8, 
1841. 

His  father  was  W.  B.  Stoutemyer,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Page  county,  Virginia,  in  181 5,  and 
the  grandfather  was  Bernard  Stoutemyer.  a  na- 
tive of  Germany  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  Old  Dominion.     In  1827  he  removed  to  Ohio, 
settling  in  Miami  county,  where  in  pioneer  times 
he  opened  up  a  farm  and  there  W.  B.  Stoutemyer 
was  reared  to  manhood  amid  the  environments 
of  frontier  life.     Having  reached  adult   age   he 
wedded  Nancy  Ross,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania but  was  reared  in  the  Buckeye  state.     To 
provide  for  his  family  Mr.  Stoutemyer  followed 
farming  in  Miami  county  for  some  years  and  in 
that  locality  four  children  were  born  unto  him 
and  his  wife,  three  sons  and  one  daughter,  but 
the  latter  died  in  infancy.    In  1864  he  came  with 
his   family   to   Illinois,   settling   first   in   McLean 
county  upon  a  farm  near  Bloomington.     He  lost 
his  wife  there  in  February,  1879,  ''"fl  'i*-"  'ifter- 
ward  spent  his  last  days  with  his  sons  at  Chats- 
worth,  Illinois,  passing  away  in  April  of  the  same 
year.     In  the  family  were  three  sons  who  reached 
years  of  maturity,  the  surviving  members  of  the 
family    being   L.    T.   and   John    B.    Stoutemyer. 
The  latter,  who"  is  a  resident  of  Maminoth  Spring, 
Arkansas,    married    Virginia    Craft,    of    Little 
Rock,  that  state,  and  theyhave  one' child,  Glover. 


Edwin  Stoutem\er,  the  third  son,  who  died  at 
Carson  City,  Nevada,  in  1905,  married  Imogene 
Brooks,  of  Chatsworth,  Illinois,  and  they  had  five 
children  still  living,  while  their  eldest,  a  daughter, 
is  deceased. 

L.  T.  Stoutemyer,  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  was  largely  reared  upon  a  farm  in  Logan 
county,   Ohio,   and   in   July,    1862,   his   patriotic 
spirit  being  aroused  by  the  attempt  of  the  south 
to  overthrow  the  Union,  he  joined  Company  E, 
of    the    Forty-fifth     Ohio    Volunteer     Infantry. 
Going  to  the  south,  the  regiment  was  attached  to 
the    Twenty-third    Army    Corps    under    General 
Schofield.     It  did  duty  as  mounted  infantry  for 
a  vear  and  served  in  the  raid  after  ^Morgan  in 
Indiana  and  Ohio.     The  troops   then  proceeded 
to   Knoxville,   where  they  were  hemmed   in   for 
some   time    and    in    the    engagement    there    ?klr. 
Stoutemyer  was  wounded  by  a  gun-shot  wound 
in  the  head,  a  glancing  shot  which  cut  his  skin 
and   bruised   the   scalp.     He   participated   in   the 
battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville  against  Hood 
and   was   with   General   Burnside   through   Ken- 
tuckv  and  Tennessee,  participating  also  in  all  of 
the   battles   of  the   Atlanta   campaign,   including 
the  capture  of  the  city.     For  some  time  he  was 
ill  with  fever  in  the  hospital  at  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky, but  he  remained  with  the  army  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  mustered  out  at  Nashville 
and  honorably  discharged  at  Columbus.  Ohio,  on 
the  1st  of  July,  1865.     He  then  returned  home, 
joining  his  father's  family  at  Bloomington.  Illi- 
nois, on  the  2d  of  July.     He  spent  the  remainder 
of  the  year  under  the  parental  roof  and  then  went 
to    Chatsworth,    Illinois,    where    his    father   had 
purchased  land.     He  began  breaking  the  prairie 
on  that  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  and 
opened  up  a  farm  there. 

Mr.  Stoutemyer  was  married  first  in  Logan 
county.  Ohio,  in  February,  1868,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Kinnan,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  that  state 
but  her  death  occurred  in  1869,  the  year  fol- 
lowing her  marriage.  Later  Mr.  Stoutemyer  was 
married  at  Towanda,  Illinois,  to  Miss  Mary 
Esther  Newman,  by  whom  he  had  a  daughter, 
Emma,  now  the  wife  of  F.  L.  Clark,  of  Memphis, 
Tennessee.  They  have  seven  children :  Earl, 
Raymond,  Helen,  Esther,  Carl,  Emma  and  Jes- 
sie. Following  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Stoute- . 
myer  continued  to  engage  in  farming  near  Chats- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


■^5') 


worth  until  i8yo  and  it  was  tluTc  that  he  lost 
his  second  wife.  (  Mi  the  I'rtli  of  February.  1S75, 
at  MliKMuinjjt"".  Illinois,  he  wedded  .\iuia  J.  l-it- 
tlc.  a  native  of  Lonansjxirt,  Indiana,  where  she 
was  reared  and  educated,  .\fter  the  death  of  her 
parents  she  joined  an  aunt  in  Itlooniinnton,  Illi- 
nois. I?y  this  marriage  there  are  five  children: 
Mae.  who  is  a  pradiiae  of  the  ( Jnarfja  .Seminary 
and  has  successfully  en^ajjed  in  teachiiij;  for 
sonic  years;  Xanna  E..  who  is  engajjed  in  tcach- 
inj;  music ;  lulwin  K..  who  is  operating  the  old 
home  farm  at  Chatsworth  and  is  married  to  Nel- 
lie Sterne,  of  Dwight,  Illinois,  by  whom  he  has 
one  son.  X'crnon :  Rev.  John  Howard  Stoute- 
niyer.  who  is  a  minister  of  the  l'ia])tist  church  and 
a  well  educated  man ;  and  Marjjaret  L..  who  was 
jiratluated  from  tlic  .Northwestern  I'nivcrsity  in 
the  class  of  n/y).  .\11  the  children  were  pro- 
vide<I  with  excellent  educational  privileges  and 
are  graduates  of  academies  or  colleges. 

Mr.  Stoutemyer  continueti  to  reside  upon  his 
farm  near  Chatsworth  until  i8«jo.  when  he  re- 
moved to  his  pres<.-nt  ])lace  of  residence  i;n  sec- 
tion 30.  (  )narga  township,  lie  has  since  added 
to  and  improved  the  dwelling,  has  built  a  barn 
and  tiled  and  fenced  the  place,  continuing  in 
the  work  of  cultivation,  improvement  and  devel- 
opment until  he  now  has  a  very  valuable  farm 
property  here. 

Mr.  .Stoutemyer  has  cast  his  ballot  for  every 
presidential  nominee  of  the  rej)ublican  party  since 
voting  for  the  first  time  in  ifV>4.  when  he  sup- 
fHjrted  .\braham  Lincoln.  While  at  Chatsworth 
he  served  as  township  trustee  for  nine  years,  was 
also  commissioner  of  highways  for  nine  years 
and  did  much  to  improve  the  roads  in  that  ])art 
of  the  state.  lie  likewise  served  on  the  school 
board  for  twelve  years  and  has  been  district  clerk 
and  president  of  the  Ixiard.  The  cause  of  educa- 
tion has  always  fotmd  in  him  a  stalwart  champion 
and  his  efforts  have  l>een  far-reaching  and 
effective  in  its  iR-half.  He  has  been  a  delegate 
to  various  conventions  of  his  party  and  is  in- 
tereste<l  in  its  growth  and  success.  He  and  his 
wife  and  their  family  are  members  of  the  Ma])tist 
church,  in  which  he  has  served  as  deacon  for  a 
number  of  years,  while  at  Chatsworth  he  was  su- 
perintendent of  the  Sunday-school  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  Ixlongs  to  the  Grand  .\rniy 
post  at  Onarga  and  thus  maintains  pleasant  re- 


lations with  his  old  army  comrades.  His  life 
has  been  one  of  activity  in  businesss  affairs,  of 
patriotism  in  citizenship  and  of  progressiveness 
in  all  other  relations  tending  to  jjromote  the  in- 
tellectual and  moral  progress  of  the  imlividual 
and  of  the  communitv. 


JOHN  MYRtXN  .S.XYLER. 

John  IJyron  Sayler  is  a  stock  buyer  and  ship- 
per of  Crescent  City,  conducting  a  successful  and 
growing  business.  His  birth  rKrcurred  on  the 
25th  of  .\pril.  i85(j,  in  Marion  county.  ( Jhio. 
His  father,  Barnhart  Sayler.  came  to  Ir<H|iiois 
county  with  his  family  in  1883  and  settled  south 
of  W'atseka  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  acres,  where  he  carried  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  and  stock-raising.  The  land  was 
rich  and  fertile  and  therefore  large  crojjs  were 
gathered  as  a  reward  for  the  care  and  labor  he 
bestowed  on  the  fields.  He  had  twelve  children 
an<l  also  reared  an  adojjted  child.  Four  of  the 
number  are  now  living  in  the  comity :  John 
r.yron.  f)f  this  review;  Mrs.  Myrtle  Greene,  of 
Woodland:  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Smead,  of  W'atseka; 
and  W.  O.,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching  school  at 
Thawville.  One  brother.  .\.  L.  .Sayler.  died  at 
W'atseka.  leaving  three  chililren.  Arab.  Wallace 
and  \'ena. 

.\t  the  usual  ;ige  Jolm  I'.yron  >a\ier  began  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  and  after  mas- 
tering the  branches  of  learning  therein  taught 
he  profited  by  thrtr  years'  instruction  in  the 
Northwestern  I'nivcrsity  of  ( )hio.  The  occu])a- 
tion  to  which  be  was  reared  claimed  his  attention 
after  he  had  com])leted  his  schod  life  and  he  fol- 
lowed farming  anti  stock-raising  in  Irotpiois 
county  until  i8<>4.  when  he  resolved  to  turn  his 
attention  to  commercial  interests  and  removed 
to  Crescent  City,  where  he  has  since  Ix'cn  buying 
and  shipping  live  stock.  The  rich  pasture  lands 
of  Illinois  offer  ample  opportunity  to  the  stock- 
raiser  and  Mr.  Sayler  is  doing  an  excellent  busi- 
ness in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  stock,  being  the 
only  buyer  at  Crescent  City.  His  business  has 
constantly  gmwn  and  he  now  ships  fifty  car- 
loads of  stock  per  year.  1  le  still  owns  and  inter- 
est in  the  old  homestead   in   Belmont   township. 


26o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


A  man  of  resourceful  business  ability,  he  has 
extended  his  eflforts  into  other  fields  of  activity 
and  is  a  director  and  the  second  vice  president  of 
the  First  National  Bank  of  Crescent  City.  The 
years  of  his  residence  in  the  county  and  his  close 
connection  with  its  business  interests  are  suffi- 
cient to  have  demonstrated  to  his  fellow  towns- 
men the  fact  that  he  is  a  reliable  and  enterpris- 
ing man  and  therefore  a  citizen  of  value  to  the 
community  because  it  is  upon  the  industry  and 
progressive  spirit  of  its  residents  that  the  pros- 
perity and  growth  of  every  town  or  city  depend. 

Air.  Savler  married  Miss  Lucy  Grunden,  who 
resided  near  Watseka  and  is  a  daughter  of  John 
Grunden,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Iroquois  coun- 
ty but  now  a  resident  of  the  Indian  Territory. 
Both  Air.  and  Airs.  Sayler  are  well  known  in  this 
locality  and  their  hospitality  is  greatly  enjoyed 
by  many  friends.  They  have  one  child,  Golda 
Evangeline,  born  Alarch  6,  1892. 

Mr.  Sayler  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge. 
No.  649,  at  Woodland,  and  is  also  a  member  of 
Crescent  camp.  No.  1429,  M.  W.  A.,  while  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  connected  with  the  Ro\-al 
Neighbors.  At  the  polls  his  political  endorse- 
ment is  given  to  the  republican  party  and  he  is 
one  of  the  prominent  representatives  in  Iroquois 
county  and  serving  now  on  the  central  committee. 
For  six  years  he  filled  the  office  of  mayor  of 
Crescent  City  and  has  also  served  as  alderman 
and  village  clerk.  It  was  through  his  efl:'orts 
that  the  city  secured  the  water  power  which  is 
one  of  the  best  in  the  county.  .As  chief  execu- 
tive officer  he  gave  a  public-spirited  and  busi- 
nesslike administration  and  has  always  been  very 
active  in  local  affairs,  his  efforts  being  far-reach- 
ing and  beneficial.  Pleasantly  located  in  Cres- 
cent City,  he  is  a  factor  in  business  and  public 
life  in  the  town  and  his  opinions  carry  weight  in 
settling  many  questions  of  moment  to  Crescent 
Citv. 


ROBERT  CLIFTON. 


Robert  Clifton,  who  carries  on  genera!  agri- 
cultural piu-siiits,  making  his  home  on  section 
I,  Ash  Grove  township,  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  February  26,  1838.  His  par- 
ents were  TIi()nias  and  .Sarah   (Gullet)    Clifton, 


both  natives  of  Delaware,  from  which  state  they 
removed  to  Warren  county,  Indiana,  in  1833,  lo- 
cating in  the  midst  of  the  forest,  where  the  fa- 
ther hewed  out  a  farm.  He  died  there  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years,  and  his  wife  at  the  age  of 
seventy-nine.  They  were  earnest  and  consistent 
members  of  the  Alethodist  church. 

In  his  youth  Robert  Clifton  had  but  common- 
school  advantages  and  his  most  valuable  lessons 
have  been  learned  in  the  school  of  experience, 
where  eventually  every  individual  becomes  a  stu- 
dent. Reading  and  observation  have  also  broad- 
ened his  mind  and  he  is  now  a  man  of  practical 
business  education.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1865 
and  has  since  lived  in  Iroquois  county,  purchas- 
ing land  upon  which  he  now  makes  his  home. 
He  first  bought  one  hundred  acres  of  raw  prai- 
rie, on  which  no  improvements  had  been  made 
nor  a  single  furrow  been  turned,  but  he  broke 
the  sod  and  developed  the  farm,  bringing  it  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  later  bought 
eighty  acres  adjoining  and  afterward  fifty  acres 
more  and  still  later  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
more  in  Crescent  township,  which  also  adjoins 
the  former  tracts.  The  home  farm  comprises  one 
hundred  and  ninety-three  acres  and  his  posses- 
sions in  Crescent  township  cover  two  hundred 
and  ten  acres,  so  that  he  now  has  more  than  four 
hundred  acres.  Some  of  this  land  was  swampy 
and  all  was  wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came 
into  his  possession.  The  digging  of  ditches  and 
the  placing  of  many  rods  of  tiling  have  greatly 
enhanced  the  fertility  of  his  fields,  while  the  ro- 
tation of  crops  has  made  the  soil  very  product- 
ive. Mr.  Clifton  has  put  up  good  buildings  and 
the  beautiful  grove  of  shade  trees  which  now 
adorns  the  place  was  set  out  by  him.  Year  after 
year,  from  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  until 
crops  were  harvested  in  the  late  autumn,  he 
worked  diligently  and  persistently  in  the  fields 
and  in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  cereals 
best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate  he  has  also 
bought  and  fed  stock,  shipping  annually  a  num- 
ber of  carloads  of  cattle  and  hogs.  Thus  his  life 
for  a  long  period  was  a  most  bus\-  and  useful 
one  hut  eventually  he  rented  the  farm  and  now 
looks  after  and  keeps  up  the  place,  but  leaves  the 
active  work  of  the  fields  to  others. 

j\lr.  Clifton  was  married  in  Belmont  township, 
Iro(|Uois   county,    November   20.    1867,   to    Miss 


MK.  AM)  MKS.  R015ERT  CLIFTOX. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  Of   IIIINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.INOIS. 


263 


Nancy  C.  John,  who  was  Imrn  and  roared  in  tl>is 
county.  Her  lathi-r,  Lcnuid  John,  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  an  older  !)rother  alniut  iS_^j.  ln-in^  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Ir(K|uois  county.  The  jour- 
ney was  niatle  from  Ohio,  his  native  state,  in 
which  he  sihmU  his  youth.  The  year  of  his  ar- 
rival was  the  one  in  which  the  I'lack  Hawk  war 
occurred  and  practically  ended  the  rule  of  the 
red  race  in  this  state,  altliouj^h  for  s<nne  years 
thereafter  Indians  could  still  he  seen  in  various 
sections  of  Illinois.  The  forests  were  lujcut,  the 
rivers  unhrid^ed  and  the  land  undainieil  and 
uncultivated  and  the  settlers  had  to  hear  all  the 
hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  Mr.  John 
was  married  here  to  Catherine  Willianisoii,  a 
tiative  of  Indiana,  wlm.  however,  spent  her  fjirl- 
hood  days  in  Illinois.  Mr.  John  f<jllowed  farm- 
infX  in  I'.elniont  township  and  dieil  there  while 
in  the  prime  of  life.  His  widow  survived  him  for 
a  inuiilier  of  years,  carefully  reared  her  family 
and  passed  away  in  May.  iS^^i".  Mrs.  Clifton 
was  one  of  four  ciiildren  who  reached  adult  a^e. 
while  two  are  yet  livinp.  The  elder  dautjhter. 
Sar:di  J.,  married  denrpe  Wilson,  removed  west- 
wartl  to  .Nebraska  and  afterward  to  Idaho  and 
died  in  the  latter  .stale  in  n^J5.  .Mrs.  Clifton  is 
the  next  of  the  family.  Thcimas  Jnhn  is  a  fanner 
of  r.elinont  township,  owning;  and  operating  the 
old  honw  place.  Samuel  Ji>hn  is  a  merchant  at 
WiMxlland. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Clifton  iiave  two  daiijjhters : 
Mrs.  l-'rances  Hanunann.  who  is  a  widow  and 
resides  with  her  parents;  anil  .Mary,  the  wife  of 
Frank  I-'lemin;^.  ;i  farmer  of  C'rescent  township. 
The  older  daughter  has  two  children.  l3oris  Ruth 
and  Cilad\s  C.  Hammami.  and  .Mrs.  I'leminp  has 
two  children.  I.illis  J.  ami  Morris  C. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Clifton  are  w<>rth\  Christian 
people,  holdinjj  memhership  in  W'lHKllanil  Meth- 
o<list  Kj)iscopal  church,  in  the  work  of  which 
they  are  deeply  interested.  .Mr.  C'lilton  is  serv- 
ing as  one  of  the  trustees.  He  also  l)eli>ngs  t<> 
the  .Masonic  l<i<lge  at  W'atseka  and  in  jxilitics  is 
a  democrat  who  cast  his  first  vote  for  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  the  little  giant  of  Illinois,  in  i8/>o. 
He  has  ln-en  without  aspiratinn  for  puhlic  office, 
although  he  servetl  tor  twelve  years  on  the  scho<»l 
Imard  and  has  Ik-cu  <listrict  clerk.  The  peril  hI 
of  his  residence  in  lriK|uois  county  covers  nearly 
fortv  vcars,  so  that  he  is  one  of  tlie  few  remain- 


ing early  settlers  who  have  hroken  the  virgin  soil 
and  made  the  ditches  that  drained  the  swamps 
and  sloughs.  His  efforts  have  In-en  a  factor  in 
developing  and  improving  the  county  and  mak- 
ing it  what  it  is  tixlay  and  he  well  deservetl  class- 
ification with  the  valued,  progressive  and  dili- 
gent citizens.  His  life  has  In-en  at  all  times  an 
honorable  and  useful  one  and  he  and  his  estima- 
ble wife  have  the  warm  regard  of  niany  friends. 


HKNKV   1!    II  \K\  1".Y 


Henry  I!.  HarM_\  m.i>  I'l  ■•mi  -in  years  filled 
the  office  of  |)o.stmaster  at  Ci.ssna  Park  and  is  one 
of  its  representative  men.  .\  native  son  of  Iro- 
quois county,  he  was  born  in  .\sh  lirove  town- 
.ship.  March  J\.  i8<>5.  and  at  the  u.sual  age  \k- 
came  a  pupil  in  the  puhlic  schools.  He  after- 
ward ]>rotited  bv  instruction  in  the  I'ryant  & 
Stratton  Kusine.ss  College,  in  Chicago,  and  suh- 
seipiently  was  engagetl  in  merchandising  with 
his  father  at  .\sh  (irove.  where  they  continued 
fi>r  several  years.  In  i8i;o  they  removed  the 
business  to  Cissna  Park  and  continued  the  con- 
duct of  their  store  there. 

Mr.  Harvey  was  api>ointeil  |)ostmaster  in  i<)OC> 
and  ri-a])|M?tnteil  in  11JO4  and  i<x>'^t,  so  that  his  ir.- 
cuml)ency  will  continue  for  ten  years.  He  has 
serveil  in  other  jKisitions  of  public  honor  and 
trust,  having  la-en  township  asses.sor  for  three 
vears  in  Ash  Grove  township,  township  collector 
of  Pigeon  (irove  township  for  two  years  an<l 
village  clerk  for  ten  years.  He  is  most  active 
and  influential  in  local  political  circles  and  has 
Inen  a  meniUr  of  the  central  conunittee  in 
Pigeon  Grove  township  for  four  consecutive  years 
and  had  previously  served  in  that  capacity  for 
two  years.  He  has  Iikewi>e  bivn  a  delegate  to 
numerous  conventions  of  his  party  and  docs  all 
in  his  ]»ower  to  promote  its  growth  and  insure 
the  adoption  of  its  principles.  He  is  one  of  the 
active  and  puhlic-spiritwl  citizens  of  Cissna 
Park  and  a  |)rominent  man  who  uses  his  influ- 
ence to  improve  and  advance  the  interesis  of  the 
conuiumity. 

Mr.  Harvey  \\a>  marrmi  111  v  i-mim  I'.nk. 
Jime  10.  |S<K>,  to  .Miss  Minnie  Densniore.  a  na- 
tive  of    Illinois,    who   was   bom   and    reareil   at 


264 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Hoopeston.  Her  fatlier,  John  Deiismore.  was  a 
pioneer  settler  and  business  man  of  Cissna  Park. 
Mrs.  Harvey  is  acting  as  assistant  to  her  hus- 
band in  the  postoffice  and  helps  him  conduct  the 
business  there.  He  belonfjs  to  the  Masonic 
lodge  at  Rankin  and  is  also  identified  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Cissna  Park,  has  served 
in  all  of  the  chairs  and  is  now  past  chancellor. 
He  is  president  of  the  Building  and  Loan  As- 
sociation here  and  has  been  a  promoter  of  many 
interests  which  have  had  direct  bearing  upon  the 
welfare  and  upbuilding  of  his  locality.  In  all 
life's  relations,  whether  in  public  office,  in  busi- 
ness or  in  social  circles  he  has  gained  the  good 
will  and  regard  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been 
associated  and  his  friends  speak  of  him  in  terms 
of  high  praise  and  kindly  esteem. 


GEORGE  H.  CLARK. 


George  H.  Clark,  a  worthy  representative  of 
the  industrial  interests  of  Crescent  City,  where  he 
is  successfully  conducting  a  blacksmith  shop,  was 
bom  in  Iroquois  county,  July  8,  i86r.  His  par- 
ents were  Henry  and  Martha  ( Parcel )  Clark,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter 
of  Ohio.  In  early  life  each  removed  to  Indiana, 
and  subsequently  they  came  to  Iroquois  count\', 
where  Henry  Clark,  who  was  an  agriculturist, 
owned  and  operated  a  fine  farm  in  Ini(|uois  town- 
ship. He  brought  his  land  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  manifested  great  thoroughness 
and  system  in  his  work.  He  hewed  trees  for  the 
Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad  at  the  time 
it  was  building,  hauling  ties  and  rails  used  in  its 
construction,  and  in  fact  aided  in  buihUng  the  line 
through  Crescent  City.  Unto  him  and  his  wife 
were  born  five  children  :  George  H. :  Arthur,  a 
resident  of  Kansas ;  John,  of  Oklahoma :  Bertha, 
of  Kansas  :  and  one  who  is  deceased.  The  father 
died  in  1906  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  the  mother  is  still  living  in  the  Sunflower 
state. 

The  public-school  system  of  Iroquois  countv 
afiforded  Mr.  Clark  his  educational  privileges. 
He  learned  the  black.smith's  trade  with  Cal  Burk- 
halter.  of  Gilman,  prior  to  which  he  engaged  in 
farming   and    threshing    for   ten    \ears.      U    was 


when  twenty-eight  years  of  age  that  he  began 
learning  the  blacksmith's  trade,  being  employed  in 
(iilman  until  1891.  He  then  engaged  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  and  in  August,  1893, 
built  a  new  shoji  in  Crescent  City.  He  is  one 
of  the  best  workmen  in  his  line  in  this  part  of 
the  county  and  is  now  the  oldest  representative 
of  the  business  in  the  town  in  years  of  continu- 
ous connection  therewith  save  one.  He  does 
general  blacksmithing,  carriage  and  rubber-tire 
work,  and  being  an  expert  in  his  line,  receives  a 
liberal  patronage. 

In  1885  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Clark  and  Miss  Hattie  F.  Kern,  of  Iroquois 
county,  a  daughter  of  Owen  Kern,  who  was  born 
in  Lehigh  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1834.  and 
went  to  Indiana  in  1839  with  his  father,  Henry 
Kern,  who  resided  in  Tippecanoe  county.  They 
removed  to  Iroquois  county  in  1855,  and  Owen 
Kern  Imilt  a  barn  on  a  farm  in  Crescent  township. 
He  then  returned  to  Indiana,  and  in  1858  he  re- 
moved to  Iroquois  county  with  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Catherine  (Peters)  Kern.  He  here  followed  car- 
pentering until  i860,  when  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farming,  being  associated  with  agricul- 
tural interests  in  the  countv  umil  1900,  when  he 
retired.  He  is  still  living  upon  the  farm  but 
rents  the  land.  He  owns  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  Crescent  township,  upon  which  he  has 
made  all  improvements,  transforming  the  tract 
into  a  very  valuable  and  productive  farm.  Mrs. 
Kern  is  also  living  and  is  a  devoted  member  of 
the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  Kern  gives  his 
political  allegiance  to  the  republican  party  and  for 
one  year  served  as  assessor,  for  eighteen  years  as 
school  director,  for  twelve  years  as  road  commis- 
sioner and  for  six  years  as  school  trustee.  He 
is  a  man  of  genuine,  personal  worth,  alert  and 
enterprising  in  business  and  public  spirited  in 
citizenship,  and  thus  in  the  conmiunity  where  he 
resides  has  become  highly  esteemed. 

Both  ]\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  church  and  fraternally  he  is  con- 
nected v^'ith  Crescent  camp.  No.  1425.  M.  W.  .\.. 
and  also  with  the  Yeomen  in  Crescent  City.  His 
political  allegiance  supports  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  republican  partx'  and  for  two  years 
he  was  city  clerk  of  Crescent  City.  He  owns  a 
nice  two-story  residence,  which  he  occupies,  be- 
ing pleasantly  located  in  life  as  the  result  of  hi.<j 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


265 


indiistn-  ami  diligence  in  fonner  yi-ars.  He  has 
always  live<l  in  this  cotnify,  so  that  his  acquaint- 
ance is  a  wide  one,  ami  that  he  is  lu'^t  liki-d  whore 
best  known  is  an  indication  that  his  salient  char- 
acteristics are  those  which  command  respect  and 
good  will. 


KinVAKl)  K.  I'.KKI'.K. 


Edward  R.  Beebe.  who  is  successfully  engaged 
in  general  fanning  and  stock-raising  in  I'ountain 
Creek  township,  his  home  In-ing  on  section  10. 
was  born  May  21,  i}<57.  in  Litchfield  county. 
Connecticut,  an«l  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  .\lniira 
(  Lockwoo<l )  IJeebe.  Me  was  only  two  years  old 
when  he  lost  his  father,  who  was  also  a  native 
of  Litchfield  county.  In  the  family  were  five 
children  and  those  still  living  are  Charles,  a  farm- 
er of  Prairie  (ireen  townshij).  IriKpiois  county; 
Edward  K..  of  this  review ;  and  .Stanley,  who  is 
conducting  a  store  in  Clayton ville.  Illinois. 

It  was  during  the  infancy  of  our  subject  that 
the  family  came  to  Illinois  in  i8<ij  and  locatetl 
in  I^  Salle  county,  where  he  was  reared  upon 
his  grandfather's  farm,  early  becoming  familiar 
with  agricultural  pursuits,  lie  came  to  Iro- 
quois county  in  1875  antl  has  since  been  identi- 
fied with  its  farming  interests.  (  )n  starting  out 
in  life  for  himsi-lf  he  engagetl  in  the  operation 
of  rental  land  and  as  time  passed  has  prospered 
in  his  undertakings,  eventually  boconu'ng  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  i-ight  hundred  acres. 
which  he  has  placed  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  improved  with  good  and  substantial 
buiUIings.  Throughdut  his  business  career  he  has 
given  considerable  attention  to  stock-raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  Norman  horses,  lie  has 
not  confined  his  attention,  however,  whollv  to 
agricultural  pursuits,  but  In-came  interested  in 
general  merchandising  at  Gaytonville  in  part- 
nershi|)  with  his  brother  .'^tanlex .  and  alxi  buys 
grain  at  that  place,  owning  a  third  interest  in  an 
elevator.  He  is  a  wide-awake,  jirogressive  busi- 
ness man  of  known  reliability  and  the  success 
that  he  has  achieved  in  life  is  due  entirely  to  his 
own  well  directe<l  efforts  and  gix^l  management. 

In  i8<>3  .Mr.  I!ee-lx'  was  uniteil  in  marriage 
to    Miss   l^ura    .Mav    Smith,   who   was   Ixirn   in 


Fountain  Creek  township  and  was  a  daughter 
of  .\aron  W.  .'^mith.  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the 
townshi]).  .*^he  died  in  .May.  iX«)3.  and  in  De- 
cember. tHtiX.  .Mr.  MeelK'  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  In-ing  with  Miss  Litmie  May  Wise, 
a  daughter  of  Jacob  J.  Wise,  whose  sketch  ap- 
jK-ars  on  another  j>age  of  this  volume.  l-"our 
children  bless  this  union:  Howard  M..  l'"orrest 
E..  Charles  Jacob  and  an  infant  yet  unnamed. 

Mr.  Meebc  is  a  member  of  the  MethcMlist 
church,  while  his  wife  Ix-longs  to  the  United 
I'.relhren  denomination.  I'raternally  he  is  con- 
nix-ti-<l  with  the  .Ma.sonic  order,  iK-longing  to  the 
Unlge  at  Rankin,  and  politically  he  is  identifie<l 
with  the  republican  party,  taking  an  active  an<l 
commendable  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  has 
been  a  delegate  to  the  conventions  of  his  party 
and  has  bi-en  honored  with  local  office,  serving 
as  |>ostmaster  of  Claytonville  for  about  eight 
years.  He  has  also  been  roail  commissioner  fif- 
teen years,  is  the  present  schrxil  treasurer  of  his 
ilistrict  and  has  served  on  the  Ixiard  for  several 
vears. 


EU(;ENE  LIloTE. 


Eugene  L'Hote.  editor  aiul  publisher  of  the 
Herald  at  .Milford  and  postmaster  of  the  tiiwn. 
has  Contributed  in  large  and  substantial  measure 
to  the  growth  and  develo]iment  of  the  city,  utiliz- 
ing practical  methods  while  working  toward  the 
icieal  and  accomplishing  results  the  value  of 
which  is  acknowledged  by  all.  He  was  bom  in 
Marshall,  Illinois.  .May  7.  iW>2.  and  was  given 
the  name  of  luigene  l'a\ne  L'Hote  but  never  uses 
either  the  middle  name  or  initial.  His  |)arents 
were  K<lward  and  Charlotte  ( Whaley )  L'Hote. 
The  father  wa>  Imrn  on  the  island  of  Guadalu|K' 
in  the  West  Indies  and  worked  on  the  New 
I  )rleans  I'icayime  when  it  was  printed  on  a  hand 
press  an<l  workeil  by  hand  balls.  Removing  to 
Illinois,  he  locate<l  at  .Marshall  in  an  early  day 
anil  was  married  while  there.  During  the  Lin- 
coln campaign  lie  published  a  pa|>er  callitl  the 
Hornet  and  was  afterward  posiuuister  imder 
President  Lincoln,  He  came  to  Milford  in  1S70 
and  purchased  the  Herald,  which  he  coiitimu-<l 
tmtil  |W<8.  when  he  was  succeeded  bv  his  son. 


266 


PAST  A\D  PRESENT  OF 


Eugene  L'Hote,  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
entered  his  father's  printing  office  at  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  and  has  since  been  identified  with 
journalism  in  Milford.  For  ten  years  he  was 
an  employe  in  the  office,  mastering  the  business 
in  every  department,  and  in  iS88,  bv  purchase, 
he  became  his  father's  successor  and  has  since 
published  the  Herald,  which  is  one  of  the  strong- 
est country  newspapers  of  eastern  Illinois.  The 
office  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  25th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1905,  entailing  a  loss  of  five  thousand  dol- 
lars less  fifteen  hundred  dollars  insurance.  Noth- 
ing was  saved  from  the  ruins  but  the  spirit  i>t 
the  proprietor  was  shown  by  the  fact  that  while 
the  fire  occurred  on  ^^'ednesday  the  paper  was 
issued  on  the  following  Friday.  He  has  today 
a  new  office  and  building  and  the  best  equipped 
plant  in  the  county.  The  postoffice  is  also  in  the 
building  and  both  the  newspaper  and  the  Iniildin^- 
which  it  occupies  would  be  a  credit  to  a  town  of 
five  thousand  population.  Mr.  L'Hote  was  ap- 
pointed postmaster  in  1900  and  has  held  commis- 
sions under  President  McKinley  and  Roosevelt, 
filling  the  position  at  the  present  time  and  giving 
a  businesslike  and  systematic  administration 
highly   satisfactory   to  the  public. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  L'Hote  is  a  stalwart 
republican  and  a  warm  champion  of  "L^ncle 
Joe"  Cannon.  He  publishes  the  paper  in  the 
interests  of  the  party  and  through  its  columns 
champions  many  progressive  public  movements. 
He  was  the  originator  and  became  secretary  of 
the  Milford  Improvement  Association,  whereby 
the  interests  of  the  town  have  been  greatly  en- 
hanced. He  was  the  promoter  in  the  movement 
toward  securing  the  rubber  factory  here,  an  im- 
portant addition  to  the  industrial  interests  of  the 
city,  and  it  was  he  who  secured  a  gift  of  seven 
thousand  dollars  from  Andrew  Carnegie  for  a 
library,  keeping  the  movement  secret  until  it  was 
successfully  accomplished  and  the  announcement 
was  made  in  the  paper.  He  put  in  a  public 
drinking  fountain  and  flowers  in  the  public  purk 
were  secured  through  entertainments  given  by 
his  eflforts.  Mr.  L'Hote  has  also  been  secretary 
for  years  of  the  Great  Afilford  Horse  Fair,  one 
of  the  big  fall  festivals  of  eask-ni  Illinois. 
While  not  a  member  of  any  religious  organiza- 
tion he  contributes  to  the  support  of  all  churches 
and  has  been  verv  generous  in  aid  of  the  erection 


of  new  buildings.  His  columns  are  open  to  all 
churches  and  his  belief  is  that  of  a  broad  humani- 
tarianism  that  believes  in  week-day  as  well  as 
Sunday  Christians  and  exemplifies  the  gospel  of 
helpfulness  and  brotherly  kindness.  He  has  been 
an  Odd  Fellow  since  twenty-one  years  of  age  and 
is  also  identified  with  the  Modern  \\'oodmen. 

Mr.  L'Hote  was  married  in  ^lilford,  Septem- 
ber 24,  1884,  to  IMiss  Elda  Fairman.  Her  fa- 
ther built  the  first  elevator  in  Milford  and  was 
a  leading  grain  merchant  here  for  years.  Their 
children  are  Lulu  E.,  Ray  F.  and  Elda  P.  Mr. 
L'Hote  and  his  family  are  prominent  socially. 
While  taking  a  very  active  and  helpful  interest 
in  public  affairs,  he  has  never  sought  to  figure 
prominently  before  the  public  in  connection  with 
political  office  and  the  only  position  that  he  has 
ever  filled  is  that  of  postmaster,  in  which  he  is 
now  .serving.  The  spirit  of  public  improvement, 
however,  actuates  him  in  all  his  life  and  his 
efforts  have  been  directly  beneficial,  his  worth  as 
a  citizen  placing  him  among  the  foremost  repre- 
sentatives of  Milford. 


THOMAS  WAND. 


In  a  history  of  the  county  embracing  its  pio- 
neer epoch  and  devoted  to  those  who  in  early 
days  became  residents  of  this  portion  of  the  state 
and  aided  in  shaping  its  policy  and  molding  its 
destiny  mention  should  be  made  of  Thomas 
\\'and,  of  Onarga,  who,  since  the  fall  of  1856. 
has  been  a  resident  of  that  city.  In  the  years 
which  have  since  come  and  gone  he  has  borne 
his  full  share  in  the  work  of  development  and 
upbuilding  here  and  while  neglectful  of  no  duty 
of  citizenship  he  has  at  the  same  time  carefully 
directed  his  individual  business  interests  along 
well  defined  lines  of  labor  until  he  is  now  one 
of  the  prosperous  residents  of  Onarga. 

.V  native  of  Scotland,  his  birth  occurred  in  the 
town  of  Dolar,  on  the  17th  of  May,  1832,  and 
in  early  life  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade  in  that 
land,  after  which  he  worked  as  a  journeyman 
in  different  towns.  The  favorable  reports  heard 
concerning  America  and  its  opportunities  awak- 
ened his  desire  to  become  a  resident  of  the  new 
world  and  when  a  young  man  he  took  passage 


Ill*  >.\I.\S  W  AND. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IR(X>1'01>  LULNTY.  II.I.IN'OIS 


269 


at  Livcr|K«>l  uiKMi  a  wt-stward  ImiuiuI  sailing  vc!.- 
si'l,  wliicli  was  li>iir  wri-ks  in  inakiii^  the  vnvai;*.- 
across  tlu-  Atlniuic.  diirinf;  wliicli  timr  a  >iMrc 
storii)  was  ciKouiiliTcd.  I^iulinjj  at  New 
t  >rliaiis.  Mr.  W  aiul  tlicmv  made  liis  \va\  up  ilic 
Mississippi  river  to  St.  L^mis  ami  afterward  to 
Chicagi>.  where  lie  worked  at  liis  trade  for  two 
years. 

lit  the  fall  of  i85(»  he  came  to  t  »nar(,'a.  where 
he  was  employed  at  his  trade  for  aliont  a  year, 
on  the  e.\pirati">n  of  whicii  periixl  he  estahlished 
a  merchaiit-t:iiiorinn  Inisiiiess.  wiiich  he  coii- 
ilucied  a  nnmlK-r  of  years.  He  then  extended 
the  scojK-  of  his  eiiterpri>e  liy  aildin^  a  stock 
of  jieneral  merchandise,  carrying  on  his  store 
with  constantly  incrcasinj;  success  until  18S8. 
He  thus  fi^:ured  prominently  in  commercial  cir- 
cles in  the  city  for  almost  a  third  of  a  century 
anti  on  selling  out  he  {K'rmanently  put  aside  busi- 
ness cares  an<l  is  now  liviufC  a  retired  life.  He 
has  erectetl  ei^jht  fjoo<l  residences  and  also  owns 
a  farm  alxiut  three  miles  from  Onarpa.  His 
property  interests  therefore  are  to  him  a  sub- 
stantial source  of  revenue  and  enable  him  to  en- 
joy many  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life. 

In  i85«j  Mr.  Wand  was  united  in  marriajie  to 
Miss  Mary  l-"ickle.  a  native  of  Indiana,  in  which 
state  she  was  reared.  They  traveled  life's  jour- 
ney tojjether  for  twenty-four  years  and  were  then 
se|)arati-<l  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Wand  in  18S3. 
They  had  become  the  ])arcuts  of  three  children, 
of  whom  the  eldest,  .\ndrew  Wand,  is  a  travel- 
ing salesman  residing  in  Sullivan.  Illinois.  He 
is  niarric*!  and  has  two  sons.  William  and  I'red. 
Thomas  C.  Wanrl.  the  second  member  of  the 
father's  family,  was  married  at  .\ew  I'hiladel- 
phia,  Illinois.  December  30.  i88/»,  to  Miss  l""lizti 
Harris,  who  was  l>)rn  and  reared  in  this  state 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Michael  Harris,  also  a  na- 
tive of  Illinois.  They  have  two  sons.  Walter 
and  Thomas  H..  and  the  father.  Thomas  C. 
Wand,  is  engaged  in  business  as  a  traveling  sales- 
man. The  only  daughter  of  our  subject  reached 
womanh(Kxl  and  passed  away  Decemlxr  iS.  iKS/i. 

Mr.  Waml  is  a  re|>ul)lican  in  his  political  views. 
but  v\as  formerly  ideiuitied  with  tlic  democracy, 
and  later  with  the  prohibition  party.  The  |K>si- 
tion  of  the  dcmi>cratic  party  upon  the  money 
question  led  him  to  transfer  his  allegiance  and 
for  some  years  he  has  now  snpjxirted  republican 


principles.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  mayor 
and  served  on  the  town  bo:ird,  but  not  <inl\  in 
iitVice  ha>  he  proven  his  public-spirited  devi>tiiiii 
to  the  general  gixxl.  In  fact  he  has  always 
stoiMl  for  progress  and  improvement  in  town  and 
county  and  has  Uen  a  liUral  contributor  to  the 
sup|K>rt  of  many  plans  and  movements  for  the 
iK-nefit  of  the  couinuinitv.  He  was  the  prime 
mover  in  incorporating  the  town  of  ( )narga  au<l 
s|)ent  considerable  time  and  money  in  accomplish- 
ing it.  of  which  fact  he  has  ever  reason  to  Ik- 
proud.  He  has  given  freely  for  the  building  of 
different  churches  ami  has  lent  his  aid  and  in- 
rtuence  to  many  measures  that  have  had  direct 
Inaring  u|>on  the  general  welfare.  His  religious 
faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the  .Meth- 
odist ICpiscopal  church  of  (  >narga  and  he  is  also 
a  valued  representative  of  the  <  )dd  I'ellows  ,si>- 
ciety.  in  which  he  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  and 
is  a  past  grand.  He  has  likewise  Inen  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  grand  lo<lge  «if  the  state  and  is 
thonjughly  in  sympathy  with  the  purposi-s  an«l 
l)rinciples  of  this  organization.  Living  in  Iro- 
(|uois  county  lliroughout  the  pericHl  of  his  man- 
hcKHl.  his  life  record  is  familiar  to  many  of  our 
readers  and  the  fact  that  he  is  be-st  liked  where 
best  known  is  an  indication  of  an  honorable,  up- 
right career.  In  this  country,  where  lal)or  is 
king,  he  has  Ix-eii  a  faithful  follower  of  that 
sovereign  and  it  has  been  through  his  diligence 
and  |ierseverance  that  he  has  gained  the  cred- 
itable jMisition  which  he  now  occupies  as  a  man 
of  affluence. 


I  \Mi:s  1:1,1  •. 


James  i:iu  is  one  of  the  public-spirited  citizens 
of  Ir<K|uois  county  who  was  long  associated  with 
agricultural  interests  to  the  Ijctternunt  of  farm 
life  in  general.  He  is  a  typical  representative  of 
the  middle  west,  alert  and  enterprising  with  true 
valuation  of  |>ossibilities  and  op|>ortunities  and 
of  the  love  <if  character  as  well.  Horn  in  Menard 
county.  Illinois,  on  the  22d  of  May.  1852.  he  is 
a  son  of  Harrison  and  Margaret  C  (. Alexander ) 
lUu.  The  father,  a  native  of  Virginia,  was 
rearetl  in  tlie  Old  Dominion,  and  when  a  young 
man  came  with  his  parents  to  Illinois.     He  w.is 


270 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


married  in  Menard  county,  to  Miss  Margaret  C. 
Alexander,  who  was  born  in  Sangamon  county, 
this  state,  and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Alexan- 
der, a  native  of  North  Carolina.  To  provide 
for  his  family  Harrison  BIu  followed  agricutural 
pursuits  in  ^lenard  county,  where  he  died  in 
April,  1855,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  years, 
leaving  three  children  to  the  care  of  his  wife,  who 
conducted  the  farm  alone  for  several  years.  She 
then  married  again,  becoming  the  wife  of  George 
Martin,  of  ^lenard  county,  and  there  were  three 
children  by  that  union.  Her  death  occurred  in 
1887  upon  the  home  farm  near  ^Nlilford,  Mr. 
Martin  having  removed  to  Iroquois  county  in 
1870,  at  which  time  he  purchased  land. 

James  Bin,  whose  name  introduces  this  record, 
was  reared  upon  the  old  home  place.  His  edu- 
cational privileges  were  somewhat  meager  but  in 
the  school  of  experience  where  eventually  all 
become  students  he  has  learned  many  valuable 
lessons.  Ambitious  to  engage  in  farming  on  his 
own  account,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  he 
bought  fifty  acres  of  land  in  Milford  township, 
which  he  farmed  for  two  years,  when  he  sold 
that  property  and  purchased  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 5,  ]\Iilford  township.  It  was  a  tract  of  raw 
land  but  he  brought  it  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation, adding  many  modern  equipments  and 
accessories.  He  further  made  arrangements  for 
having  a  home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  on 
the  3d  of  November,  1878,  to  Miss  Maggie  Crink, 
a  native  of  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  and  a 
daughter  of  Patrick  Crink,  who  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  epoch  in 
the  development  of  this  state.  Mr.  Bin  owned 
land  in  j\Iilford  township,  where  he  continued 
to  carry  on  general  agricultuarl  pursuits  for 
thirty-six  years,  and  in  1890  he  removed  to  JMil- 
ford,  from  which  place  he  has  superintended  his 
farm,  leaving  the  more  active  work  of  the  fields, 
however,  to  others.  He  made  a  creditable  record 
as  an  agriculturist  and  attained  a  measure  of  suc- 
cess most  gratifying,  lie  has  recently  purchased 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  in  South 
Dakota  near  Huron,  which  he  intends  to  improve. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bin  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  one,  James  Walter,  died  in  in- 
fancy. The  oldest  living  is  John  Harrison,  of 
Danville,  who  has  followed  the  drug  business  for 
a  year.     He  was  graduated  in  pharmacy  at  the 


Northwestern  University  of  Illinois,  and  he  is 
a  Knight  Templar  Mason.  Elmer  F.  is  now  a 
senior  in  the  law  department  of  the  Northwestern 
University,  at  Evanston,  and  still  makes  his  home 
with  his  parents.  Mr.  Blue  and  his  wife  attend 
the  Christian  church,  of  which  he  is  a  member 
and  he  also  fraternizes  with  the  ^lodern  Wood- 
men of  America.  Since  voting  for  U.  S.  Grant 
at  file  first  presidential  election  after  he  attained 
his  majority,  he  has  since  stanchly  supported  the 
republican  party.  He  served  as  assessor  for  two 
terms  and  as  tax  collector  for  three  terms  and 
the  trust  reposed  in  him  as  an  official  has  been 
well  placed  because  he  is  ever  tiiost  loyal  in  pub- 
lic service.  A  native  son  of  Illinois,  he  is  one 
whose  life  record  is  as  creditable  to  the  state  and 
in  the  years  of  his  residence  in  Iroquois  county 
he  has  won  uniform  confidence  and  regard  be- 
cause of  his  fidelity  to  a  high  standard  'of  con- 
duct, his  loyalty  in  citizenship  and  his  progress- 
iveness  and  reliabilitv  in  his  business  life. 


FRANKLIN  CLARKE. 

Franklin  Clarke,  after  many  years  of  active, 
honorable  and  successful  connection  with  agri- 
cultural pursuits,  is  now  living  retired  in  Sheldon 
in  a  beautiful  home  which  he  purchased  here. 
His  life  record  began  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
January  i,  i860,  his  parents  being  S.  K.  and 
Mary  (Darling)  Clarke.  The  father  was  born 
in  Coshocton  county,  September  25,  1833,  and 
when  six  years  of  age  was  left  an  orphan.  He 
afterward  lived  with  a  relative  for  about  nine 
years  and  was  employed  at  farm  labor  until  he 
reached  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  was  married 
October  13,  185 1,  to  Miss  Susan  Burrell,  who 
was  also  a  native  of  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and 
died  in  March,  1852,  After  his  marriage  ^Ir. 
Clarke  continuetl  working  by  the  month  until 
February  I,  1856,  when  he  was  a  second  time 
married.  Afiss  Mary  Darling,  also  of  Coshocton 
county,  becoming  his  wife.  He  then  rented  a 
farm  which  he  operated  until  1867,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  and  rented  a 
farm  from  Dr.  Fowler  in  Concord  township.  He 
lived  thereon  for  three  years  and  during  that 
period   lost   his   wife  on   the   5tli   of  July,   1870. 


IR(3QUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLIXOIS. 


They  had  four  children,  of  wliom  two  are  now 
living:  Franklin;  and  Mrs.  Isaac  McCoy,  of 
Stockland  township.  On  the  15th  of  October, 
187J.  S.  K.  Clarke  was  married  to  Miss  laniisa 
Baird.  who  was  also  bom  in  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  and  they  became  the  jiarents  of  six  chil- 
dren. In  the  spring  uf  1876  .Mr.  Clarke  pur- 
chased a  farm  in  Concord  township  and  has  add- 
ed thereto  until  he  now  owns  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  good  land  upon  which  he  yet 
makes  his  home.  He  has  placed  many  modern 
improvements  upon  it.  inchnling  goofl  buildings 
which  stand  as  nnnunienls  to  his  thrift,  enter- 
prise and  lalwr. 

Franklin  Clarke  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Illinois,  having  l)cen  brought  to  Iro- 
quois county  in  his  early  boyhooil.  He  has  since 
live<l  within  its  borders  and  he  was  reared  to  the 
work  of*  the  fann.  early  becoming  familiar  with 
the  duties  and  lalx)rs  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the 
agriculturist.  .Xmbitious  to  engage  in  farming 
on  his  own  account  and  to  own  a  grnid  tract  of 
land,  he  carefully  saved  his  earnings  and  made 
his  first  purchase  in  1893.  Ix'coming  owner  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  .'^lieldon  township 
which  is  still  in  his  possession.  With  character- 
istic energy  he  lx;gan  the  further  deveIo])mcnt 
and  improvement  of  that  place  and  carried  on 
the  work  of  the  farm  there  until  February,  IQ03. 
when  he  retired  and  removed  to  Sheldon,  pur- 
chasing a  beautiful  and  attractive  residence  that 
he  has  since  occupied. 

Mr.  Clarke  wedded  Miss  Orpha  Fleming,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Susan  (Perkins)  I'leming. 
of  whom  further  mention  is  made  on  another  page 
of  this  work.  Her  parents  arc  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garke  have  one  daughter.  Susie. 
born  February  22.  1892. 

The  political  allegiance  of  Mr.  Clarke  has  Ik-cu 
given  to  the  democracy  since  age  conferred  uiK)n 
him  the  right  of  franchise.  He  served  as  town 
clerk  of  .Sheldon  township  for  two  years,  was  roarl 
comnnssioner  for  six  years  and  while  living  in 
the  country  served  on  the  school  Ixord.  He  has 
also  been  administrator  of  a  numl)er  of  large  es- 
tates and.  having  l)ccn  chosen  for  this  f)fhce.  it  is 
indication  of  the  confidence  and  tnist  rqxiscd  in 
him  by  his  fellow  townsmen — a  trust  of  which  he 
is  well  worthy.  .Socmlly  he  is  connected  with 
the  Masons  and  with  the  Royal  Arcanum,  of 
15 


Sheldon,  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  all  of  his 
business  dealings  he  las  displayed  the  strictest 
integrity  and  honor  and  at  all  times  he  has  stood 
for  advancement  and  improvement  in  those  lines 
of  life  leading  to  intellectual,  politii-al,  social  ami 
moral  progress.  He  is  a  most  worthy  citizen 
of  the  conununity  in  which  he  lives  and  in  which 
he  is  now  enjoying  life.  He  keeps  two  Iwrses 
for  driving  purposes  and  is  most  comfortably  sit- 
uated in  a  pli-asant  and  commodious  home  tliat 
is  an  indication  of  his  business  ability  and  his  un- 
faltering enterprise  in   foniKT  vears. 


Ik  \\"K  I    iiM(  )I'i-:r. 


Frank  L.  I  looper,  of  W  .itseka,  judge  of  the  cir- 
cuit court,  is  one  whose  successful  career  stands 
in  contradistinction  to  the  old  adage  thai  a 
prophet  is  never  without  honor  save  in  his  own 
c<juntry,  for  in  the  county  of  his  birth  he  has  won 
prominence  and  honors  in  the  profession  which 
stands  as  the  conservator  of  human  rights  and 
liberties.  .\  native  of  Helmont  townshi|),  he  was 
born  on  the  2ist  of  .\pril.  i8/>4.  of  the  marriage 
of  John  R.  and  .Sarah  M.  (Harter)  Hoof>er, 
who  were  pioneer  residents  of  this  county.  The 
father  was  Iwrn  in  .Seneca  county.  New  York,  in 
1825,  and  when  a  lad  of  seven  years  accompanied 
his  parents,  Pontius  and  Lydia  (Clark)  Hooper, 
natives  of  Saratoga  cmmty.  New  York,  on  their 
renxjval  to  Clinton,  Michigan,  where  he  ac(juircd 
a  conniion-sch<iol  education  an<l  was  reared  to 
mercantile  pur.suits.  He  resided  at  West  Point, 
Intliana,  from  1840  until  i84()  an«l  then  went  to 
Ohio,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising  until 
1849.  H"-'  spent  the  last  mentioned  year  in  Day- 
ton, Ohio,  and  was  afterward  a  resident  of  In- 
diana until  1861.  when  he  came  to  InKjuois  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  He  then  engaged  in  the  cattle  busi- 
ness in  Watseka  until  1871  and  spent  the  ten 
succeeding  yrars  in  Danville,  returning  in  1881 
to  Watseka.  He  was  luarried  .\pril  21,  1852. 
in  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Sarah 
-M.  Harter,  who  was  born  in  Lafayette,  that  state. 
Mr.  Hoo()cr  voteil  with  the  democracy  and  was 
a  Roval  .\rch  Mason. 


2/2 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Frank  L.  Hooper,  one  of  a  family  of  four 
children,  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Danville,  Illinois,  in  1871,  and  after 
spending  some  time  as  a  student  in  the  hi,2:h 
school  there  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  the 
office  and  under  the  direction  of  Tracy  B.  Harris, 
of  Watseka.  He  afterward  pursued  a  full  law 
course  in  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann 
Arbor  and  subsequent  to  his  graduation  from 
that  institution  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar 
when  twenty-one  years  of  a.ge  and  entered  into 
partnership  with  T.  B.  Harris  for  the  practice  of 
law  in  Watseka.  That  connection  continued 
until  broken  by  the  death  of  Air.  Harris  and  in 
January,  1891,  Mr.  Hooper  entered  into  partner- 
ship relations  with  Hon.  Free  P.  Morris.  He 
has  reached  his  majority  in  the  length  of  his  con- 
nection with  the  Watseka  bar  and  has  long  been 
accorded  a  foremost  place  in  the  ranks  of  the 
legal  profession  here,  for  in  the  trial  of  causes 
he  has  displayed  clear  and  cogent  reasoning,  a 
thorough  imderstanding  of  the  law,  a  correct 
knowledge  of  precedent  and  marked  ability  in  the 
application  of  legal  principles  to  the  points  in 
litigation.  The  ability  which  he  has  displayed 
in  practice  led  to  his  selection  for  judicial  honors 
and  in  1905  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  circuit 
court,  following  the  death  of  Judge  Hilscher, 
and  is  now  sitting  upon  the  bench.  His  opin- 
ions indicate  a  breadth  of  jiulicia!  wisdom  and  a 
freedom  from  personal  bias  that  ranks  him  with 
the  able  men  who  have  sat  upon  the  circuit  bench 
in  eastern  Illinois. 

IMr.  Hooper  has  not  confined  his  attention  en- 
tirely to  the  practice  of  law  and  yet  it  has  been 
his  main  life  work.  The  firm  of  Morris  & 
Hooper,  however,  became  proprietors  of  the 
\\'atseka  electric  light  plant  and  are  also  inter- 
ested in  farm  lands  in  Iroquois  county.  Mr. 
Hoo]jer  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  judgment 
and  keen  sagacity  as  well  as  of  broad  judicial 
knowledge.  He  is  a  democrat  with  little  aspira- 
tion for  office,  yet  for  two  years  filled  the  posi- 
tion of  city  attorney  of  Watseka,  the  duties,  how- 
ever, being  in  the  direct  path  of  his  chosen  pro- 
fession. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  Wat- 
seka lodge.  No.  446,  A.  F.  &  A.  M. 

Mr.  Hooper  was  married  September  2i),  i8i;i. 
in  \N'atseka,  to  Miss  Grace  Willoughby,  who  was 
born  in  this  city  and  is  a  daughter  of  .Aaron  and 


Nancy  \\'illoughby,  early  residents  of  this  place. 
In  social  circles  Mr.  and  I\Irs.  Hooper  have  long 
occupied  a  position  of  prominence,  being  readily 
accorded  recognition  wherever  true  worth  and  in- 
telligence are  received  as  the  passports  into  good 
society.  Since  coming  to  the  bench  he  has  won 
the  favorable  criticism  of  the  public  and  the  pro- 
fession in  the  conduct  of  the  litigation  of  his 
court  and  since  entering  upon  the  practice  of  law 
his  career  has  been  marked  by  steady  progress 
indicative  of  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
clients,  of  close  reasoning  and  of  thorough  un- 
derstanding of  the  principles  of  the  law. 


PETER  B.  STRICKLER. 

Peter  B.  Strickler,  now  one  of  the  venerable 
citizens  and  honored  pioneer  settlers  of  Concord 
township,  has  had  a  varied  and  interesting  ex- 
]ierience  which  embraces  a  sojourn  in  California 
during  the  days  of  early  mining  excitement 
there  as  well  as  active  participation  in  various 
phases  of  life  on  the  frontier  in  Illinois.  Few 
residents  of  the  county  have  longer  resided  with- 
in its  borders,  for  it  was  in  1835  that  he  took 
up  his  abode  on  section  12,  Concord  township. 

Born  in  Virginia  April  6,  1827,  Peter  B. 
Strickler  was  a  son  of  Henry  D.  Strickler,  of  the 
Shenandoah  valley  of  X'irginia.  The  father's 
birth  occurred  in  1796  and  on  leaving  the  Old 
Dominion  he  traveled  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
tion until  he  reached  Iroquois  county,  Illinois, 
bringing  with  him  his  family  of  nine  cliildren. 
The  journey  was  made  by  wagon  from  the  old 
home  in  N'irginia.  They  proceeded  by  slow 
stages,  for  the  roads  were  very  poor  at  that  time, 
and  at  night  for  si.\  weeks  thev  cam]:)e(l  (Hit  by 
the  wayside.  At  length  reaching  his  destina- 
tion, Flenry  D.  Strickler  entered  from  the  .gov- 
ernment one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on 
section  12,  Concord  township.  The  land  office 
was  at  that  time  located  at  Danville.  Mr. 
Strickler  built  a  hewed  log  cabin  and  barn.  The 
linuse  was  twenty- four  by  thirty  feet,  was  two 
stories  in  height  and  had  a  split  floor.  It  also 
contained  glass  windows,  although  some  of  the 
early  dwellings  had  greased  paper  windows. 
There    Mr.    Strickler   made   his   home   until    his 


ill 


Ml.'     \.\I)  MRS.   I'KTI-.k  1!.  STUIeKl.KK. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSn>  Of  ILLINOIS 


IRtJQLOlS  COUNTY.  UJ.INOIS. 


275 


<lcath,  which  L>ccurrc«l  in  the  year  1883  after  a 
residence  of  almost  a  half  century  in  the  county. 
He  hail  |)riis]>iTc<I  in  hi--  nn(lertakinj;s,  so  that 
he  had  extendeil  the  houiularies  of  his  fann  un- 
til it  conipriseil  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres. 
For  some  time  he  ser%e<!  as  cun>ner  of  the  county 
and  ||j:ive  his  j>«>litical  aliej,'-iaiice  to  the  demi>c- 
racy.  His  wife.  Catherine  liruhaker.  was  Inirn  in 
\'irpinia  and  liy  her  marriaj;e  iH-canie  the  ninther 
of  tiiirteen  ol)il<!ren.  of  wii«Mn  f<>nr  ;ire  now 
livinp. 

I'eter  K.  ."^irukler  was  a  \outh  ol  cij.;lil  years 
when  he  left  the  ( )ld  IXmiinion  and  w  ith  his  par- 
ents made  the  lonp  and  tetlious  journey  across 
the  country  to  Illinois.  Hi--  edncatii'iial  privi- 
leges were  such  as  were  alTorded  in  a  log  sciioul 
house  with  grea.sed  pajMjr  windows  and  the 
scluxil  session  covered  only  three  nvrnth-i  of  the 
year,  for  in  those  early  days  the  services  of  the 
sons  anil  (laughters  were  needctl  ujjon  the  farm 
throughout  the  remainder  of  the  season.  He  as- 
siste<l  in  the  arduous  task  of  developing  new  and 
unhroken  land  and  cultivating  a  farm  which 
hitherto  had  heen  an  unclaimed  prairie  tract.  lie 
lived  at  home  until  twenty -one  years  of  age  and 
then  learned  the  car|)enter's  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed imtii  twenty-nine  years  of  age.  being  thus 
closely  identified  with  early  building  operations 
in  Irmpiois  county.  The  discovery  of  gold  in 
California  and  the  tales  of  the  fortunes  that  were 
made  in  that  state  lol  him  in  1852  to  make  his 
way  to  the  Pacific  coast.  He  journeyed  by  way 
of  the  water  route  and  was  absent  for  two  years 
in  the  <  ioldcn  state. 

Mr.  Stricklcr  then  returned  to  Illinois  and 
again  tfM>k  up  caqK-nter  work.  .\s  soon  as  possi- 
ble, however,  he  made  investment  in  property  and 
in  1857  located  on  his  present  farm  on  section  i. 
Concord  township,  purchasing  eight)  :icres  of 
lanti  from  Daniel  Strickler.  This  was  all  raw 
land,  but  he  broke  it  and  in  course  of  time  gath- 
cre<l  goo<l  harvests.  He  aNo  built  a  house  and 
other  buildings  and  laid  man\  pkIs  of  tile  in 
order  to  drain  the  land,  thus  reclaiming  the 
swampy  portions  until  he  had  converted  them 
into  rich  fields.  He  likewise  fenced  the  entire 
fami  himself  and  as  the  years  passed  by  he  care- 
fully, energetically  and  successfully  carried  on 
the  work  <>i  general  farming  and  also  engage<l 
in  stock-raising,  making  a  sjjccialty  of  hogs  and 


cattle.  He  likewise  added  to  his  holdings  by  the 
])urchase  of  seventy- four  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead on  section  u.  C'oucord  township,  a  part  of 
which  is  pasture  land  and  a  part  of  which  he  has 
tiled  au<l  cidtivated.  His  father  entered  this  land 
from  the  government  and  it  has  never  passed  out 
of  the  family. 

.\lr.  ."strickler  was  married  in  Rensselaer,  In- 
diana, in  185^1.  to  .Miss  Mary  .\nn  Kline,  a  na- 
tive of  Virginia,  and  they  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  five  chiWIrcn,  of  whom  three  are  now  liv- 
ing: Lewis.  .Mrs.  I'lla  Klanska  and  (irace.  The 
wife  and  mother  die<l  in  1870  anti  in  1871  .Mr. 
Strickler  was  marrie<l  in  Concord  township  to 
Miss  .Martha  Thaqi.  wlui  was  Inirn  in  Clinton 
County.  Indiana.  They  now  have  three  children: 
I'rank  T. :  .Mrs.  .Mattic  I'earce;  and  Edward,  who 
married  .Miss  Dnllie  ."-^iiiith. 

.Mr.  Strickler  has  served  as  sch<«>l  director  for 
twenty-six  years  and  in  this  connection  has  done 
elTective  service  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  public 
eilucation  in  his  flisirict.  His  political  allegiance 
has  long  been  given  to  the  democracy,  for  he  be- 
lieves that  the  platform  of  that  |»arty  contains  the 
best  elements  of  good  govermr.eiU.  His  religious 
faith  is  that  of  the  Cnited  lirethren  church.  In 
I'ebruarv .  18/15.  .Mr.  Strickler  enli->ted  in  C'oin- 
pan\  I".  (  »ne  Hundred  and  I"ift\ -filth  Illinois 
X'olunteer  Infantry,  and  after  being  nuislercd  in 
at  ."Springfield  went  to  Tullahonia.  Tenne-see.  un- 
<ler  ( leneral  Thomas.  He  did  guard  dul. .  giianl- 
ing  railroads,  etc..  until  mustere<l  out  of  service 
in  September.  i8<i5.  He  joined  <  ).  H.  .Miner 
lodge.  No.  5(y>.  .\.  I".  &  .\.  .M..  of  Ir<¥|uois.  in 
18^18.  and  has  filled  various  offices  in  the  same. 

.\s  one  of  the  honored  pioneer  residents  of  the 
Count V  he  deserves  prominent  mention  in  this 
volume,  for  in  the  early  days  when  few  settlers 
lived  in  this  jiart  of  the  state  he  broke  the  prairie 
with  wo<Mlen  plows  ami  carried  on  the  farm  work 
with  primitive  machinery.  Tlierc  was  plenty  of 
wild  game  here,  including  deer,  prairie  chickens 
and  turkeys.  In  the  cabin  home  was  a  fireplace, 
over  which  himg  the  crane,  while  the  brea<l  was 
baked  in  the  a>hes.  .\  comprehensive  descrip- 
tion of  |iioneer  life  woid<l  be  to  give  in  detail  the 
carlv  exjieriences  of  Mr.  Strickler  in  Inxiuois 
county.  He  has  witnessed  almost  the  entire  up- 
building and  development  of  this  section  of  the 
state   and    relates    in    interesting    manner    many 


276 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


incidents  of  the  early  days  before  the  railroads 
had  brought  the  state  into  close  communication 
with  the  east.  There  were  broad  stretches  of 
unclaimed  land,  some  of  which  was  swampy. 
while  other  was  covered  with  the  native  prairie 
grasses  or  the  timber.  The  most  far-sighted 
could  scarcely  have  dreamed  of  the  changes 
which  were  to  occur  with  great  rapidity  and 
transform  this  into  a  rich  agricultural  district 
with  flourishing  towns  and  villages  in  its  midst 
and  all  of  the  evidences  of  an  advanced  civili- 
zation in  its  churches,  schools,  libraries  and  busi- 
ness interests. 


SOLOMOX  MYERS. 


A  good  farm  of  three  hundred  and  forty-eight 
acres  is  the  property  of  Solomon  Alyers.  It  is 
situated  on  section  ly.  Iroquois  township,  and 
indicates  in  its  splendid  appearance  his  care  and 
supervision.  'Sir.  ]Myers  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  near  Circleville,  May  17,  1850.  and 
was  brought  to  Illinois  in  his  boyhood  days.  I  le 
is  a  son  of  Peter  Myers,  who  in  1861  removed 
with  his  family  to  this  state,  settling  in  McLean 
county,  where  he  followed  farming  for  some 
time.  In  1866  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county, 
where  his  remaining  days  were  passed,  and  when 
he  was  called  to  his  linal  rest  the  community 
mourned  the  loss  of  an  honored  and  re]3resentntive 
citizen. 

Solomon  Myers  acquired  a  commim-school 
education,  coming  to  Iroquois  county  with  his 
father  in  1866,  when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years. 
He  earlv  received  practical  training  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm,  and  lessons  of  industry-  and 
diligence  were  earl}-  instilled  into  his  mind  and 
have  borne  rich  fruit  in  his  later  life.  In  i8<)4 
he  bought  two  htmdred  and  twenty-eight  acres 
of  his  present  farm  of  three  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  acres  on  sections  18  and  ig,  Iroquois  town- 
ship, the  remaining  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  being  purchased  in  1901.  In  the  nn'dsi  of 
the  farm  stands  a  fine,  two-story  residence.  Iiuilt 
in  modern  .style  of  architecture.  It  stands  back 
some  distance  from  tlie  road  and  has  a  wide 
sjireading  lawn  in  front.  It  is  one  of  the  attract- 
ive  features  of  the-  landscape  and  the  farm  jire- 


sents  an  excellent  appearance  in  all  departments, 
the  fields  giving  promise  of  rich  harvests.  He 
has  some  fine  Durham  cattle  ujjDn  the  place  and 
his  stock-raising  interests  are  an  important  ele- 
ment in  his  success.  In  1868  be  took  up  the  last 
piece  of  railroad  land  in  Onarga  township,  this 
being  a  tract  of  forty  acres  for  which  he  paid 
nine  dollars  per  acre. 

Mr.  Myers  was  married  to  ^liss  Mary  Web- 
ster, who  was  born  at  Buckley,  this  county,  and 
unto  them  have  been  born  three  sons.  Burt 
married  Stella  Weagant.  and  they  have  one  son, 
Lloyd  A.  Edward  C.  is  at  home.  Charley  \\'. 
is  also  under  the  parental  roof.  The  mother  of 
these  children  died  in  December,  1889,  and  ^Ir. 
Alj'ers  afterward  married  Mrs.  Hilterbrick,  of 
Onarga.  widow  of  Samuel  E.  Hilterbrick  and  a 
daughter  of  E.  W.  Swaft'ord.  Slie  had  one 
child  by  her  first  marriage,  Gertrude  Hilterbrick. 

Noting  with  the  republican  party,  Mr.  ^Nlyers 
thus  expresses  his  views  upon  the  questiotis  and 
issues  of  the  dav  which  concern  the  general  ]iub- 
lic,  and  he  is  now  serving  for  his  fourth  year 
as  road  commissioner  of  Iroquois  township.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge 
at  ( )narga  since  1874.  and  also  affiliates  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .America  at  Crescent 
City.  His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his 
membership  in  the  Congregational  church.  ]\Iat- 
ters  secular  and  religious  that  have  for  their 
object  the  benefit  of  the  eoninnmity  receive  his 
endorsement  and  co-operation,  and  he  is  a  man 
who  in  his  life  has  been  actuated  by  high  and 
honorable  principles,  while  in  his  business  career 
he  has  manifested  a  laudable  ambition  and  un- 
faltering energy  that  have  gained  him  place  with 
tile  men  of  affluence  in  the  township. 


GEORGE  BURY. 


( Icorge  r.ury  has  during  his  re>idenci'  in  this 
countr\-  demonstrated  the  characteristics  of  the 
Irish  race — industry  and  ])erseverance,  for 
tlmugh  starting  out  in  life  a  poor  boy  without 
capital  or  assistance  frmn  friends  and  with  limited 
educational  advantages,  he  has  worked  his  way 
u])ward  until  he  is  today  one  of  the  largest  land- 
iiwners  in    Iroquois  county,  liaxing  here  a   tract 


iki  K)r(  »is  corN'TV  ii.i.ixi  iis 


ol  five  huiulrcd  ;iiul  >iM>   aero,  lucaUil  mi  m:c- 
tinn  4.  I'rairic  (irci-n  townsliip. 

Mr.  r.iiry  was  brouBlit  to  the  L'liitcd  Stali-> 
by  his  pan-iits  when  uiily  two  \cars  of  ai^e.  the 
family  home  iH-iiijj  cstalihslicd  in  TipjacamK- 
cuunty,  Indiana,  where  lie  was  reared  as  a  fann 
la<l.  Me  ha<l  hmiied  educational  ailvantaKe>  in 
his  youtli  biit  tlirouj^li  readin^;  and  observation 
in  later  life  has  be-come  a  well  informed  man. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  iW/)  when  a  youn>j  man 
and  secured  employment  at  farm  labor.  iK-iiiK 
thus  ennajj^'d  for  two  or  three  years,  in  Iroquois 
county.  He  was  married  here  in  1871  to  Miss 
Ellen  .Merritt.  who  was  born  in  .Madison  coun- 
ty. Indiana,  a  daujihter  of  John  Merritt.  who 
became  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Iroquois 
county,  and  tlm^  tlii-  dauj;luer  w;i>  rran-il  anil 
educated  here. 

I'ollowinjj  his  inurriajie  .Mr.  \\m\  locaietl  on 
a  rented  farm,  which  he  ojxrrated  for  several 
years,  and,  prospering  in  his  undertakings,  he 
was  at  lenjrth  enahlol  to  purchase  land,  first  be- 
coming jHtssessed  of  a  tract  of  eighty  acres,  which 
was  but  partially  improved  and  whereon  had 
been  built  a  small  house.  Taking  up  his  alxxle 
thereon  he  further  develope«l  and  improved  the 
property,  placing  his  lan<l  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation,  and  he  also  erected  a  gooti  two- 
story  residence,  substantial  barn  and  other  out- 
buildings for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  He 
tiled  and  fenced  his  land,  set  out  a  gonl  orchard 
and  made  it  a  valuable  tract.  .\s  time  jjassed 
and  he  accunuilate<l  a  c^impetencc  he  added  to  his 
pri>|K'rty  from  time  to  time  until  he  is  now  the 
owner  of  five  hundred  and  si.xty  acres,  which 
constitutes  one  of  the  valuable  and  well  im|)roved 
farms  oi  Irorpiois  county.  He  has  recently 
erivted  a  new  residence  on  his  farm,  whicji  is 
now  iK-cupied  by  his  son,  and  there  are  two  go«nl 
sets  of  buildings,  such  as  are  found  ujioii  a  model 
pro|)erty.  In  aildition  to  his  agricultural  interests 
he  is  engaged  <|uite  extensively  in  raising  stock, 
and  he  also  buys  and  ships  cattle  an<l  hoj;s  to 
the  city  markets,  having  \>ccn  thus  engaged  for 
the  past  fourteen  _vcars,  and  this  has  Ik-cu  no  un- 
inqMirtant  branch  of  his  business. 

L'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  horn 
five  sons  and  one  daughter,  namely :  (.harles, 
wIk)  resides  on  the  home  farm  and  is  married ; 
John,   who  is   also  married   anil    resides   on   the 


liuiiie  larui.  and  ;s  uha  servnig  a*  tax  inlKitur  ul 
I'rairie  tjrevn  township;  Mattie,  the  wile  of  John 
Wall,  who  o|>erates  a  (lortion  of  her  father's 
farm:  tieorj;e  K..  Ilarr\  aiwl  Clarence,  all  yet 
under  the  parental  tin  if. 

Mr.  Bury  has  alwa>s  l>ecn  a  stalwart  advocate 
of  republican  principles  but  has  never  Ikxu  active 
in  local  |)olitical  atVairs  for  his  extensive  business 
interests  have  claimiHl  his  full  time  and  attention. 
.Mrs.  lUiry  is  a  memlK-r  of  the  (."hrisliau  church. 
Having  lived  in  lr<K|Uois  county  through  four 
decadi-s,  Mr.  Mury  is  largely  familiar  with  the 
jirogress  that  has  here  iK-eti  made  in  agricultural 
life,  and  he  has  not  only  been  an  interested  wit- 
ness but  an  active  ]>articipant  in  the  county's 
development,  .\lthough  starting  out  in  business 
life  in  the  humble  cajKicitv  of  a  farm  laborer, 
having  limited  educational  advantages  1h-  lias 
jiersevered  in  his  work  and  by  the  assistance  of 
his  estimable  wife,  he  has  accumulated  the  val- 
uable projKTty  which  today  is  evidence  of  the 
success  that  has  rewarded  his  eflforts. 


|(  )ll\   III  d  \!l"< 


John  Holmes,  a  practical  and  progressive 
farmer  living  on  .section  jti.  I'rairie  (jrtvn  town- 
ship, has  three  lumdre<l  and  twenty  acres  of  rich 
and  productive  land  within  five  miles  of  Htxiix.'- 
ston.  He  was  born  in  Surrey,  Kngland.  June  8, 
1852.  and  is  a  son  of  Henry  Holmes,  who  was 
likewise  a  native  of  that  count),  and  he  niar- 
rietl  there  .Miss  .\im  Thompson,  who  was  also 
Ixjrn  and  rearetl  in  l-jigland.  They  came  to 
the  new  world  in  1S7J  and  spent  aliout  a  year  in 
New  York  city,  after  which  they  renioveil  west- 
ward to  \  ermilion  county.  Illinois,  establishing 
their  home  at  Kossville.  where  Mr.  Holmes  spent 
the  last  years  of  his  life,  passing  away  in  i8<^. 
His  wife  had  ilied  some  years  previous. 

John  Holmes  was  rearetl  to  manhiHwl  in  the 
lanil  of  his  birth.  s|)cnding  his  Ixiylu-KMl  and 
youth  largely  in  I^ondon.  In  early  life  he  worked 
at  teaming  and  expressing.  l>ecoming  one  of  the 
most  capable  and  trusted  drivers  for  IHckford, 
whi>  comlucted  one  of  the  most  extensive  transfer 
enterprises  of  the  world.  In  1873.  when  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  Mr    H.-Imes  accompani'-'l  Ii'-« 


278 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


parents  on  their  emigration  to  the  United  States, 
reaching  New  York  harbor  in  Xoveiiiber  of  that 
year.  He  remained  in  New  York  for  eight 
months  and  was  a  driver  for  the  Adams  Express 
Company.  In  1874  he  came  westward  to  IIH- 
nois.  making  his  home  in  Iroquois  county,  where 
lived  his  brother,  Tom  Holmes.  For  three  years 
he  was  employed  by  the  month  at  farm  labor 
and  thus  gained  a  start  in  the  new  world. 

In  1886  Mr.  Holmes  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Julia  E.  Daugherty,  a  native  of  Orange 
county,  Indiana,  where  she  was  reared.  The 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
tract  of  rented  land  and  thus  !Mr.  Holmes  car- 
ried on  farming  for  several  years,  during  which 
time  they  carefully  hoarded  their  earnings  and 
at  length  were  enabled  to  purchase  land  in  1890, 
becoming  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
on  which  was  an  old  house  and  bam.  Air. 
Holmes  at  once  undertook  the  task  of  further 
developing  and  improving  this  property  and  laid 
many  rods  of  tile,  thus  draining  the  place.  He 
also  bought  more  land  as  opportunity  offered  and 
is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres,  constituting  a  rich  and  valuable  property. 
He  also  rents  another  eighty  acres,  so  that  he 
is  now  cultivating  four  hundred  acres  of  land. 
He  has  erected  a  commodious  two-story  frame 
residence,  built  in  modern  style  of  architecture, 
and  likewise  has  two  big  barns  upon  the  place 
and  two  sets  of  farm  buildings.  He  has  put 
in  stock  scales  and  uses  the  latest  improved  ma- 
chinery in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  fields. 
He  has  also  planted  much  fruit  and  altogether 
has  a  model  farm  property,  equipped  with  all  the 
accessories  which  indicate  a  spirit  of  enterprise 
and  activity  in  the  individual.  Air.  Holmes 
started  out  in  life  in  the  new  world  with  a  cash 
capital  of  twenty-five  cents.  He  has  made  his 
own  way  in  the  world  from  his  youth  to  the 
present  time  and  I>\-  his  thrift  an<l  enter])risc 
has  become  the  owner  of  a  large  and  valuable 
farm  and  good  home. 

Unto  Air.  and  Airs.  Holmes  have  been  licirn 
ten  children,  James  A.,  Elma  .\.,  Rosa.  John, 
Olive  P>lanch,  Daisy,  Floyd  and  Xeliie,  still  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  two  died   in   infancy. 

Politically  Air.  Holmes  is  a  rciiublican  but  has 
never  been  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  belongs 
to  the  <  )dd  I'l-llows  lodge  at  Hoopeston  and  is  in 


hearty  sympathy  with  its  basic  principles.  He  is 
well  known  in  Hoopeston  and  in  Iroquois  and 
\"ermilion  counties,  and  is  one  of  the  progressive 
and  enterprising  sons  of  old  England,  who  in 
Iroquois  county  have  made  an  independent 
fortune  and  an  honorable  name.  He  may  truly 
be  called  a  self-made  man  and  his  life  record  is 
indicative  of  the  opportunities  that  are  here 
aft'orded  to  ambitious  voung  men. 


WILLIAAI  L.  RAXTON. 

William  L.  Ranton,  whose  death  was  the  oc- 
casion of  deep  regret  in  Sheldon,  where  he  was 
serving  as  postmaster  at  the  time  of  his  demise 
on  the  4th  of  January,  1902.  was  born  in  Bel- 
fast, Ireland,  in  1869,  and  was  brought  to  Amer- 
ica by  his  father,  who  now  lives  in  Hoopeston, 
this  state.  He  came  to  Iroquois  county  about 
1870  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  in  Gem  City  Business  College  at  Quincy,  Illi- 
nois, of  which  he  was  a  graduate.  Taking  up 
his  abode  in  Sheldon,  he  edited  and  published  the 
Sheldon  Journal  from  1895  until  1899  and  made 
it  a  successful  business  enterprise  as  well  as  an 
entertaining  newspaper.  He  also  did  some  bank 
work  and  was  well  known  in  this  part  of  the 
county  as  a  man  worthy  the  esteem  and  trust 
of  all  who  knew  him.  In  1898  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Sheldon  and  in  that  office  gave  a 
businesslike  administration,  capably  and  faith- 
fully discharging  his  duties  until  he  was  called 
to  liis  final  rest.  In  politics  he  was  alwa\-s  a 
stalwart  republican  and  was  prominent  in  the 
local  ranks  of  the  party,  serving  as  one  of  the 
committeemen  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

In  1895  ^Ir.  Ranton  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Aliss  Jessie  Hockett,  of  Sheldon,  Illinois. 
They  had  one  child,  Bessie,  who  was  born  April 
24,  1896.  Airs.  Ranton  has  lived  in  Sheldon 
for  twenty  years.  She  is  a  graduate  of  the  high 
schnol  and  for  some  time  engaged  in  teaching  in 
the  city  schools  here.  Immediatelv  after  her 
husbands  death  she  was  appointed  postmistress 
of  Sheldon  and  was  rc-appointcd  for  a  second 
term  in  1905.  so  that  she  is  now  filling  the  office, 
in  which  she  has  one  assistant.  .She  owns  a  nice 
hoiiH-  in  Sheldon  anrl  she  is  one  of  the  few  ladv 


W.  I..  RA.\l«t.\   AND  DAltiHTER. 


LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNtVERSITV  Of   ILLINOIS 


IRiJQLOlS  COUNTY.  IU.INdIS. 


^8i 


inciiibcrs  of  the  National  Association  of  Second 
and  Third  Class  I'ostmasttTs.  Mr.  Kantmi  hchl 
nH-ntlK-rslup  in  tlu-  MaM>nic  UkIhc  and  aU<>  with 
the  Kninhis  of  I'ythias  and  was  rcKardcd  as  an 
exemplary   n-jtrcscnialivt  of  iKith  orL  is. 

bein^  trne  to  the  teachinn>  of  the  oiw, .      ch 

are  l>asi-d  u|H>n  mutual  lul|)fulness  and  brotherly 
kindness.  He  was  well  liked  wherever  known 
and  he  had  a  wide  aojuaintance  in  Ir— !"'i- 
Count  V. 


AUGUST  LUHKSKN. 


.\uj;u>t  Luhrsen  is  a  worthy  and  prosin-rous 
re|)resentative  of  mercantile  anil  aj^ricnltnral 
interests.  For  fifteen  years  he  was  identifie<l 
with  the  commercial  life  of  Muckley  and  for  a 
considerable  jx'riinl  has  represented  the  farming 
interests  of  Inxjuois  county.  It  has  always  Ik-cu 
found  that  the  s*jns  of  the  fatherland  have  con- 
stituted an  inijHirtant  element  in  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  world  and  in  the  various  localities  in 
which  they  have  live<l  they  have  l)orne  a  help- 
ful and  Ix-neficial  jKirt  in  advaiicinj;  those  inter- 
ests which  contribute  to  material  intellectual,  po- 
litical  and   moral   proRn-ss. 

The  life  record  of  Mr.  I.uhrsen  is  another 
proof  of  this  statement.  He  was  Uirn  in  tier- 
many.  May  i8.  1856.  and  is  a  son  of  l"re<lerick 
Luhrsen.  who  in  the  fall  of  1S5-  enjijjrated  with 
his  family  to  the  Uniteil  stales.  He  settled  first 
in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until 
1873  and  then  came  to  Iroi{uois  county,  juirchas- 
ing  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  .\rtesia 
township,  which  our  subject  now  owns.  He  here 
joineil  his  Son.  |-"rederick  Luhrsen.  Jr..  who  is 
mentioned  on  another  pa^e  of  this  work,  and  the 
father  sjK-nt  his  last  years  in  Hucklcy,  where  he 
<lic<l  <  k'tolKT  1.  K105.  when  ahnost  ninety -five 
years  of  ajje.     His  wife  had  passe<l  away  in  1877. 

.\un\ist  Luhrsen  was  reared  in  Cook  county, 
Illinois.  an<l  lar^elN  ac(|uired  his  education  in  the 
common  scIkxiIs  there,  although  his  opjmrtunities 
were  somewhat  meaner,  and  since  reachini;  man's 
estate  he  has  jjreatly  liroa«lened  his  knowledge 
throURh  exix-rience.  ol»servation  and  research. 
He  was  married  in  .\rtesia  township,  Noveinl>cr 
18.   1883.  to  Miss  .Mwine  X'olberdinn.  a  native 


of  Illinois,  boni  in  Cook  county  and  a  dauKhtcr 
of  I.udwiK  \  ollH-rdtnj;- 

I'ollowinn  his  maria^e  .\uj;nst  Luhrsen  op- 
erated bis  father's  fann  and  also  land  which  he 
himself  owned  fi>r  several  \ears.  He  then  riiited 
the  farm  and  Imiu^jIu  an  interest  in  a  general 
mercantile  store,  devoting  ten  years  to  the  sale 
of  );o<.kIs.  l)is|Misin^  of  the  >tore.  he  aflerwanl 
conducteil  the  Inmlx-ryard  at  Ilnckley  for  several 
years  and  for  fifteen  years  he  likewise  gave  his  at- 
tention to  the  .sn|x-rvision  of  his  farir 
ests.  He  has  a  jjoixl  residence  tin  his  • 
built  a  substaiuial  barn  and  has  made  many 
moilerii  improvements,  converting  the  place  into 
one  of  the  valuable  properties  of  the  district. 

L'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Luhrsen  have  been  born 
si.\  children:  l.ydia.  .Matilda,  .\manda.  Laura 
and  .\rnold.  They  alstt  lost  their  first  iK.rn. 
.Mvin.   who  dial   in   his  fifth  year. 

I'olitically  Mr.  Luhrsen  has  Ixen  a  stalwart 
democrat,  yet  the  honors  and  emoluments  of 
office  have  had  no  attraction  for  him.  He  and 
his  family  holil  memlx-rship  in  the  Lutheran 
church.  He  is  widely  recoj;niznl  as  a  capable, 
successful  and  reliable  business  man  and  farmer 
and  is  well  known  throUKhoui  lr>>«|Uois  county. 
His  busines>  inte^jrity  is  uni|Uesti<Mie<l  and  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  connnunity  are  uni- 
fornily  accorded  him.  Wherever  known  he  has 
won  friends  and  his  life  record  demonstrates  the 
(Possibilities  for  successful  accomplishment  to 
those  who  are  denied  many  ad\antn(.;es  in  \".mh 
and  who  have  to  start  out  for  tlu-iusehes  witlinut 
financial  assistance. 


H)L  Ls   UL.N.si  ).\. 


.\  spirit  of  enterprise  and  progress  character- 
izes Ijiuis  Itenson  in  his  farmin).;  o|xrations. 
He  lives  on  section  iy.  I'.elmont  township,  and 
in  his  life  has  accomplished  a  measure  of  suc- 
cess which  is  indicative  of  close  application  and 
earnest  pur|»<>se.  He  now  owns  two  huiulred 
and  .sixty  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  has  Itcen 
secured  since  he  came  to  the  comity  in  1885.  He 
was  Ixirn  in  Sweden.  Decemlx-r  Uf.  i8<i'>,  and  is 
a  son  of  B.  P.  Benson,  who  was  a  fanner  of  that 
countrv  and  in  his  native  land  weilded  Christina 


282 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Pierson.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, inchiding  Louis  Benson  of  this  review, 
who  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  no  event 
of  special  importance  occurring  to  vary  the 
routine  of  such  a  life  for  him  in  his  boyhood 
days. 

He  heard  favorable  reports  concerning  Amer- 
ica and  its  opportunities  and  this  aroused  in  him 
a  desire  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  new  world. 
Accordingly  he  made  his  way  to  the  United 
States  and  located  first  in  South  Dakota  but  after 
three  months  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  began  providing  for  his  own 
support  by  working  in  a  creamer_v  at  Woodland. 
A  year  was  spent  in  that  position,  after  which  he 
worked  out  by  the  month  at  Sheldon,  being  in 
the  employ  of  one  man  for  five  years.  He  was 
in  the  employ  of  Thomas  John  for  two  years  and 
then  began  renting  land,  which  was  a  forward 
step  in  his  business  career,  as  his  labors  now 
more  directly  benefited  himself.  In  1894  he 
bought  one  hundred  acres  with  capital  that  he 
had  acquired  through  his  own  labors.  It  was  the 
nucleus  of  his  present  fine  farm  and  he  has 
greatly  improved  the  property  by  erecting 
thereon  a  two-story  frame  residence  built  in  at- 
tractive style  of  architecture.  He  has  also  built 
a  good  barn  and  carried  forward  his  agricultural 
interests  along  most  progressive  lines.  His 
place  is  well  improved,  modern  methods  of  drain- 
ing have  been  employed  to  enhance  the  produc- 
tiveness of  the  fields  and  the  farm  is  surrounded 
by  well  kept  fences.  He  raises  full  blooded  short- 
horn cattle  and  is  a  breeder  and  dealer  in  Per- 
cheron  horses,  keeping  an  imported  stallion.  He 
also  raises  Poland  Cliina  hogs  and  his  live-stock 
interests  are  an  im|>ortant  branch  of  his  business. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  i8g6,  Mr.  Benson 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  M.  Eloise  John, 
daughter  of  Thomas  John  and  a  native  of  Bel- 
mont township.  Further  mention  of  her  parents 
is  made  on  another  page  of  this  work.  For  a 
year  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Benson  rented 
part  of  the  John  farm  and  then  took  up  his 
abode  at  his  present  place  of  residence.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Woodland. 

Since  becoming  a  naturalized  American  citizen 
he  has  voted  with  the  republican  party  at  state 
and  national  elections  but  casts  an  independent 


local  ballot  nor  has  he  ever  been  a  politician  in 
the  sense  of  office  seeking.  He  certainly  de- 
serves much  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished. 
He  came  to  the  new  world  without  capital  save 
for  determination,  strong  purpose  and  unflag- 
ging industry.  He  soon  proved  his  willingness 
to  work,  never  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  em- 
ployment and  by  reason  of  his  economy  and  in- 
dustry at  length  secured  the  capital  that  enabled 
him  to  purchase  land  and  begin  farming  on  his 
own  account.  He  has  made  steady  progress,  has 
won  a  goodh"  measure  of  prosperity,  and  his  life 
has  at  the  same  time  been  another  exemplifica- 
tion of  the  statement  that  "Sweden  is  the  home 
of  the  honest  man." 


lAAIES  CRIXK. 


James  Crink.  of  ]\Iilford.  needs  no  introduc- 
tion to  the  readers  of  this  volume,  for  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  the  county  for  more  than 
four  decades,  being  long  classed  with  the  pro- 
gressive and  representative  farmers.  He  owns 
a  well  improved  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  pleasantly  located  within  four 
a  half  miles  of  the  city  of  Milford.  His  birth 
occurred  in  Tippecanoe  county.  Indiana.  ^larch 
22,  1855.  His  father.  Patrick  Crink,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Ireland  and  spent  his  boyhofid  days 
there.  Crosing  the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world, 
he  resided  for  some  years  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  during  which  time  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  Chuite.  He  afterward  removed  with 
his  family  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Tijipecanoe 
count\ .  where  he  carried  on  farming,  and  the 
spring  of  1864  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Iroquois 
county,  Illinois,  at  which  time  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Ash  ( irove  townshi]).  There  he  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits  for  several 
}ears  and  subsequently  he  settled  in  Milford 
tdwnship.  where  he  also  farmed  for  a  number  of 
\ears.  His  last  days,  however,  were  spent  at 
the  home  of  his  son,  John  Crink,  and  he  departed 
this  life  in  1894,  haying  for  aljout  two  years 
survived  his  wife,  whu  died  in  May,  1892. 
Five  of  their  children  are  yet  living:  Philip,  a 
resident    farmer   of   Douglas   county,    Nebraska; 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


283 


Mag^jie.  llic  wife  of  James  Mln.  wlio  follows 
farming  in  .Milforil  township;  James  and  John, 
wlio  are  twins,  the  latter  a  farmer  of  Milfonl 
township;  and  Mrs.  .\nna  Compton,  a  widow 
residing    in    Nebraska. 

\\  hen  a  youth  of  ten  years  James  Crink  be- 
cante  a  resident  of  Iro»]iiois  comity  and  he  re- 
mained in  his  father's  home  until  he  liad  at- 
tained his  majority.  .\t  the  usual  age  he  entered 
the  common  scIuxjIs  and  is  indebted  to  the  system 
of  public  instruction  for  the  eilucatiniial  privi- 
leges he  enjoyed.  When  not  busy  with  his  texl- 
IxKjks  his  time  was  largely  occu]}ictl  in  the  work 
of  i)lnwing.  planting  or  harvesting  according  to 
the  season  of  the  year.  an<l  thus  he  became 
familiar   with    the   practical    work    of   the    farm. 

In  .\sh  (irove  township,  on  the  24th  of  Decem- 
ber. i8</),  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Crink  and  Miss  Sallie  Stimpson,  and  they  located 
on  a  farm,  commencing  with  eighty  acres  of  land, 
in  the  midst  of  which  Mr.  Crink  built  a  good 
dwelling,  barns,  cribs  and  granary.  He  also 
fencctl  the  ])lace  and  by  tiling  greatly  enhance<l 
the  fertility  of  the  soil.  He  led  a  most  active 
and  strenuous  life  and  his  unremitting  diligence 
constituted  the  secret  of  a  success  which  enabled 
him  in  the  course  of  years  to  purchase  an  addi- 
tional tract  of  eighty  acres,  so  that  his  farm 
covered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  There  he 
carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1904.  when  he  rented  his  ])lace  and  i)urchased 
the  residence  ])roperty  in  Milford  which  he  now 
occupies.  Me  has  not  retired  altogether  from 
business  life,  however,  for  his  time  is  given  to 
looking  after  and  keeping  up  his  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crink  have  two  sons  and  a 
daughter:  Elmer  S.,  Mary  Klizal)eth  and  Wilbur 
E.  Mrs.  Crink  holils  membership  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church  at  Milford  and  Mr. 
Crink  was  reared  in  the  Catholic  faith.  His  po- 
litical views  harmonize  with  the  principles  of  the 
democratic  party  but  he  has  never  been  an  aspir- 
ant for  office.  .-X  Ixiy  of  ten  when  he  came  to 
this  county  he  has  assisted  in  its  material  growth 
and  progress,  aiding  in  the  task  of  clearing  and 
cultivating  new  land  and  developing  fertile  fields. 
He  is  known  as  a  man  of  good  busines  capacity, 
of  ready  recognition  of  opportunity,  and  in  his 
utilization  of  the  chances  which  have  conic  to 
him  he  has  shown  a  ready  adaptability  and  keen 


foresight.  He  and  his  wife  are  greatly  respected 
in  the  community  and  are  well  known  in  .Mil- 
ford.  Watseka  and  throughout  the  county. 


EDW.\RD  G.  ECH.Xkl). 

Etlward  (j.  Echard.  who  is  engaged  in  general 
agricultural  pursuits  in  I'rairic  Green  township, 
having  made  his  home  in  this  countv  since  1886, 
was  born  in  Rockingham  c<innty,  in  the  Shen- 
andoah valley  <jf  X'irginia,  .\|tril  5,  1852.  He  is 
a  son  of  I'rank  I-'chard.  also  a  native  of 
X'irginia.  where  he  was  reared  and  married, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  Ix-ing  .Miss  Eveline 
R.  HnfTman.  who  was  also  born  in  X'irginia.  The 
father  followed  farming  in  the  Old  Dominion, 
devoting  his  life  to  that  work  until  his  labors 
were  ended  in  death  in  18*^)2.  His  wife  long  sur- 
vived him  and  passed  away  in  181/). 

Edward  G.  Echard  was  largely  reared  in  the 
state  of  his  nativity,  remaining  at  home  until 
after  he  hail  attained  his  majority.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  caqx-nter  and  joiner  and  was  iden- 
tified with  buililing  operations  in  X'irginia  and  to 
some  extent  in  Illinois.  He  came  to  the  middle 
west  in  1886.  joining  friends  in  Irotjuois  county, 
and  for  one  year  he  workerl  as  a  farm  hand  by 
the  month. 

r.efore  leaving  his  native  state  Mr.  Echard 
had  been  niarried  in  X'irginia  on  the  27th  of 
October.  1881.  to  Miss  .Xnna  Downey,  a  sister  of 
T.  J.  Downey,  whose  sketch  appears  else- 
where in  this  volume.  .Mr.  Echaril  then  operated 
a  rented  farm  for  several  years,  after  which  he 
purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  where 
he  now  resides.  Subsequently,  however,  he  dis- 
posed of  forty  acres  of  this.  He  was  the  first 
to  pay  as  high  as  .seventy-five  dollars  per  acre 
for  land  in  this  locality  but  to<lay  the  farm  is 
worth  double  that  amount.  He  at  once  Ix^gan 
to  till  the  soil  and  further  improve  the  place  and 
by  tiling  and  fencing  he  has  converted  the  farm 
into  rich  and  productive  fields.  In  its  midst 
stands  a  neat  residence  ami  he  has  a  large  vari- 
ety of  fruit  u[)on  his  place.  He  has  also  built 
cribs  and  sheds  and  the  land  is  mostly  enclose<l 
with  woven  wire  fence.  He  has  also  rented 
other    farm   land   and   in    addition   to   his   home 


284 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


property  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  he  is 
now  cuhivating  the  Greer  College  lands  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  having  for  ten  years 
been  in  charge  of  that  property.  He  is  an  active 
and  diligent  man  who  works  while  others  talk 
and  who  by  his  unremitting  perseverance  and 
energ\-  has  advanced  to  a  prominent  position 
among  the  prosperous  agriculturists  of  Prairie 
Green  township.  In  addition  to  cultivating  the 
cereals  best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate  he  also 
raises  pure  blooded  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  and 
has  a  fine  registered  male  at  the  head  of  his 
herd.  He  also  raises  good  grades  of  hogs  and 
other  stock  and  feeds  a  large  lumiber  of  hogs 
annually. 

Unto  i\lr.  and  Airs.  Echard  have  been  born 
two  children,  Hubert  \V.  and  Goldie  M.  'Sir. 
Echard  formerly  gave  his  political  allegiance  to 
the  democratic  party  but  is  now  a  strong  ad\-o- 
cate  of  prohibition  principles.  He  has  served  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board,  has  been  school 
clerk  for  several  years,  and  has  likewise  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace  of  Prairie  Green  township. 
He  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Wellington,  in 
which  he  is  acting  as  steward  and  a  trustee,  and 
both  are  active  in  the  work  of  the  Sunday-school, 
and  their  .son  Hubert  is  a  teacher  in  that  organ- 
ization. 

Mr.  Echard  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  pub- 
lic-spirited men  from  the  Old  Dominion  and  is 
today  one  of  the  honored  and  highly  esteemed 
agriculturists  of  Iroquois  county,  where  he  and 
his  family  have  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and 
their  home  is  a  very  hospitable  one. 


ALSON  V.  BROCKWAY. 

In  the  quota  of  citizens  that  agricultural  life 
has  furnished  to  Sheldon  Alson  V.  Brockway 
is  numbered,  having  in  former  years  been  identi- 
fied with  farming  interests  in  Iro(|uois  county. 
He  was  born  in  Elk  county,  Pennsylvania,  July 
23,  1839,  and  is  a  son  of  Vine  S.  Brockway,  who 
was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  whence  he 
removed  to  Elk  coimty,  Pennsylvania,  while  sub- 
sequently he  took  up  his  abode  in  Will  county, 
Illinois,   where  his   death   occurred.     Pie   was   a 


physician  and  a  man  of  marked  ability  and  local 
prominence.  He  served  as  county  judge  in  Elk 
county,  Pennsylvania,  for  nine  years  and  was 
a  very  prominent  man  there.  His  family  num- 
bered five  children  who  reached  adult  age  and 
are  still  living,  and  Alson  and  his  brother, 
Alonzo  Brockway,  are  now  residents  of  Sheldon. 

Alson  \'.  Brc)ckway  is  indebted  to  the  public- 
school  s\-stem  of  his  native  state  for  the  educa- 
tion,-d  jirivileges  which  he  enjoyed.  He  worked 
in  the  lumber  woods  in  Pennsylvania  until  1864, 
when  he  went  to  Will  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
purchased  a  farm,  carrying  on  agricultural  pur- 
suits there  until  1868.  He  then  sold  that  prop- 
erty, that  year  witnessing  his  arrival  in  Iroquois 
county,  where  he  purchased  three  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Sheldon  township.  Upon  this  farm 
he  resided  until  1891,  when  he  retired,  removing 
to  Sheldon,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  also 
owns  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Sheldon  township. 
While  upon  the  farm  he  carried  on  the  general 
work  of  the  fields  and  also  engaged  in  stock- 
raising.  He  added  many  modern  improvements 
and  equipments  to  his  place,  erected  two  good 
dwellings  and  two  barns  and  in  fact  added  all 
of  tlie  necessary  outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  stock.  He  brought  his  fields  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  thus  as  the  years 
passed  his  property  became  very  valuable.  \Mien 
on  the  farm  he  bred  the  best  stock  he  could  find 
and  this  branch  of  his  business  proved  to  him  a 
profitable  source  of  income.  On  removing  to 
.Sheldon  he  erected  a  fine  residence  at  a  cost  of 
three  thousand  dollars. 

Air.  Brockway  was  married  in  1864  to  Jane 
S.  Bly,  who  was  born  in  Tioga  countv,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  removed  to  Elk  count)-  with  her 
parents  in  her  girlhood  days.  Two  children 
gracetl  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  but 
one  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  The  surviving 
daughter.  Flora,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Bowen, 
who  lives  upon  a  farm  near  her  father's  prop- 
erty. They  have  three  children :  Huneta, 
Dorathy :  and  Charles  Alson,  born  Jamiar\-  12, 
1907. 

The  parents  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  and  are  ]:)romincnt  socially,  having  many 
warm  friends  in  Sheldon  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  county.  .Since  age  conferred  upon  him  the 
right  of  franchise  and  he  proudly  cast  his  first 


A.  V.  i;k(kk\vay. 


OF  THE 
UNlVERSnV  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


jS: 


vote  fi>r  Ahraliam  Lincoln.  Mr.  I'.ruckway  ha> 
iK'cn  a  stanch  republican  and  for  two  viars  he 
served  as  suiK-rvisor.  He  has  also  filled  the  of- 
fices of  school  trustee  and  schiMil  ilirector  and 
has  iK-en  a  nu-mher  of  the  town  board  for  thrie 
terms.  lie  is  a  man  of  much  influence  in  local 
affairs  and  his  suiiport  is  jjiven  to  all  those  meas- 
ures which  are  of  <Iirect  K-nefit  to  the  connnu- 
nity.  The  stroui;  traits  of  his  character  are  such 
as  win  for  him  uniform  confidence  anrj  estirm 
and    whereviT   known    he    is    honored. 


loILV   1-L1:.M1N(;. 


John  i'lenun^'.  \\U<<  lieii.irled  this  life  .\u).;ust 
22,  li/Mt.  s]R-nt  his  last  years  as  a  retired  farmer 
in  Sheldon  and  was  rcs])ected  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  him.  He  was  born  in  County  Tyrone. 
Ireland.  May  2t).  iS,Vi.  and  was  only  three 
years  of  ape  when  bron^ht  to  .\nierica  by 
his  parents.  John  an<l  Mary  Fleminj;.  who  set- 
tled in  .^tanho|>e,  N'ew  Jersey,  where  they  resided 
for  seven  years.  They  then  removc<l  to  the  vi- 
cinit\-  of  Lock])ort.  New  York,  where  they  re- 
mained until  their  son  John  had  re.iched  man- 
hood. In  1 85'^!  they  aj;Tiin  made  their  way  west- 
ward and  on  reachinj;  Indiana  settled  not  far 
from  the  state  line  in  I'.enton  county.  The  sur- 
viving members  of  their  family  are  Thomas  and 
William.  wIkj  are  residents  of  Raub.  Illinois: 
Robert,  who  is  livinjj^  at  I"reeland  I'ark.  this 
state;  Sampson,  of  tht  same  place;  James,  of 
Crawfordsville.  Indiana:  and  Mrs.  Matkin.  also 
of  Raub. 

In  that  locality  and  in  Shehlon  John  l*"lemin|i 
of  this  review  spent  his  remaining;  days.  .No 
event  of  special  imiM)rtance  occurre<l  to  vary  the 
routine  of  fann  life  for  him  in  his  youth.  On 
the  igth  of  November.  |8<>3.  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Susan  Perkins,  of  ( inencaslle.  Indinna. 
and  their  only  child,  a  dau>;hter.  <  >rpha.  is  now 
the  wife  of  Franklin  (larke.  a  pronnnent  and 
representative  citizen  of  Sheldnn.  The  wife  and 
mother  died  July  (*.  1871.  an<l  on  the  22i\  of  (Oc- 
tober, 18" .V  Mr.  Fleming  was  apain  marrie<l.  his 
second  union  lK'in{j  with  Julia  ."^lavens.  who  waN 
born  in  Greencastlc,  Indiana.  They  l)ecaine  the 
16 


parents  of  one  son.  Horace,  who  is  now  residing 
<in  the  olil  homestead  fann  southeast  of  Sheldon. 
Throughout  his  business  life  .Mr.  Fleming  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits,  closelv  ap- 
plying himself  to  his  work  and  manifesting  un- 
faltering   i«.rseverance.    diligence    and    capable 
management.    Thus  as  the  years  passed  he  atldcil 
to  his  possessions  until   he   ha<l   accumulated   a 
competence  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  retire  from 
active  life  and  yet  enjoy  the  comfnrts  and  luxu- 
ries which  go  to  make  life  worth  living.    He  then 
built   a  beautiful   home  in   Sheldon,   in   which   to 
spend  his  remaining  days,  erecting  this  in   iHij2. 
.Mr.  l-'leming  was  a  member  of  the  Metho<list 
church  ;md  also  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  lodge 
at   Sheldon.      His  ])olitic.il   allegiance   was  given 
to  the  republican  party  and  for  thirteen  years  he 
served  as  commissioner  of  public  roads.     He  was 
likewise  a  member  of  the  sc1i<m)1  lioard  for  vears 
and  a  member  of  the  town  board  of  Sheldon  for 
some  time.     He  owned  two  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  gcHxl  land  four  miles  from  the  city  and 
derived   from  the  property  a  gratifying  income. 
Well   liked   by   all.   he   possessed   thi>se  traits  of 
ch:iracter    which    everywhere    command    confi- 
dence, esteem  and  friendship.     .Among  the  con- 
spicuous traits  of  his  character  were  his  truth- 
fulness, hi-i  tenderness  and  the  simplicity  of  hii 
life.     He  was  a  friend  well  worthy  of  the  name. 
He  had  a  sincere  ajjiireciation  and  respect  for  the 
giMid  in  other  men  anil  his  regard  could  always 
be  won  by  genuine  personal  worth  without  tak- 
ing into  consideration  the  financial  standing  of 
the  intlividual.      .Men  and  wnmen  of  wealth  and 
inlluence    were    proud    to    class    him    with    their 
friends.     He  jiossesscd  a  most  cheerful,  sunshiny 
disposition,  which  carried  him  thrnugh  not  niily 
the  serene  .-uid  ha[)|)y  da\s  but  also  enabletl  him 
to    meet    courageously    and    smilingly    the    hard 
places   in   life.      He   was  active   in  those  things 
which  tend  toward  the  g<Mtd  and  the  pros|>erity 
of  the  cfimmimity  and  was  unfaltering  in  his  sup- 
jiort  of  what  he  believed  to  In-  right.     In  all  of 
his   de.ilint;s   he   w.is   upright  and   conscientious 
and  he  lived  a  life  of  gemiine  helpfulness.     The 
poor  and  needy  not  only   found  in  him  a   friend 
but   wherever  sickness  and  sorrow  were  known 
he  was  rea<ly  with  a  word  of  sympathy  and  en- 
couragement or  with  more  material  aid  if  it  w.is 
needed.     He  contributed  generously  toward  the 


288 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


support  of  the  church  and  in  all  life's  relations 
whether  in  church,  in  business  life,  or  in  social 
and  home  circles,  he  carried  with  him  an  atmos- 
phere of  joyousness  thai  was  contagious.  Surely 
the  world  is  better  for  his  havinir  lived. 


.MARTI.X    f.  RUSH. 


Years  of  continuous  and  well  directed  activ- 
ity have  resulted  in  placing  Mr.  Rush  in  a  finan- 
cial condition  that  enables  him  now  tn  live  com- 
fortable upon  his  farm,  which  is  pleasantly  and 
conveniently  situated  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
west  of  Milford.  The  attractiveness  of  Irocjuois 
county  as  a  place  of  residence  is  indicated  by 
the  fact  that  many  of  her  native  sons  have  re- 
tained their  residence  within  her  borders,  enjoy- 
ing its  opportunities  and  its  advantages  and  find- 
ing here  full  scope  for  business  activity  and  win- 
ning therein  a  gratifying  degree  of  prosperity. 
To  this  class  belongs  Martin  J-  Rush,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  ?klilford  township.  January  6.  1861. 

He  is  descended  from  one  of  the  oldest  fam- 
ilies of  Pennsylvania,  his  grandfather  and  his 
father,  both  of  whom  bore  the  name  of  Samuel 
Rush,  having  been  natives  of  the  Keystone  state. 
The  latter  came  to  Illinois  when  a  young  man  and 
followed  farming  in  Iroquois  county.  Here  he 
wedded  Miss  Nancy  Martin,  a  native  of  Iroquois 
county.  Having  now  a  wife  for  wliom  he  must 
provide.  Mr.  Rush  thus  had  an  added  stimulus 
for  business  activity  and  energv  and  he  reso- 
lutely took  up  farm  work,  wliich  he  dili^jently 
followed  and  carefully  managed  until  he  becanu- 
one  of  the  most  pros]:)erous  and  extensive  land- 
owners of  this  pari  cif  the  state,  his  holdings 
aggregating  fourteen  hundred  acres.  It  was  a 
splendid  success,  for  it  was  all  acquired  by  the 
time  he  reaclK-(l  the  prime  of  life  and  the  methods 
wh.ich  he  followed  were  most  honorable  and 
straightforward.  lie  passed  away  in  1874,  at 
the  age  of  fi fly-five  years,  being  long  survived 
by  his  widow,  who  reared  her  family  and  man- 
aged the  property.  She  died  in  June.  1905,  at 
the  age  of  sevenly-lwo  \ears.  and  her  death  was 
greatly  regretted  by  many  friends  as  well  as 
lier  immediate  family,  for  she  had  endeared 
herself  to  man\-  with  whom  she  came  in  contact. 


Martin  J.  Rush  was  one  of  eight  children  and 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  working  in  the  fields 
through  the  sunnuer  months,  while  in  the  winter 
seasons  he  pursued  his  education.  (  )n  attaining 
his  majority  he  was  given  his  share  of  his 
father's  estate.  com])rising  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  ar.d  thus  he  started  out  on  his  own  account. 
He  built  a  good  liouse  and  barn,  together  with 
other  outbuildings  for  the  shelier  of  grain  and 
stock,  and  carried  on  farm  work  along  progres- 
sive lines.  Realizing  that  the  fertility  of  the  soil 
could  be  greatly  increased  by  draining  the  land, 
he  laid  manv  rods  of  tiling  and  also  made  ditches 
for  the  further  purpose  of  carrying  of¥  the  ex- 
cess water.  He  likewise  built  fences  to  mark 
his  boundaries  and  to  apportion  the  fariu  into 
fields,  and  thus  the  work  of  farming  was  carried 
on  vear  after  year  and  more  land  was  purchased 
until  his  holdings  now  embrace  three  hundred 
and  ninety-seven  acres,  all  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation.  In  1903  he  purchased  thirty-seven 
acres  where  he  now  resides  within  the  city  limits 
of  ]\niford.  and  built  an  attractive  two-story 
residence.  It  is  largely  a  model  home  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Rush  are  now  occupying  it  for  the  jnir- 
pose  of  educating  their  children  in  the  city 
schools. 

The  lady  who  now  bears  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Rush  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  Minnie  Mote, 
a  native  of  ^lontgomery  county.  Indiana,  and  a 
daughter  of  James  H.  ^Mote.  who  came  to  Iro- 
quois county  in  1876.  It  was  on  the  24th  day 
of  March.  1884,  that  his  daughter  Minnie  gave 
her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr.  Hush,  and  their 
home  has  since  been  blessed  with  four  children: 
llarry  L.,  Charles  M..  Laura  -\.  and  Cieneva. 
The  parents  attend  the  Methodist  E])iscopal 
church  at  .Milford  and  are  freely  accorded  the 
hos])itality  of  the  ])est  homes  in  the  cil\-  and 
throughout  the  surrounding  district. 

Without  as]iiration  for  office.  .Mr.  Rush  is 
ne\erlheless  ardent  in  his  republicanism,  ior  he 
believes  that  the  ])latform  of  the  ])arty  contains 
the  best  elements  of  good  govenimcnt.  I'or 
several  years  he  has  served  on  the  school  board 
and  the  cause  of  public  education  has  l)een  ad- 
vanced thr(.)ugh  his  efforts,  lie  has  always  lived 
in  lroc|uois  county  and  has  witnessed  much  of 
its  growth  and  develo]jment.  for  in  the  ])eriod 
of  his  \oiUh  there  were  still  various  evidences  of 


IRt)QU01S  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


289 


frontier  life  lii-rc.  Tlu-  cliaii^jcs  wliicli  liavi-  oc- 
curred have  iK'eii  many  and  Mr.  Rush  has  carried 
forward  tile  work  wliich  was  instituted  l>y  his 
father  in  an  a^jricuhural  develoniuent  that  lias 
resulted  in  making;  this  county  a  splendid  farmini; 
district,  while  the  tillers  of  tile  soil  are  ainon^  its 
most  suiistantial  citizens.  Duriti).;  the  lon^ 
I)eri<M|  of  his  residence  here  .Mr.  Kush  lias  l)c- 
comc  widely  known  and  no  hi^;hi-r  testimonial 
of  his  ]>er>onal  worth  and  character  could  l)e 
Hiven  than  tiie  fact  that  many  of  his  stancliest 
friends  are  those  with  whom  lie  has  been  ac- 
(|u:iinted  from  his  Ik  ly hood  <la\s. 


W.  K.  M  11.1. Ilk.      I     " 

Dr.  \\  .  1\.  .Miller  cnfjajjcd  in  tiie  practice  of 
medicine  and  siir^rery  at  Crescent  City,  manifests 
in  iiis  connection  with  various  medical  societies 
liis  desire  for  broader  knowledjje  and  greater  efti- 
cicncy  and  has  already  demonstrated  in  his  work 
an  ability  to  cope  successfully  with  the  complex 
ijucstions  which  continually  confront  a  j)liysician. 
A  native  of  (  )liio.  lie  was  born  in  ii<Hi  and  when 
only  two  weeks  old  was  taken  iiv  his  parents  to 
Pennsylvania.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr.  S.  (1.  Miller, 
an  old  practitioner  of  tiie  Keystone  state,  who  for 
fifty  vears  has  been  an  active  representative  of 
the  nie<Jical  fraternity  there  and  is  still  pnicticin- 

Dr.  W.  R.  .Miller  pursued  iiis  stuflies  in  tile 
public  schiMils  of  Johnstown.  IVnnsylvania.  jiass- 
injj  tbroupii  successive  prades  until  lie  com])Ieteil 
file  work  of  the  hij^b  school.  He  was  afterwanl 
graduated  from  tiie  \\e>tern  Cniversity  at  I'itts- 
burp,  Pennsylvania,  and  coni|>leted  tiie  course  in 
what  was  then  known  as  tlie  West  IVnnsylvania 
.Medical  College  but  is  now  a  part  of  the  Western 
University,  of  Pittsburfj.  Pennsylvania,  witii  the 
class  of  ifU)j.  Followinj^  his  j^'radnaticpii  from 
the  iiiedicai  collene  lie  located  for  practice  in 
liiairsvillc.  reniainini;  tlicre  seven  years,  after 
wliicb  be  moved  to  Danfortb.  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years.  He  then  returned  to 
South  .Sharon.  Pennsylvania,  where  lie  pr.icticed 
for  four  years,  init  on  account  of  illness  he  jjave 
up  his  practice  in  Sharon  and  went  to  Hot 
Sprinps.  South  Dakota.     He  then  came  apain  to 


Illinois,  locating  at  Crescent  City  in  November. 
icxJj.  and  here  he  is  practicing  witli  marked  suc- 
cess, bis  !■  i<lily  increasing,  lie  owns 
one  of  til'  liuildings  in  Crescent  City, 
constructed  of  cement  iiiocks,  and  he  lias  every 
ei|uipment  and  facility  for  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  his  professional  lalK)rs.  His  practice 
lias  iKfConie  very  extensive  and  of  tiie  jfrinciplcs 
and  science  of  medicine  lie  is  a  deep  and  dis- 
criniiiialing  student,  being  ipiick  to  adopt  any 
new  metiiods  wliich  promise  to  prove  of  real 
practical  benefit  in  tile  work  of  the  medical  fra- 
ternity, yet  be  is  slow  to  discard  any  of  the  old 
and  time-tried  metlnHls.  the  value  of  which  has 
been  proven,  lie  is  a  member  of  the  Indiana 
County  .Medical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
State  .Medical  Society  of  IVnnsylvania  and  the 
.Mercer  County  Medical  .Society  of  IVnnsylvania. 
Dr.  Miller  was  married  to  .Miss  Cora  L.  Alter, 
of  I'.lairsville.  Pennslyvania.  ;md  tiiey  have  one 
ciiild.  Krriiigton,  nine  years  of  age.  Politically 
the  Doctor  is  a  re])uiilican  and  fraternally  is  con- 
nected with  tile  ( )(M  l-'cllows  in  Pennsylvania 
ami  with  tiie  .Modern  Woodmen  camp  at  Cres- 
cent City,  lie  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  liwlgc 
at  ( iihiian.  Me  is  |K>pular  Ijotii  .socially  and  pro- 
fessioiudly.  for  he  is  a  gentleman  of  gi-nial  man- 
ner. Cordial  disposition  ami  unfailing  courtesy 
and  at  the  same  time  manifests  a  .skill  in  his 
chosen    calling    that    has    gained    for    him    wide 

11  iTll'liliIlfi-. 


(iKokCK  I'lDLKK. 


(ieorge  l-"idler,  who  has  departed  this  life,  left 
behind  him  an  ex.inipie  well  worthy  f>f  emula- 
tion, for  he  proved  that  success  and  an  honored 
name  may  Ik*  won  simultaneously.  He  was  Ivjrn 
in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1821.  and  in  1825,  wlien 
only  four  years  of  age.  accompanied  bis  parents 
on  their  remov:d  to  Indiana,  where  the  <iays  of 
his  iMiyliwKl  and  youtli  were  passed  and  his  edu- 
cation was  acquired.  He  was  married  in  that 
slate,  and  at  an  early  period  be  came  to  this  state, 
settling  in  Irtxptois  county.  That  pioneer  condi- 
tions existed  here  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that 
lie  was  enableil  to  enter  a  claim  from  the  gov- 
eninient.     He  thus  i)egan  the  development  of  a 


290 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


farm,  upon  wliich  he  spent  his  subsequent  years. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  made  him  owner  of 
two  hundred  acres,  for  which  he  paid  cash,  hav- 
ing earned  the  money  through  the  operation  of 
rented  farms  in  Indiana.  His  widow  still  owns 
the  home  place,  which  has  never  had  a  mort- 
gage upon  it.  Mr.  Fidler  added  to  his  property 
from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  resources  in- 
creased until  he  became  the  owner  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres.  He  broke  the  sod,  tilled 
the  fields  and  carried  forward  the  work  of  im- 
provement, making  this  farm  very  productive 
and  valuable.  He  also  erected  all  of  the  build- 
ings. He  hauled  the  lumber  for  their  first  house 
from  thirty-five  miles  south  of  Lafayette,  Indi- 
ana, at  which  time  there  was  no  such  a  town  as 
Watseka  known  here.  One  had  to  go  long  dis- 
tances to  mill  and  to  market.  From  earlv  pio- 
neer times  until  his  death  he  followed  general 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  he  always  had 
good  grades  of  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  upon  his 
place.  In  all  of  his  business  dealings  he  was 
strictly  reliable  and  honorable,  being  never 
known  to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of 
others  in  any  business  transaction. 

In  early  manhood  Mr.  Fidler  married  Miss 
Hattie  Parker,  of  Indiana,  and  thev  became  the 
parents  of  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living  namely:  D.  A.,  a  retired  farmer  of  Wat- 
seka, who  has  a  family  of  four  sons  and  four 
daughters;  Mrs.  Joseph  IMiller,  who  resides  near 
Watseka ;  Mrs.  David  Miller,  also  of  Watseka  ; 
William  M..  a  well-to-do  fanner  living  near 
IMartinton,  who  is  married  and  has  two  children ; 
and  Owen,  who  wedded  Caroline  Ortman  and 
operates  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Fidler  voted  with  the  democracy  and  kept 
well  informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the 
day.  Both  he  and  his  wife  attended  the  Chris- 
tian church  and  they  also  contributed  to  the  sup- 
port of  other  denominations.  Mr.  Fidler  was 
ever  interested  in  the  development  and  progress 
of  this  community  and  aided  in  laying  the  foun- 
dation for  the  present  prosperity  and  progress 
of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  lived  to  see  many 
changes  here  as  the  wild  swamp  land  was  re- 
claimed for  the  uses  of  the  white  race  and  con- 
verted into  productive  farms,  while  here  and 
there  thriving  towns  were  built,  the  railroad,  the 
telegraph  and  the  telephone  were  introduced,  and 


thus  Iroquois  county  was  brought  into  close  con- 
nection with  the  older  settled  portions  of  the 
country.  In  all  of  his  business  life  ^Ir.  Fidler 
was  honest  and  upright.  He  was  considerate  in 
his  opinions  of  others  and  kindly  in  manner,  and 
his  good  qualities  won  him  many  friends.  He 
died  December  12,  1881,  leaving  behind  him  an 
honorable  name  as  well  as  a  goodly  heritage. 
Mrs.  Fidler  now  owns  eighty  acres  of  good  land 
which  is  operated  by  her  son  Owen,  and  her 
home  is  on  sections  4  and  5,  Iroquois  township. 


AQUILLA  C.  CAST. 

Aquilla  C.  Cast,  who  since  1886  has  been  liv- 
ing retired,  occupying  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
homes  in  the  county  at  Crescent  City,  was  born 
in  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  March  13,  1837,  and 
is  a  son  of  Hiram  V.  Cast,  of  the  Buckeye  state, 
who  in  1840  became  a  resident  of  Danville,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  spent  his  subsequent  years.  He 
devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  farming.  Three 
of  his  brothers  are  still  living — William,  who 
resides  at  Danville  and  passed  his  eighty-fifth 
milestone  on  life's  journey  in  April.  1906;  John 
E..  eighty  years  of  age,  living  in  Clinton  county, 
Ohio ;  and  Jackson,  seventy-eight  years  of  age, 
a  resident  of  Blanchester,  Ohio. 

Aquilla  C.  Cast  is  the  only  survivor  of  his 
father's  family.  The  common  schools  of  this 
county  aiTorded  him  his  educational  privileges. 
He  came  to  Iroquois  county  with  his  mother  and 
stepfather,  Henry  Alexander,  who  also  went  to 
Crescent  City,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
(lays.  Farm  work  and  the  duties  of  the  school- 
room divided  the  time  and  attention  of  Mr.  Cast 
in  his  boyhood  and  youth,  and  after  his  educa- 
tion was  completed  he  spent  two  years  as  a  farm 
hand.  In  1858  he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land 
which  he  still  owns  but  from  time  to  time  he  has 
added  to  his  property  until  liis  possessions  now 
aggregate  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  the 
rich  farming  land  of  this  section  of  the  state. 
( >f  this  a  quarter  section  is  situated  a  mile  and  a 
half  west  of  Crescent  City  in  Trociuois  township, 
while  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  is  near  Del- 
rey,  in  Onarga  township,  which  is  his  wife's 
sliare  of  jicr  father's  estate,  the  land  having  been 


UNIVEKLIIY  ul-  ILLINOIS 


A.   C.   CAST. 


MKS.    A.    r.    CAST. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINDIS. 


2>)5 


cntcrcij  by  Mr.  Kubinsnii.  .Mr.  Cast  broke  iIk- 
laiul,  i)lacc(l  it  nii<kr  tlio  plow,  CKiitinuctl  ihc 
work  of  cultivation  throut^li  manv  years  and  now 
has  two  jjood  farms,  lie  successfully  carried  on 
fanning  and  stock-raisinj;,  niakin;^  a  steady 
progress,  and  in  Ixjtli  branches  of  his  business 
met  with  jj;ratifyinjj  success.  l"or  twenty  years 
he  has  lived  retired,  havinji  put  aside  the  active 
work  of  the  farm  in  iStVi.  in  whicli  >ear  he  re- 
moved to  Crescent  City,  where  he  lias  since  lived. 
He  there  built  a  comniodious  <lwellint^.  sur- 
rounded by  broad  ])(>rches  and  constitutinj;  one 
of  the  beautiful  homes  of  Iroquois  county,  it 
was  erected  in  11/35  and  in  its  furnishings  shows 
rej^'ard  to  both  taste  and  comfort. 

.Mrs.  Cast,  who  lias  for  many  years  traveled 
life's  journey  by  his  si<le,  was  in  her  maiilenhcxxl 
Miss  Isabellc  J.  Robinson,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
and  a  dauj^hter  of  William  D.  Robinson,  who 
came  to  this  county  at  an  early  day.  settling  near 
Delrey.  Eight  children  have  been  bt>rn  to  this 
union,  of  whom  four  have  passed  away,  whil'.- 
four  are  yet  living.  The  family  record  is  a> 
follows:  Xcttie  is  the  wife  of  Theodore  Gi'.- 
christ.  who  resides  near  her  father  in  Crescent 
City,  and  who  is  sujiervisor  of  the  Crescent  towi,- 
ship.  They  have  three  children.  Carrie  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  C.  rarkman.  a  resident  of  Wash- 
ington and  they  have  two  sons,  l-'lnier  .\..  who 
is  a  professor  in  a  college  in  Spokane.  Washing- 
ton, married  Xora  Torbut.  and  they  have  six 
children.  Aha  E.  is  resiiling  at  home  and  de- 
votes her  time  to  teaching  and  to  music.  .\lma 
Grace  became  the  wife  of  Isaac  I  Sudd  and  died 
leaving  a  daughter,  who  is  living  with  her  fatlur 
near  lMiiladel])hia.  I'ennsylvania.  William  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  years.  aii<l  two  children  die<l 
in  youth. 

Mr.  Cast  votes  an  indeiiendent  ticket  and  has 
serve<l  as  collector,  assessor  and  in  other  local 
positions.  He  is  a  member  of  Standard  lodge, 
Xo.  f)07,  1.  O.  ().  F.,  at  Crescent  City,  and  his 
wife  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Ejiiscopal  church, 
to  which  he  contributes  generously.  Investiga- 
tion into  his  life  iiistory — and  it  will  bear  the 
closest  scrutiny — shows  that  in  his  business  he 
has  ever  lx;en  careful,  sy.steniatic.  energetic  and 
reliable.  These  are  always  essential  qualities  of 
success  and  have  brought  him  a  measure  of  pros- 
perity that  classes  him  with  the  substantial  resi- 


dents of  the  county  and  enables  him  now  to  en- 
joy many  of  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life 
in  honorable  retirement  in  a  pleasant  home  in 
Crescent  Citv. 


JolIX  T.    KIDD. 


The  Kidd  family  has  been  well  known  and 
]>rominent  in  agricultural  circles  in  InKpiois 
County  for  many  years  and  John  T.  Kidd  is  now 
a  well  known  and  sucessful  farmer  and  stock- 
man of  Danforth  town.ship.  He  was  l)orn  in 
Peoria  county,  Illinois,  in  i8r/>,  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Mary  .\.  (Twichell)  Kidd.  The  father,  who 
died  here  in  1S73,  was  lK>rn  in  Winchester,  West 
N'irginia,  in  1810.  Having  been  reare<l  in  the 
state  of  his  nativity,  he  came  to  Illinois  about 
1833.  when  a  young  man  of  twentx-tliree  years, 
and  located  at  Peoria.  Subse<|uently  he  ])ur- 
chased  a  farm  which  remained  his  home  until 
his  removal  to  Irocptois  county  in  1874.  He  then 
rented  a  farm  in  Danforth  townsbiji,  u])on  which 
he  made  his  home  until  his  death.  In  business 
life  he  was  active  and  energetic  and  in  commu- 
nity aflfairs  was  influential.  He  served  for  ten 
vears  as  lownshii)  treasurer  and  al.so  acted  as 
school  director  in  Peoria  county.  He  als<i  as- 
sisted in  dividing  that  county  into  townships 
and  his  public  life  was  of  material  benefit  to  the 
community,  as  he  stood  for  development  an<I 
progress  along  all  lines.  The  township  elections 
were  held  at  his  home  for  some  ten  years  before 
a  township  hall  was  erected.  That  he  was  a  man 
in  whom  his  fellow  citizens  reposed  trust  and 
confidence  is  shown  not  only  by  the  fact  that  he 
was  often  called  to  public  office  but  also  by 
reason  of  the  fact  that  he  was  administrator  in 
in  m;m\  estates.  Xo  trust  reposed  in  him  was 
ever  betrayed  in  the  slightest  degree  and  he  was 
fair  and  honorable  in  all  relations. 

Richard  Kidd  was  marrieil  to  Miss  Mary  .\. 
Twichell.  who  w;is  born  in  <  )swego  county,  Xew 
York,  in  1823.  a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sawyer  Twichell.  Her  father  died  in  the  Empire 
state,  but  her  mother  passed  away  in  Peoria 
county.  Illinois.  Mrs.  Kidd  had  four  sisters 
who  came  to  this  state:  Hannah,  the  wife  of 
ludge  W  illiani  H.ill.  .1  vit\    pii  ■iiilinnl  .uicl  i-.irh 


296 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


resident  ol  I'eoria:  .Mrs.  Rinh  Eastoii.  who  re- 
niovcd  to  Jowa  and  is  now  ileceased :  Mrs.  W. 
Holmes.  wli<>  has  passed  away:  and  Ann,  wlio 
was  the  second  wife  of  Mr.  Mohnes  and  has 
also  departed  this  life. 

Unto  Richard  and  .Mary  Kidd  were  born  nine 
cliildren.  Hester  is  the  wife  of  A.  Harrison,  liv- 
inij  in  I'eoria  county,  Illinois.  Mary  H..  who  is 
at  home,  has  lau.s,dil  school  for  fortv  years  in 
both  Peoria  and  Jroquois  counties,  and  also  in 
Ford  and  Stark  counties.  She  is  still  in  the  pro- 
fession though  not  teaching  at  the  present  time. 
James  R.,  living  in  Peoria  county,  is  a  blacksmith 
by  trade  but  is  now  retired  from  active  business. 
Amanda  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  IMc.Millan, 
who  is  residing  in  Richland  totwnship.  Iroquois 
county.  Haimah  is  the  wife  of  C.  \\  .  Davis,  of 
Eldorado.  Kansas.  Emma  is  at  home.  W.  A., 
who  died  at  his  home  in  Gilman  in  1902.  owned 
a  farm  near  ( )narga  and  at  his  death  left  a  widow 
who  is  residing  in  Gilman,  Ida  .A.  is  the  wife 
of  \\\  J.  Peters,  of  Calhoun  county,  Iowa. 

The  other  member  of  the  family  is  John  T. 
Kidd.  whose  name  introduces  this  record.  He  is 
the  youngest  of  the  family  and  is  an  enterpris- 
ing and  energetic  farmer  of  Danforth  township, 
operating  the  old  home  place  in  addition  to  which 
he  owns  eighty  acres  of  land  on  section  3.  Dan- 
forth township,  which  he  is  cultivating.  He  is 
l)ractical  in  all  his  methods  of  farm  work  and 
carries  on  his  tasks  in  the  same  energetic,  deter- 
mined manner,  so  that  gratifying  success  is  at- 
tending his  labors.  Politically  he  and  his  brothers 
are  all  republicans,  stanch  in  support  of  the  partv, 
and  he  has  served  for  two  terms  as  school  di- 
rector. In  religious  I'aiih  ])art  of  the  familv  are 
connected  with  the  .MethiMlisi  Episcopal  church 
anrl  others  with   the   I'reslnlerian  church. 


ALO.XZO  F.   G()(^DVEAR. 

.Among  the  strong  and  able  members  of  the 
Iroquois  county  bar  at  W'atseka  who  have  won 
public  recognition  as  indicated  bv  a  liiieral  and 
growing  clientage,  is  inmibered  .Monzo  h'.  tiood- 
year.  He  was  born  .\ugtist  30.  i86i,  in  Taze- 
well counts,  mini  lis,  and  is  a  re])resentali\e  nl 
one  of  the  old  .\merican   families,  his  ancestors 


coming  originally  from  Cumberland,  England, 
while  for  generations  previous  the  family  had 
been  residents  of  that  country.  The  Goodyears 
of  .America  are  descended  from  a  branch  of  the 
family  which  had  settled  in  Middlesex,  England, 
George  Stephen  Goodyear  having  been  born  in 
Monken  Hadley.  that  county.  He  was  the  first 
of  the  family  in  the  new  world,  having  crossed 
the  .Atlantic  to  .-\merica  in  1^38,  and  he  served 
as  deputv  governor  of  New  Haven  colony  from 
1643  until  1658.  His  son  was  Lieutenant  John 
G.  Goodvear,  and  the  line  of  descent  is  traced 
down  through  Timothy,  Seymour.  Marks  and 
.\lonzo   Pryor  (ioodyear  to  our  subject. 

The  father,  .Monzo  Pryor  Goodyear,  was  born 
in  New  York  and  wedded  !\Iary  Humphrey,  of 
an  old  family  prominent  in  the  history  of  the 
Empire  state  in  colonial  times.  In  1837  --^lonzo 
P.  Goodyear  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father. 
Marks  Goodyear,  the  familv  settling  at  Tremont. 
In  1874  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  enga.ged  in  farming  imtil  1901.  He 
then  retired  from  active  business  life  and  now 
resides  at  Woodland.  He  has  for  many  years 
been  a  highly  respected  resident  of  this  part  of 
the  state  and  while  not  an  office  seeker  he  has 
been  a  man  of  considerable  activity  and  influence 
in  public  alifairs. 

.\lonzo  F.  Goodyear  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Illinois  and  after  thorough  prelinii- 
uarv  training  engaged  in  teaching,  w-hich  profes- 
sion he  followed  in  Iroquois  county  for  several 
vears,  recognized  as  one  of  the  able  educators  of 
the  locality.  He  also  acted  for  two  years  as 
assistant  countv  superintendent  of  schools  and 
while  following  the  profession  of  teaching  he 
took  up  the  study  of  law,  while  later  he  matric- 
ulated in  the  Northwestern  Law  School  at  Chi- 
cago. .\dmitted  to  the  bar  in  1886.  he  began 
practice  in  connection  with  the  late  Judge  Hil- 
scher  and  has  made  steady  ])rogress  in  a  profes- 
sion where  advancement  dei)ends  entirely  upon 
indixiihial  merit  and  ability.  In  1888  lie  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  state's  attorney.  His  part- 
nership with  Judge  Hilscher  was  continued  until 
ihe  latter"s  elevation  to  the  bench,  since  which 
lime  Mr.  (ioodyear  has  practiced  alone.  .\  large 
;nid  distinctively  representative  clientage  has 
been  accorded  liini.  and  in  the  trial  of  causes  he 
has  been    found   strong  and    forcefid.  ]iresenting 


llliiiMttvnii 


I .'  I   ^  I  I  1 1    \  , 


uf  I  HE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


*W 


his  case  in  clear  niicl  li>^ical  iiiaiiiicr.  so  that  lic 
nevcr  fails  t«»  impress  o>urt  or  jury  aiui  schtuni 
fails  tu  win  the  vcrilict  ilosirol.  Mo  has  licen 
master  in  chancery,  has  served  «>n  llie  ^chiHil 
board  and  has  acted  as  alderman  of  W'atseka. 
in  all  i>i  which  [Misitiims  he  has  rentlered  signal 
service  to  his  fellow  citizens.  Me  is  hij^hly  re- 
spectetl  as  a  man  of  loyalty  of  patriotism  and 
piihiic  spirit  ami  is  l>i»th  jvopiilar  and  succi'ssfiil. 
Mis  |Militical  alle^^iance  is  };iven  to  the  repnhlican 
party  and  as  a  champion  of  its  principles  he 
has  done  effective  service  in  its  hehalf. 

In  January,  iSXy.  .\lr.  (■io<H|year  was  niarrieil 
to  Miss  .Stella  .M.  Myers,  a  daughter  of  M.  D. 
Myers,  of  lriK|uois  count),  and  they  have  two 
children:  KolK-rt.  who  was  Ixtrn  .\u>just  J<^. 
1803;  and  I-awrcncc.  Ivirn  September  5.  1897. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  .Methodist 
church  and  fraternally  .\tr.  (itMxIycar  is  con- 
nected with  the  Masons  and  other  societies.  Me 
has  attained  the  Knijjht  Temi)lar  ilej^ree  in  the 
craft  and  is  one  of  the  worthy  representatives  nf 
that  or{<^anization. 


lOHN  LFAIF.. 


The  name  of  Levie  has  lon^j  figured  conspicu- 
ously and  honorably  in  comiection  with  the  his- 
tory of  aj;ricultural  development  and  progress  in 
Iro(|uois  county.  John  I^cvie  was  Iwni  in  \'ir- 
ginia,  Augusa  19.  iSjo.  and  came  to  Illinois 
about  1840.  This  was  the  jjioneer  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  state  and  antedating  the  era  of  rail- 
road construction.  In  early  days  he  drove  a  stage 
iK'twcen  Chicago  and  Morris.  Illinois,  In-ing  thus 
engagitl  until  .nlK)ut  iWio.  when  he  came  to  Iro- 
(|Uois  county  and  invested  his  savings  in  forty 
acres  of  land.  Me  has  since  lived  in  Douglas 
township  and  has  long  ranked  with  the  lea<ling 
and  representative  agriculturists  of  the  commu- 
nity, known  and  honored  for  his  sterling  worth 
and  his  fidelity  to  honorable  principles. 

<  )n  the  4th  of  <  >ctolx'r.  |H4<;.  John  Levie  was 
united  in  marriage  to  .Miss  .Martha  Dial,  of 
Kendall  county.  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  l-'lias  and 
KlizalK-th  (Dean)  Dial,  who  came  to  this  state 
alxuit  1S40  from  .South  Carolina.  They  at  first 
settled  near  .\urnra,  where  Mr.  Dial  eng.iged  in 


farming,  .\fter  losing  liis  wife  he  walke<l  frouj 
lUinois  tu  his  old  home  in  South  Caroliiu  and 
the  chiMren  drove  in  a  oiu-horse  wagon.  lie 
also  made  the  return  trip  on  foot.  In  i860,  he, 
too.  became  a  resident  of  Douglas  township, 
lriM|u.iis  County,  anci  for  a  long  |)erii«l  was  asso- 

ciateil   with   the   au'riiiillnr.il    iiilirr>.iv  nf   tliis   ii.irt 

of  the  state. 

Unto  .Mr.  anil  .Mr.-..  J«>lni  Levic  were  Uirn  I'our 
children  who  are  yet  living,  and  they  also  lust 
one  sun,  Mlnier.  who  was  Ixrn  .\pril  8,  1868,  and 
de])arted  this  life  .SeptemlK-r  5.  l8<>4.  The  mem- 
Ikts  of  the  family  still  living  are  .ts  follows: 
Carrie,  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  l\dwar<l  K.  Dyer, 
who  is  engaged  in  the  insurance  l)usiness  in 
Aurora,  .\lvin  follows  farming  in  .Nebraska. 
I'rank.  Inirn  DecemlnT  i<;.  i83<j.  has  devoted  his 
entire  life  to  agricultural  pursuits  in  Douglas 
township,  living  u]>on  the  old  home  place.  In 
connection  with  his  brother  Charles  he  conducts 
the  farm  of  thrir  hundntl  and  four  acres  of 
rich  and  arable  land.  They  are  enterprising 
.igriculturists  and  stock-raisers,  having  brought 
their  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so 
that  rich  crops  arc  annually  produced.  Their 
stock-raising  interests  are  also  pri>ving  a  profit- 
able source  of  income  to  tlu-m  and.  In-ing  men  of 
marked  business  ability  and  enterprise,  they  have 
also  extended  their  effcjrts  into  other  fields  of  ac- 
tivity and  are  now  conducting  a  sawmill  and 
buying  considerable  timber.  bVank  Levie  has 
filled  the  office  of  school  director  for  the  past 
fifteen  years  and  is  a  stalwart  champion  of  the 
cause  of  eilucation.  Mis  |>olitical  alli-giance  is 
given  to  the  republican  part\  and  in  all  matters 
of  citizenship  he  is  progressive  and  public- 
spirited. 

Charles  Levie,  who  is  a  partner  of  his  brother 
in  various  business  ventures,  was  l»orn  Septem- 
lier  22,  iHlil>,  in  Ir(N|uois  comity.  an<l  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  Me  early  receivcti 
thorough  training  in  the  practical  work  of  the 
farm  on  the  old  homestead  and.  as  stated,  is  in 
partnership  with  his  l)rother  I'rank  in  the  fann- 
ing and  stoik-raising  interests  and  in  the  sawmill 
business.  Me  married  .May  (>,  i8<),i,  .Miss  .\daline 
Kees.  of  MnKidland.  Illinois,  a  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert M.  Rees,  a  farmer  by  occupation.  .Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  Charles  I,evie  now  have  three  children: 
Ivsther  .\renea.  Ixmi  January   21,   i8i>4;  Henja- 


300 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


mill    Curtis,    September    5.    1895;    and    Charles 
Franklin.  July  21,  1897. 

Like  his  brother,  Charles  Levie  is  a  stalwart 
republican  and  has  served  as  school  director  for 
six  years.  Both  brothers  are  progressive  business 
men.  diligent  and  industrious,  and  through  the 
utilization  of  the  opportunities  that  have  come  to 
them  they  have  made  steady  progress  in  the 
business  world.  In  all  trade  transactions  they 
are  found  thoroughly  reliable  and  trustworthy 
and  the  name  of  Levie  has  been  an  honored  and 
respected  one  in  agricultural  circles  since  the 
father,  John  Levie,  established  his  home  in  Iro- 
quois county  forty-six  years  ago.  He  is  now  a 
venerable  man  of  eighty-six  years,  being  one  of 
the  oldest  residents  of  his  township. 


JOHN  MILTOX   r.ALTIIlS. 

The  measure  of  success  which  John  Alilton 
Balthis  has  attained  as  the  result  of  close  appli- 
cation and  unfaltering  diligence  enables  him  now 
to  live  retired  and  he  leaves  the  active  work  of 
the  farm  to  others.  He  owns  two  hundred  and 
eightv  acres  on  section  11,  Chebanse  township, 
in  the  midst  of  which  .stands  a  convenient  and 
comfortable  residence  with  modern  appoint- 
ments. It  is  .surrounded  by  a  magnificent  grove 
of  trees,  which  were  planted  by  Mr.  ilalthis.  the 
grove  containing  three  thousand  maple,  six  hun- 
dred apple  and  one  hundred  cherry  trees.  l;eside 
manv  other  varieties  in  smaller  (|uantities.  He 
has  prohal)l\-  ])lanted  the  largest  collection  of 
trees  of  any  man  in  the  county.  The  home  farm 
is  one  of  the  attractive  features  of  the  landscajjc 
and  indicates  in  its  excellent  a])pearancc  the  care- 
ful supervision  of  the  owner. 

Mr.  ISalthis  has  now  reached  the  veneral)le  age 
of  almost  eighty  year>,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Zanesville.  Ohio.  (  )ctober  5.  1827.  His  par- 
ents were  Major  John  and  Lenity  (Morton)  ilal- 
this. early  residents  of  the  Buckeye  state,  ihe 
father  was  born  at  Strasburg,  Shenandoah 
coiuity,  \  irginia.  in  1798  and  died  in  Zanesville. 
Ohio.  August  17.  1872.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Eastport.  Maine.  July  4,  1794.  and  ])assed  away 
in  Zanesville.  Ohio.  September  22.  1872.    Colum- 


bia Balthis,  our  subject's  sister,  born  May  1, 
1843,  '^I'C'l  September  14.  1858,  when  more  than 
fifteen  vears  of  age  and  was  buried  in  the  beauti- 
ful Woodlawn  cemetery  at  Zanesville.  A  cousin 
of  Mr.  Balthis,  John  W.  Hardin,  was  born  in 
Zanesville  and  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  be- 
came a  member  of  Company  E,  C)ne  Hundred 
and  Ninetieth  \'olunteer  Infantry,  under  Captain 
^lartin  Bean  and  Colonel  Samuel  Beatty.  The 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Fourth  Army 
Corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Young 
Hardin  was  shot  bv  sharpshooters  at  Culps  Farm 
on  Stone  river  Vvhen  a  mere  boy  seventeen  years 
of  age,  and  a  tablet  inscribed  with  his  name  and 
record  has  been  set  in  Memorial  Hall  in  Zanes- 
ville. Ohio. 

Reared  in  his  native  city,  the  subject  of  this 
review  was  educated  in  the  old  Mclutyre  Insti- 
tute of  Zanesville.  and  after  his  graduation  from 
that  institution  he  developed  into  an  amateur 
woodcut  engraver,  showing  such  ability  along 
that  line  that  he  was  advised  to  continue  in  that 
work  and  did  so  by  connecting  himself  with  the 
firm  of  Doolittle  &  ]\Iunson.  banknote  engravers 
of  Cincinnati.  Ohio.  After  completing  his  ap- 
prenticeship with  that  firm  he  engaged  in  engrav- 
ing for  several  years  but  had  to  give  it  up  on 
account  of  failing  eyesight.  During  that  time, 
however,  he  illustrated  a  Mexican  historical  pub- 
lication called  the  Twelve  Months  \'olunteers, 
also  the  Robinson  series  of  school  arithmetics. 

While  still  living  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  Mr.  Bal- 
this was  married  in  that  city,  on  the  ist  of  May, 
1849,  to  ^liss  Susanna  Olivia  Hamilton,  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Rev.  .'-^amuel  Hamilton,  a  noted  cler- 
gyman of  tliat  place.  Her  mother  was  Mrs. 
lulith  (Harrison)  Hamilton,  of  Harrisonburg. 
\irginia.  who  was  related  to  William  Henry 
Harrison,  who  in  1840  was  elected  president  of 
the  L'nited  States.  Tier  father  received  from  the 
i'.ritish  government  a  large  grant  of  land,  on 
wliich  ll:irris(inhurg  was  laid  out.  It  bordered 
the  James  river  and  there  he  develoi)ed  a  good 
plantation,  and  the  old  home  stands  there  today 
••IS  n\  old.  .M.nny  interesting  letters  giving  side- 
lights u])on  the  lamilv  history  are  still  in  posses- 
sion of  re])resentalives  in  the  present  generation. 
I'ntd  this  marriage  were  born  six  childi,-en  :  Al- 
tha  \'.  is  the  wife  of  Zack  Smith,  of  Redlands, 
California:    .\lberta  E.  first  married  Louis  W'al- 


IRogiOlS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


Jto« 


ttiii.  Ill  I  liitiiii.  ami  i>  luiw  llic  wife  of  l5iTt  Sin-n- 
ccr,  a  miTchaiit  ni  k(.-niin|L;tnn,  Indiana.     I'anny 
is    till-    wile    of    Rev.    Tlioiuas    Onavle.    of    St. 
•Marx's.   I  )hio,   now    secretary   of  tlie    l-aw   ami 
(  >r<ler  Leajjne  of  l,;»ke  counl\.  Illinois.     Me  re- 
ceived a  classical  edncation.  I»einj;  a  pnulnate  of 
Trinily  Ct>ilene  hul>lin,  Ireland,  and  is  descended 
from  one  of  the  old  families  of  the  Isle  of  .Man. 
.After  attending;   school   in  tlifton    .Mrs.   (Jnavle 
tan^ht  in  the  district  schools  of  the  townshi)).  also 
in  the  scIkmiIs  of  liinsdale,  Illinois,  and  of  Lirl- 
in>n"'i.  Kentncky.     She  was  also  a  memlK-r  of  a 
nuisical  organixation.     Jeiniy  Lind  is  the  wife  of 
(leor^e     I  l.ir^jreaves.    traveling    aj^cnt     for    the 
hou.sc  of  .Mc.N'eil  &  lii).:Kins  of  C'hica^o.     .\ft(.r 
leavini^  sch<Mi|   in  (.'lifton   she  look  a  course  in 
\\  esleyan    I'niversity   at    lilooininnlon   an<l   siih- 
se<|uently  tau).;ht  in  the  hi^h  scIvhi]  at  Hinsdale. 
Dnpai^'e  conntv.  Illinois,  .-md  at  Ivarlinijlon.  Ken- 
tucky.    .*she  likewise  taught  at  W'atseka  when  the 
.schools    were    under   the   sniK-rvision    of    Major 
Harrinj.r'"".  tl'«-"  '••li'  .Im'vTt'  Hilscher  and  .\lexan- 
der  U  hitehall.     She  was  also  a  student  at  Dear- 
Ixirii  .Seminary   in  Chicago,  whose  thoronj;h  .sys- 
tem turned  out  some  very  accomplished  women, 
iucludiu^   .Mrs.    I'olter    Talmer.  who  was  a   stu- 
dent there  at  the  same  time  as  Mrs.  Hargreaves. 
'I"he  latter  is  an  accomplished  and  cultured  lad>. 
who  is  fre<|uently  .sent  as  a  dele}.;ate  to  im)M)rtant 
ii)eeti!i;;s  an<l  is  often  chosen  to  jjrcpare  and  read 
I)apers  on  such  occasions.     Harry  IL.  who  is  a 
^:raduate  of  the   .\nnai«.lis    Naval    .\ca<lemy   of 
the  class  of  |SX_<.  is  now  paymaster  in  the  I'uited 
States  naval  station  at  the  navy  yanis  at   .\or- 
folk,  X'iryinia,  and  all  thrnufjh  the  Japanese  an<l 
Russian  war  was  paymaster  on  the  famous  hattle- 
ship  (  )re}ioii.     1-ldith  ( >.  is  tin  wife  <if  J.  C".  (ilea- 
snn.  of  the  liim  of  (ileason  &  .Morrell,  of  Clifton. 
She  tau^Iit   in   the  annix   of  the  Clifton   puhlic 
.schools  and  is  <|nite  accomplished  in  nv.i--'      \i  ■••■ 
ifii-il  at   the  ajje  of   four  years. 

.Mr.  I'lalthis  continued  his  studies  in  <  )hio  until 
the  "'los.  when  he  went  to  Iowa  and  purchasi-d  a 
tract  of  jjoveriunent  land  of  fourteen  hundred 
acres.  Melievin^  that  that  w;i>  the  l»est  field  for 
his  enter|>rise  he  settle«l  on  a  Ix-autiful  farm  in 
("opley  township.  Kuox  county,  where  he  was 
residintj  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out.  .\11  his 
life  he  had  iK-en  a  stanch  whi^j  and  repuhlican. 
The  firinj;  u|>on   I'ort   Sumter  was  the  call   for 


every   man  to  show    his  colors.      Ileatol   discus- 
sions followeil  lietween  loyal  men  and  so  calleil 
copperheads,  and   .Mr.   Itallhis  was  found  as  an 
earne-l  cham]iiou  of  the  I'nion  cau.se.     S<j  pro- 
nounced was  he  in  his  denunciations  of  the  dis- 
loxal   •<entiments  of  those  who  op|Mised  the   war 
that  the  republicans  of  his  township  unanimously 
nominatetl  him   for  the  office  of  sujKTvisor.     It 
was  at  a  time  when  supplies  ha<l  to  Ik-  voted  for 
the  sup|>ort  of  the  families  of  the  brave  soldiers 
at  the  front.     It  was  also  the  earnest  task  of  tlie 
supervisors    to    crush    out    disloyal    utterances. 
When  the  election  w.is  held  and  the  votes  were 
counted  it  was  foinid  that   .Mr.   Ilalthis  received 
the  su|)]Kirt  of  every  loyal  man  of  the  township. 
He  t<M)k  his  seat  on  the  Uiard  and  the  minutes 
show  that  not  a  vote  of  his  Rave  aid  and  com- 
fort to  the  enemies  of  his  country.     To  show  the 
estimation  in  which  Mr.  Ilalthis  was  held  diirint:; 
these  tryinp  times  by   the  loyal  people  of  Knox 
county   we   insert   here  a   connuent   published    in 
the    Knoxville   (iazette.  a   leadinj;    I'nion   jinftr. 
concerninir  a  convention  held  at  the  courtli' 
at   Knoxville  in  defense  of  the   I'nion  cause,  of 
which  J.    I).    Hr»ward   was  made   president   and 
John  .M.  ISalthis  was  chosen  secretary.     The  |<a- 
|K"r  said.  "The  unconditional   I'nion  convention 
which  was  held  at  the  courthou.se  last  .'Saturday 
to  nominate  candidates  to  Ik-  sup|M>rted  at  the 
.Vovember    elections    was    comimsed    of    ninetv- 
three    delegates    representing    eighteen    of    the 
twenty  townshi])s  of  the  county.     The  delegates 
were   men   of   intellijience,    fully   comprehendinj; 
the  situation  of  the  county  and  firmly  determined 
to  throw  the  whole  inlhience  of  the  county  on  the 
side  of  the  administration  in  their  efforts  to  pre- 
•serve  its  di^jnity  and  unity  by  viRoniusly  prose- 
cutiiiR  the  war  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebel- 
lion.   The  convention  was  a  L'nion  convention  in 
name,  spirit  and  fact :   not  a  pro<luction  like  that 
by  which  the  attempt  to  entrap  the  jteople  of  the 
county  was  made  as  it  was  a  year  ago,  and  the 
people  of  the  county  may  implicitly  rely  mi  the 
assurance    that    its    nominees    l»efore    and    after 
election     will     not     be     foun<l     weariup    disloy:il 
bad^iCN  in  the  shaiK.-  of  copiK-rhead  pins  or  takiny' 
p:irt   in   traitorous  assemblages  and   passing;  in- 
famous resolutions  of  resistance  to  the  author- 
ities in  putting  down  the  relH-llion.     They  are  all 
for  the  countrv  all  the  time.    The\  are  I'nion  in 


302 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


heart  aiul  in  backbone  and  will  default  in  no 
demand  made  upon  them  for  a  pure  patriotism." 
Mr.  Balthis  repre.sented  his  township  in  the  con- 
vention and  held  the  office  of  supervisor  for  a 
number  of  years,  after  which  he  resigned  and 
removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  iron  business  for  several  years.  He 
then  came  to  Iroquois  county  in  1867,  removing 
to  his  ihree-hundred-and-twenty-acre  farm  of 
wild  land  near  Clifton,  thus  carrying  out  a  long 
cherished  desire  to  realize  the  "deep  pleasure  of 
a  rural  life."  He  identified  himself  with  agri- 
cultural interests,  carrying  on  farm  work  for  a 
number  of  years  but  now  living  retired,  leaving 
the  more  active  duties  of  the  fields  to  others. 
His  farm  is  one  of  the  valuable  and  best  im- 
proved properties  of  Chebanse  township,  embrac- 
ing two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of  very  rich 
and  productive  land  on  section  11,  township  28, 
range  14  west.  The  farm  yields  a  good  finan- 
cial return  for  the  care  and  labor  that  is  be- 
stowed upon  the  fields  and  everything  about 
the  place  presents  a  neat  and  thrifty  appearance, 
while  the  splendid  grove  makes  this  one  of  the 
valuable  farms  of  the  county.  He  is  a  remark- 
ably well  preserved  man,  retaining  the  activity 
usuallv  fi)und  in  the  prime  of  life  to  a  remarkable 
degree.  He  walks  from  his  orchard  farm  to 
Clifton,  a  distance  of  one  and  a  quarter  miles, 
nearly  every  week-day,  so  th.it  in  ten  years  he 
has  thus  covered  a  distance  of  fourteen  thousand 
four  hundred  miles.  He  attributes  his  strength 
and  vitalit\'  largeh-  to  the  fact  that  he  has  always 
been  abstemious,  never  using  intoxicants,  and  he 
asks  the  question.  "Does  it  not  ])ay?"  Surely  he  • 
is  a  splendid  example  of  such  a  course  of  life. 

In  early  life  ]\Ir.  Balthis  was  an  old-line  whig, 
casting  his  first  presidential  vote  for  General 
Zachary  Taylor.  He  then  continued  t(.i  support 
the  candidates  of  the  whig  [larty  until  its  disso- 
lution, when  he  joined  the  ranks  of  the  republican 
l)art\  ;ind  he  has  voted  for  each  of  its  presiden- 
tial nominees  down  to  the  present  time.  For 
seventy-nine  years  he  has  been  a  witness  of  the 
growth  and  development  of  the  country,  living 
through  the  period  of  many  historic  events.  He 
can  remember  a  time  when  there  were  no  rail- 
roads through  the  middle  west,  travel  being  done 
by  stage  or  private  conveyance,  and  when  the 
uncultivated   condition  of  the  prairies  indicated 


that  few  settlers  had  penetrated  into  this  part  of 
the  country.  He  has  lived  to  witness  many  re- 
markable changes  in  the  great  Mississippi  valley 
and  he  feels  the  just  pride  of  an  American  in  his 
country  and  her  accomplishments. 


[AMES  A.  HALL. 


The  most  envious  can  scarcely  begrudge  the 
success  of  a  man  who  has  gained  his  prosperity 
through  years  of  close  application  and  deter- 
mined eflfort  and  who  has  throughout  his  busi- 
ness career  followed  methods  that  neither  seek 
nor  require  disguise.  Such  has  been  the  life  rec- 
ord of  James  A.  Hall,  who  in  former  years  was 
identified  with  building  operations  and  business 
interests  in  Onarga  and  Iroquois  cotmty  and  who 
is  now  living  retired  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  well 
earned  rest,  ^iloreover  he  dates  his  residence 
in  the  county  from  May,  1856.  and  is  therefore 
classed  with  the  old  settlers. 

He  was  born  in  Xew  London,  Connecticut, 
May  II,  1828.  His  father,  Henry  Hall,  was 
born  in  Connecticut  and  w-as  a  representative  of  a 
family  of  English  and  French  ancestry.  The 
great-great-grandfather  of  our  subject  became  a 
resident  of  Connecticut,  where  he  took  up  a  sec- 
tion of  land,  being  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  that 
locality.  He  married  a  lady  of  English  ancestry 
and  they  were  founders  of  the  family  in  the  new 
world.  The  faniih-  lived  for  a  long  period  in 
Xew  England  and  James  A.  Hall  of  this  review 
inherited  land  that  had  been  in  possession  of  the 
faniih-  for  over  two  hundred  years.  His  father 
was  a  farmer  and  reared  his  family  upon  the  old 
homestead  which  was  so  long  in  possession  of 
his  ancestors,  spending  his  entire  life  upon  that 
place.  He  had  four  sons  and  three  daughters, 
all  of  whom  reached  adult  age.  Joshua  Hall, 
the  eldest,  is  now  living  in  Ionia,  Michigan,  at 
the  venerable  age  of  ninety-one  years.  Henry, 
the  second  son,  died  in  California  at  the  age  of 
eighty-four  years.  James  A.  is  the  third  in  or- 
der of  birth.  Samuel  died  in  Connecticut.  Ruth 
was  married  and  at  her  death  left  two  daughters, 
one  of  whom  is  now  living.  Frances  is  the  wife 
of  ]'"ranklin  Randall,  of  Connecticut,  and  has  two 
children,  who  are  married. 


Mk.  AND  MRS.  JAMES  A.  HAIX 


>7 


UNIVERSITV  OF   ILLINOIS 


IRiKjUOIS  COUNTY.  HJJVoh 


305 


J;iiiic>  A.  Hall  was  rcarcil  in  the  place  i>l'  his 
nalivily  ami  in  \\i->  \utith  learned  tite  car|K-ntcr's 
tra<lc.  As  a  c<>tn|ianion  and  helpmate  for  life's 
JKuriicy  he  \\e<l(lecl  Miss  Mary  A.  Sherman,  a  na- 
tive i>i  0>nnecticnt.  In  185*1  they  removed  to  the 
west,  coniin^;  at  once  to  ( Inar^a.  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  ilall  Ikti^ui  husiness  as  a  contnictor  and 
builder.  lie  was  conneetol  with  the  erection  of 
some  of  the  first  residences  here  an<l  continued  iu 
caqicnterinji  for  alxiut  ten  years,  after  which  he 
pnrchasetl  eijjhty  acres  of  laud  situated  alx'Ultwo 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  ( )uarKa.  Me  then  Ir-- 
^an  to  break  the  prairie  and  fence  the  land, 
which  he  transformed  into  a  jtrixluctive  farm. 
He  als4i  erected  a  house  there  and  matle  other 
sultstantial  iinproveuK-nts.  Subse<|uently  he  sold 
that  pri>i)erty  and  bought  eii^hty  acres,  of  which 
forty  acres  lie  within  the  cor|Miration  limits  of 
(  hiarjja  and  the  remaining  forty  .ncres  adjoin  the 
town.  Me  then  erecte«l  a  comfortable  residence 
thereon,  made  improvements  there  ami  now  has 
a  valuable  place  worth  two  hundred  dollars  |)er 
acre.  He  has  Ixiu^ht  other  land  which  he  has 
further  improved  and  then  sold  and  has  loUfi 
been  recojjiiizeil  as  a  successful  farmer  of  the 
county. 

In  1871  .Mr.  Hall  was  called  u|M>n  t<i  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  on  the  <>th  of 
June  of  that  year.  There  were  three  children 
by  that  marriajre  :  (iertriule.  the  wife  of  .\lonzo 
Lyons,  a  business  man  now  residing  in  Danville: 
Jennie,  the  widow  of  J;icob  Hankey  and  a  resi- 
dent of  .\rlin>;ton.  New  York;  and  .Mary,  the 
wife  of  John  L.  Hamilton,  of  H(Mi|ieston.  On 
the  loth  of  .\pril.  1S7.V  Mr  "all  was  ajjain 
married,  his  second  union  Ikmuj;  with  .Mary  .\. 
(l.<iudon)  Ix-e.  whom  he  wedded  near  ( >iiar(;a. 
She  was  first  marrieed  at  the  a>^e  of  twenty  years 
to  William  I.ee  on  the  .'7th  of  Jamiary.  tH3«>. 
.Mr.  Iax  was  a  farmer  here  and  iKvame  a  s-il- 
«licr  of  the  Civil  war.  dyinn  while  in  the  arnr 
near  \icksburjr.  There  was  one  s<in  of  tb.i: 
niarriat;e.  William  I-ee.  who  is  now  a  business 
man  of  .New  York  city.  I'nto  Mr.  ami  Mrs.  Ilall 
has  lieen  Ixirn  one  son.  (ieorKe  I...  who  is  niarrieil 
and  resides  u|xin  a  farm  in  lro(|Uois  count>.  own- 
ing and  <i|HTatin^  two  hundrc<l  acres  of  land. 

James  .\.  Hall,  whose  name  intrfxluces  this 
reconl.  jpive  his  early  |K>litical  allegiance  to  the 
whij;  |>arty  ami  on  its  dissolution  he  voted  for 


John  »  1  ivni-  iii  i.i  1856,  aftrrwanl  for  .M'rn 
ham  Lincoln  and  fur  each  presidential  noii  ::  < ' 
of  the  republican  party  since  that  time.  He  has 
iK-en  without  political  aspiration  for  himself  but. 
as  every  Inic  .Anjerican  citizen  shoubl  »lo,  ha^* 
kept  woll  informed  on  the  (piestioiis  and  in-'I'  > 
of  the  day.  He  was  reared  in  the  Haptist  i.tiiii 
ami  his  wife  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  l*or  a 
half  century  he  has  lived  in  the  county  and  .Mrs. 
Hall  ha>  U-en  a  resident  here  for  a  still  lonjjer 
|>erii><l.  He  has  witnessed  the  iipbuildiii);  of  the 
town  and  county  ami  is  <ine  of  the  few  renuiin- 
inj;  old  settlers  who  for  a  half  century  have  l>eeu 
identifie<l  with  public  proj;ress  here.  Wherever 
known  he  is  esteemed  and  houoretl.  for  investi- 
gation into  his  history  brings  to  li(;ht  many 
strong  characteristics  that  everywhere  command 
confiilence  ami  esteem.  In  his  business  career 
what  he  has  undertaken  he  has  accomplished  and 
be  therefore  ttwlay  is  numlK-red  amoiifj  the  men 
of  aftluence  who  owe  their  success  to  their  own 
labors. 


II.  .\\  \K|i    \  Vi  .V 


lloward  Lyon,  living  on  m-cUoii  i.  <  Miarjja 
township,  is  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  county, 
havinj;  lived  within  its  l)t»r<lcrs  since  1856,  so 
that  the  history  of  settlement,  tjrowth  and  devel- 
opment here  is  largely  familiar  to  him.  nor  has 
he  failed  to  do  his  full  share  in  promoting  its 
aj^ricultural  ]>roj;ress.  .X  native  of  \"ennont.  he 
was  Ixirn  in  the  town  of  Slockrifljje.  Wind.sor 
county.  March  1.  18,^1.  ami  his  father,  .\iuasa 
Lyon,  was  also  a  native  of  that  place.  The  Lyon 
family  is  of  Kn^lish  ancestry,  ami  in  colonial 
days  was  established  in  Connecticut,  whence  later 
representatives  of  the  name  remove«l  to  the 
(ireen  Mountain  state.  .Xma.sa  Lyon  was  reared 
in  X'ermont.  where  he  followe<l  the  occn|>ation 
of  farmiii);.  and  he  was  married  there  to  Polly 
I'.arnes.  also  a  native  of  X'erinont.  They  s|H.'nt 
their  entire  lives  there,  the  father  surviving  his 
wife  for  some  years.  Howard  Lyon  was  rearerl 
in  his  father's  home  and  the  public  scIukiIn  af- 
forded him  his  e(luc:ilional  ]irivile).:es.  while  u|xin 
the  home  fanu  be  was  taught  lessons  of  industry, 
economy,  diligence  and  honesty.  <  )n  the  j.»d  <■( 
April.    i8_Vi.   he    was    married    to    Miss    l',eise\ 


7,o6 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Brown  and  the  same  year  removed  with  liif 
bride  to  lUinois.  He  secured  land  in  Iroquois 
county  and  began  to  farm  and  further  improve 
the  place  upon  which  he  still  resides.  As  time 
has  passed  and  his  labors  have  brought  him 
prosperity,  he  has  added  to  his  holdings  and  now 
ownis  four  good  famis  in  Onarga  townsliip. 
AH  of  the  land  is  arable  and  the  care  and  labor 
bestowed  upon  it  has  transformed  it  into  rich 
fields,  making  his  business  a  paying  one  and 
classing  him  with  the  prosperous  farmers  of  the 
township,  his  holdings  comprising  nearly  six 
hundred  acres. 

Mr.  Lyon  lost  his  first  wife  by  accidental 
drowning  while  they  were  crossing  the  Detroit 
river,  at  Detroit.  Michigan,  while  on  tlieir  way 
back  to  \'ermont.  ^Ir.  Lyon  remained  in  his 
native  state  for  a  year  and  a  half  and  then  came 
again  to  Illinois.  He  married  his  second  wife 
in  St.  Louis.  She  was  Mrs.  Caroline  Sanders, 
who  was  bom  and  reared  in  St.  Louis,  and  was 
the  widwv  of  Richard  Sanders.  She  died  in 
Onarga  township.  ^lay  12.  1879.  Mr.  Lyon  has 
five  children :  James,  on  the  home  fami :  Ed- 
ward, a  farmer  of  Ridgeland  township;  \Mlliam 
H..  of  Artesia  township ;  Parry,  a  farmer  of 
Onarga  township :  and  Robert,  at  home.  On  the 
3d  of  March,  1880.  ^Ir.  Lyon  married  Mrs. 
Eveline  Libhart. 

With  the  ^lethodist  Episcopal  church  at  Del- 
rev  Mr.  Lyon  holds  membership,  and  while 
not  an  office  seeker  he  is  an  ardent  republican, 
giving  unfaltering  support  to  the  party  principles 
since  casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  A  resident  of  the 
county  for  half  a  century,  he  has  seen  the  raw- 
prairie  converted  into  rich  farms,  in  the  midst 
of  which  towns  and  cities  have  sprung  up,  bring- 
ing industrial  and  commercial  development.  All 
through  the  years  he  has  been  an  exemplary 
citizen  and  wherever  known  he  is  honored  and 
esteemed. 


TAMES  A.  LYOX. 


and  the  fields  indicate  his  careful  supervision  and 
unflagging  industry.  The  house  which  is  his 
home  was  also  his  birthplace  his  natal  day 
being  March  29,  1865.  The  life  history  of  his 
father.  Howard  Lyon,  is  given  above.  The  son 
was  reared  to  farm  labor,  acquired  a  good  Eng- 
lish education  in  the  common  schools  and 
remained  with  his  father  until  his  mother's  death, 
when  he  started  out  upon  an  independent  busi- 
ness life.  For  two  years  he  was  in  the  street 
car  service  in  St.  Louis  and  for  about  a  year 
worked  in  a  tobacco  factory  in  St.  Louis.  He 
returned  to  the  farm  about  1895  and  assuming 
the  management  has  since  carried  on  the  work 
of  tilling  the  soil  and  caring  for  the  crops.  It 
is  a  well  developed  tract  of  land,  the  fields  being 
used  advantageously  for  the  production  of  large 
crops  and  through  modern  methods  he  has  in- 
troduced the  yield  has  been  greatly  increased. 

James  A.  Lyon  was  married  in  Onarga.  Ma\' 
3.  1900.  to  Mrs.  Mary  Crowley,  a  widow,  who 
was  born  in  Chicago  and  is  of  Italian  parentage. 
They  now  had  one  son,  Charles  Howard  Lyon. 
The  mother  died  October  16,  1903. 

;Mr.  Lyon  has  always  voted  the  democratic 
ticket,  casting  his  ballot  for  Grover  A.  Cleve- 
land and  his  last  for  Judge  Parker,  but  he  has 
never  sought  or  desired  office  for  himself. 

He  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at 
Onarga.  in  which  he  has  passed  all  of  the  chairs 
and  is  a  past  grand.  He  is  also  a  past  chan- 
cellor in  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  and  he 
holds  membership  with  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles.  He  is  classed  with  the  enterprising 
voung  farmers  of  the  county.  Both  father  and 
son  have  long  been  valued  residents  of  the  com- 
munity and  as  pioneer  citizens  are  particularly 
worthv  of  the  mention  in  this  volume. 


James  A.  Lyon  is  operating  the  old  family 
homestead  of  the  Lyon  family  on  section  i, 
Onarga  township,  having  in  charge  a  well  im- 
proved and  valuable  farm  of  two  hundred  acres,      ren  of  Edwin  B.  and  Cherrie  (Healey )   Morgan- 


CHARLES  SIDNEY  MORGAN. 

Charles  Sidney  Morgan,  wide-awake,  alert  and 
enterprising,  is  operating  the  old  Morgan  home- 
stead farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on 
section  22,  Loda  township.  His  birth  occurred 
upon  this  same  section,  his  natal  day  being 
October  24.  1879.     He  is  one  of  the  four  child- 


S'- 


yr 


3o8 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


since  1850.  Mr.  ]Main  drives  from  his  home  in 
Sheldon  ahnost  every  day  to  his  farm,  giving  to 
it  personal  supervision  and  carefully  watching 
the  interests  connected  with  its  profitahle  devel- 
opment. General  farm  work  is  carried  on  and 
he  also  raises  some  stock,  including  horses,  cattle 
and  hogs.  The  greater  part  of  his  life,  however, 
is  devoted  to  the  raising  of  the  grain  and  his 
fields  give  promise  of  golden  harvests.  He  like- 
wise feeds  stock  for  the  market.  In  1896  he  left 
the  farm  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Sheldon, 
where  he  owns  a  beautiful  residence. 

Mr.  Main  was  married  Feliruary  16,  1879.  to 
Miss  Helen  King,  a  daughter  of  Orren  King,  of 
Sheldon,  who  was  a  very  prominent  resident  of 
the  town.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own 
but  have  reared  an  adopted  son  and  daughter. 
Ethel  Main,  who  came  to  them  at  the  age  of  two 
and  a  half  years,  is  now  the  wife  of  Edward 
W'inslow.  who  resides  near  Donovan,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  one  child.  Orlando  Moon,  who 
became  a  member  of  the  household  when  a  lad 
of  nine  years,  is  now  with  the  Bell  Telephone 
Company,  at  Springfield,  Illinois. 

I\Ir.  ;\Iain  is  an  ardent  republican,  keeping  well 
informed  on  the  questions  and  issues  of  the  day, 
yet  never  seeking  office  as  a  reward  for  party 
fealty.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge,  Xo. 
609.  at  Sheldon,  and  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs 
in  the  order,  while  in  his  life  he  manifests  the 
beneficent  spirit  of  the  craft.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Air.  Main 
has  been  a  very  successful  man  and  c|uite  promi- 
nent. The  mctliods  he  has  followed  in  his  busi- 
ness career  are  such  as  will  bear  the  closest 
investigation  and  scrutinv  and  he  is  known 
throughout  the  community  as  one  whose  salient 
qualities  render  biiii  ;i  Naltied  and  respecteil  cit- 
izen. 


ELIAS   ii.  S.MITII. 


Elias  I!.  Smith,  living  on  section  2-j .  Loda 
township,  is  a  rejjresentative  agriculturist  and 
stock-raiscT.  who  owns  and  conducts  a  farm  of 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  adjoining  tlie  cor- 
poration limit-  <.t'  the  village  nf  Loda.  His  litV 
rec(3rd  liegan  in  Wnudfiinl  cnnnty,   lllinnis,  April 


6,  1859,  '^"'^  '^^  '*  o"'^  °^  '^'^^  three  living  children 
of  George  and  Rachel  (Richardson)  Smith,  the 
former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  \'irginia.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occu- 
])ation  and  at  an  early  day  came  to  Illinois,  set- 
tling in  Woodford  county  near  Metamora, 
where  he  died  in  1864,  having  survived  his  wife 
for  only  a  few  months.  The  father  was  carried 
oft"  b\  an  attack  of  smallpox  and  all  of  the  chil- 
dren were  ill  with  the  same  disease.  The  sur- 
A'iving  members  of  the  family  are:  William  H., 
who  is  an  active  and  prominent  man.  owning  a 
section  of  land  in  Woodford  county ;  and  Caro- 
line, the  wife  of  Justin  ^^'ilcox,  formerly  of  Gil- 
man,  this  county,  but  now  living  in  AlcCook, 
.Nebraska. 

F.lias  li.  .Smith  was  reared  in  the  usual  man- 
ner nf  farm  lads  upon  the  homestead  property 
in  Woodford  county  and  mastered  the  branches 
of  learning  taught  in  the  coiumon  schools.  Hav- 
ing reached  years  of  maturity,  he  sought  a  com- 
panion and  helpmate  for  life's  journey  and  was 
married  March  20,  1880.  to  ]\Iiss  Belle  Kice, 
of  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Smith  was  at 
that  time  the  owner  of  a  farm  of  eighty  acres 
which  he  tiled  and  improved.  He  established  a 
good  home  there  and  unto  him  and  his  wife  were 
born  two  sons,  Carl  H.  and  ( )rlo  L..  who  are 
at  home.  Tiie  wife  and  mother,  however,  passed 
away  in  ( )ctober,  1884.  and  later  Mr.  Smith 
was  marrii'd  in  Woodford  countv  to  Miss  Dena 
Camp,  wiio  was  liorn  and  reared  in  Woodford 
county. 

I'^illowing  their  marriage  .Mr.  Smith  engaged 
in  farming  in  that  county  until  1891.  when  he 
sold  tile  pro])erty  there  and  purchased  the  ])lace 
wliicli  he  now  owns.  He  has  since  resided  there- 
on, liaving  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich 
and  ])roductive  land.  He  has  added  many  im- 
])rovements  to  it  and  ilie  tilling  of  the  soil  has 
ni;uK'  this  ;i  valuable  farm.  He  has  also  built  a 
good  barn,  corn  cribs  and  other  buildings  for 
the  slielter  of  grain  and  stock,  has  put  in  stock 
scales,  a  feedmill  and  windpunqi  and  has  laid 
eighty-seven  thousantl  tile,  so  that  the  land  is 
well  drained,  and  altogether  the  farm  is  one  of 
the  best  in  tjie  countx'.  He  uses  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery  for  tilling  the  soil  and  caring 
for  the  crops  and  he  also  keeps  good  grades  of 
stock  npi  m  his  ]ilace. 


X 


'f. 


•/. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSllY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IR<  )(~)riM^  (■(  )fVTV    TI  T  t\. 


n  I 


Mr.  Stimli  lus.  iwn  clijUlrcn  In  lii>  mc..iii; 
marriage,  Ki-m  I,l<i\tl  ami  \  era  Marie.  Ilic  |).ir- 
cnts  hold  iiKMiilKT^Iiip  in  the  MethiKhsi  l-lpis- 
ci>|>al  (.•hnrcli.  will)  which  thev  have  huih  Ixvii 
idiiititiol  lor  alKnit  a  <|nartcr  'if  a  ivimiry,  ami 
thtir  childnii  are  also  mcmlHT>.  IK  i-.  sorvinjj 
till  liic  Ihtard  nt  >ti-\\ar<ls  and  i>  pr^•^i^U•^l  <>f  tlu- 
Ulard  ul  trii>tci>  and  in  the  work  of  tlu-  clnirch 
the  family  arc  actively  and  helpfully  interested, 
duinn  all  in  their  (mwer  to  promote  it>  growth 
and  e.xtend  it>  inlhience.  Mr.  Smith  is  also  con- 
nected with  MiMlern  W'oiHlmen  and  with  the  C<Nle 
of  lloiuir.  He  Votes  with  the  democracy  where 
state  and  national  issues  are  involved  hut  where 
the  only  (|uestion  is  the  cajiahiliiy  of  a  candidate 
for  the  efficient  discharjje  of  local  pid)lic  iluties 
he  does  not  rcfiard  party  atVdiation.  In  WOoil- 
fonl  county  he  served  as  hij^hway  connuissioncr 
and  was  on  the  scIuhiI  Imard  for  nine  years.  He 
has  also  Ixen  sch«nil  director  of  Loda  and  j)resi- 
dent  of  the  l.uda  school  hoard,  and  he  is  a  stal- 
wart champion  of  the  cause  of  education,  the  em- 
ployment of  pKid  teachers  and  the  utili/ation  of 
all  means  that  will  promote  the  schinil  interests. 


(iKOKtJK  C.  STKINKK. 

(ieorge  C  Steiner.  who  heyan  life  in  !riK|uois 
county  as  a  farm  ham  I  in  1S84  and  is  now  a  lead- 
in^j  merchant  of  (.issna  Park,  having:  for  thirteen 
years  Ix-en  identitied  with  mercantile  interests 
here,  was  Iwirn  in  Wurtemlterjj,  (iermany.  Au- 
gust 4.  iW)S.  His  father.  (ici>rne  .\l.  Steiner. 
likewise  a  native  of  (ieniiany.  was  rcarc<l  to 
manhiMxl  in  that  country  and  in  early  life  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade.  His  family  mtmhered  six 
sons  and  six  daughters,  all  of  whom  reached 
adull  ajje  and  are  now  residents  f»f  this  country 
namely  :  C"hris.  whu  is  a  husiness  man  at  Cissna 
I'ark :  John,  who  is  clerkinjj  for  his  hrother 
(ieorge:  .\u^Mist.  of  I'hicavro:  C"arl.  who  is  a 
caqx-nter  at  (.'issna  Park  :  William  K..  who  is 
clerkinjj  for  his  hnther  ("ieorge:  Mrs.  Mary 
ilohnint;:  Mrs.  Tena  l-'j:olf;  Rosa,  at  home: 
.Mrs.  Patdine  Hin»er  and  .Mrs.  lunma  Schcnk. 
Imth  residents  of  Peoria;  and  .\nna.  als<i  at 
home.  The  )>arents  with  their  chihiren.  William, 
.\nna  and  Kosa.  cante  to  the  new  world  in  iS'.- 


i  Ik  oilier  iiieiiilicrs  of  the  f.i-  ^ 

crossed  the  .\tlantic  and  the  ; d 

their  Itomc  at  Cissna  Park,  where  the  father 
died  Jaimary  15,  Hio'i.  The  mother  still  sur- 
vives and  yet  lives  in  Cissna  Park. 

(ieofjje  C  .Steiner  was  jjiven  rikhI  educational 
privileges  in  his  native  countr\    hut   h  1- 

ed^e  of  Ilnnlish  has  all  Ixxn  acquired  v 
mn  to  the  new  world.  It  was  in  1KS4,  when  a 
\outh  of  sixteen  year>,  that  he  crosse«l  the  .\t- 
lantic  to  .\nierica  and  made  his  way  at  once  t'l 
lro<|uois  county.  Here  he  In-j^an  work  on  a 
farm  hy  the  month  and  was  thus  employed  for 
seven  years.  ( )n  the  expiration  of  that  iK-ri<Kl 
he  s|KMU  a  year  as  a  clerk  in  a  store  in  Rankin 
and  then  entere<l  the  employ  of  Simon  (loldstine. 
who  was  proprietor  of  a  larjfe  general  mercan- 
tile e.stahlishment  at  Cissna  Park  and  for  man\ 
years  figured  prominently  in  husiness  circles 
here.  Mr.  Steiner  clerke<l  for  .Mr.  tioldstine 
until  Hjpo.  when  he  purchased  the  husiness  of  his 
employer  and  has  since  continued  to  carry  on  the 
store,  heing  recognized  as  one  of  the  lea<ling 
merchants  •>(  the  town.  He  has  a  large  huilding. 
twenty-four  hy  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  and 
he  carries  an  extensive  .stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise. He  has  huilt  up  an  excellent  trade  and 
his  patronage  is  steadily  increasing,  so  that  he 
is  now  one  of  the  prosperous  merchants  of  the 
place.  He  connnenced  life  in  lrcM|uois  county  as 
a  yf)ung  man  withoiU  a  <|ollar  and  ami<l  a  |ie<iple 
whose  language  an«l  customs  were  totally  \inf:i 
miliar  to  him.  hut  hy  earnest  lalxtr  ami 
husiness  ability  he  has  stea<liK  advanced.  :u\ii- 
nuilating  a  competence  and  iK-coming  one  of  the 
suhstantial  and  prosjicrous  residents  of  Cissna 
Park. 

Mr.  .Steiner  was  married  in  i8«)<t  to  Miss 
Knuna  F-.  Harnu-ger.  a  native  of  this  count), 
where  she  was  re.'iriil  ami  educated  while  pri-T 
t«j  her  marriage  she  engage<l  in  te.iching.  Into 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Steiner  have  Ix-en  liorn  three  chil- 
dren:    I.oval.  Malx-I  ami  (ieorge. 

Since  l>econung  a  naturalized  .\nierican  citi- 
zen .Mr.  .Steiner  has  given  a  stalwart  support  to 
the  repuhlican  p;irt\.  nor  has  he  ever  sought  or 
desired  office.  He  is.  however,  a  memln-r  of  the 
town  Uard.  having  l»een  clecte<l  in  the  spring 
of  ii|(i<i  h\  his  fellow  townsmen,  who  •  -I 

Ills   «..iili  .iMiiil  aliilitx    ;oid  desired   hi^  m 


312 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


public  office.  Socially  he  is  connected  with  the 
Knight  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Cissna  Park  and  he 
is  also  a  member  of  the  ^lodern  \\'oodmen  and 
the  Fraternal  Insurance  Society.  His  present 
financial  condition  is  in  marked  contrast  to  that 
of  twenty-two  years  ago,  when  he  arrived  in 
this  country  without  capital  but  possessed  of 
strong  determination  and  energy.  Willing  hands 
and  a  stout  heart  enabled  him  to  meet  conditions 
and  til  shape  them  to  his  own  ends  and  his  life 
record  may  well  serve  as  a  source  of  inspiration 
and  encouragement  to  others,  showing  what  may 
be  accomplished  when  one  has  determination 
and  uses  his  opportunities  to  the  best  advantage. 


REX".  GEORGE  liLAXKEX. 

Rev.  George  Blanken,  spoken  of  b\-  his  par- 
ishioners and  by  manv  others  in  his  localit\-  as 
"one  of  the  best  loved  citizens  of  Iroquois 
county,"  is  now  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Lu- 
theran church  of  ISuckley.  His  life  has  been  de- 
voted to  this  holy  calling  and  his  influence  has 
been  of  no  restricted  order.  On  the  contrarv  it 
has  been  a  strong  force  in  the  lives  of  many  wh(5 
have  come  under  his  teaching  and  his  work  has 
borne  rich  fruit  in  the  moral  develo|)ment  of  the 
different  communities  in   which   he  has  labored. 

Rev.  Pilanken  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of 
Hanover,  ( lermany.  December  7,  1850,  and  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Holsten)  Blanken, 
both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  Germanv. 
The  mother  died  in  that  country  in  1S61  and 
twenty  years  afterward  Henry  lUanken  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  the  new  world,  si^ending  his  last 
days  in  Morgan  county.  ^lissouri,  where  he  died 
in    18S5,   when   about   si.xty-lwo  years  of   age. 

The  family  numbered  seven  children,  includ- 
ing Rev.  Cjeorge  Blanken  of  this  review,  who  for 
seven  and  a  half  years  was  a  student  in  the  puli- 
lic  schools  of  his  native  country.  He  heard  nian\ 
favorable  reports  concerning  the  new  world  and 
its  opportunities  and,  becoming  attracted  thereto, 
he  bade  adieu  to  friends  and  native  land  in  1867 
and  crosscfl  the  lirinv  deep.  He  lived  for  a  time 
in  Missouri  and  was  em])loyed  at  f;inii  labor  in 
Morgan    and    Lafavette   counties.      He   also   de- 


voted a  part  of  his  time  to  teaching  school  until 
the  fall  of  1872,  when,  determining  to  devote  his 
life  to  the  ministry,  he  began  studying  with  that 
end  in  view,  entering  Concordia  Seminary,  an 
b'vangelical  Lutheran  school  of  St.  Louis,  where 
be  studied  for  two  and  a  half  years.  On  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  went  to  Springfield, 
Illinois,  and  became  a  student  in  Concordia  Sem- 
inary, of  that  place,  in  which  he  spent  a  similar 
period,  being  graduated  therefrom  on  the  22d  of 
March,  1877.  On  the  2d  of  April  following  he 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  by  Rev.  G.  A. 
Mueller,  of  Kankakee,  assisted  by  Rev.  F.  Lin- 
demann,  of  Champaign.  He  has  continuously 
served  as  pastor  of  the  church  in  Buckley,  cov- 
ering a  period  of  thirtv  \ears,  and  the  strong  and 
sterling  traits  of  his  manhood,  together  with  the 
words  of  wisdom,  of  admonition,  hope  and  en- 
couragement that  he  has  oiifered  in  his  ministe- 
rial capacity,  have  made  him  loved  and  honored 
throughout  the  entire  community. 

Rev.  Blanken  was  married  on  the  27th  of 
February,  1878,  to  Aliss  Lydia  Rabe,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  F.  and  Dora  (Oetting)  Rabe.  They 
now  have  eight  living  children  :  William,  who  is 
a  dealer  in  musical  instruments,  jiaints  and  wall- 
paper at  Buckley ;  Rev.  Theodore  L.  Blanken, 
who  is  a  minister  of  tlie  Lutheran  church,  now 
located  at  Galesboro,  Indiana;  Matilda,  the  wife 
of  Ernest  .'schroeder,  a  farmer  of  Iroquois 
C(nmty :  Clara,  who  is  a  well  educated  young 
lady,  now  engaged  in  teaching ;  Walter,  a  young 
man  wlio  is  following  the  painter's  trade  :  Eddie  : 
Dora:  and  Renata.  They  lost  two  children,  The- 
odora, when  about  two  years  of  age.  and  Lydia 
when  about  five  years  of  age. 

.\fter  coming  to  Buckley  Mr.  iUanken  en- 
gaged in  teaching  in  a  private  German  school 
and  has  been  identified  with  educational  work 
throughout  all  these  vears,  now  maintaining  a 
scho<]l  with  two  teachers,  louring  the  winter 
months  he  li.is  charge  of  the  confirmation  class. 
He  started  here  with  a  congregation  of  but  si.K- 
teen  members  and  tliere  is  now  a  membershi])  of 
ninety-seven  voting  members  with  one  bmidred 
and  twenty  families.  lie  lias  conl'irnieil  four 
hundred  and  thirty-four  in  .-ill  since  taking 
charge  of  the  church.  There  are  now  on  an 
.'uerage  of  ;iboul  one  hundred  and  twenty  stu- 
dents in  the  >-ebooI  ;ni(l  a  fine  new  scln^ol  build- 


IRoorc^IS  COUNTY.  ILI.IXolS. 


313 


iiifl  is  being  erected,  the  corner-stone  havinj; 
Ipcim  laid  on  the  -J2d  of  July.  x^joCf.  for  a  brick 
Innldinp  two  stories  in  heij^lit  with  hascnieiit. 
There  are  to  be  two  schoolrooms  in  the  base- 
ment and  the  entire  buildinj:;  is  to  be  heated  witli 
furnace.  The  church  is  free  fmm  all  indebtetl- 
ness  and  in  its  various  activities  is  doini;  i^ood 
work.  Mr.  Ulanken  is  an  able  minister,  who  is 
continually  studying  and  thus  broadening  his 
knowledge  upon  theological  (juestions  and  topics 
of  general  interest  which  affect  the  welfare  of 
his  fellowmen.  He  has  worked  most  earnestly, 
conscientiouslv  and  zealously  and  he  has  won  the 
dee])  and  abiding  love  of  his  ])eo])le  and  the  re- 
spect of  all  denominations  in  r.nckIi-\  and  wher- 
ever he  i    known. 


lolIX    II 


ki'.\.\i:K. 


The  home  fann  of  John  II.  Urennir  is  located 
on  section  2<>.  I'ountain  Creek  townslii]).  and  it  is 
a  i)lace  where  the  spirit  of  activity,  enterjjrise  an<l 
diligence  are  rife.  lie  dates  his  residence  in  the 
county  from  i8<j2.  and  has  been  a  lifelong  res- 
ident of  Illinois,  his  birth  having  occurred  in 
Tazewell  county,  June  11.  iS(>2.  His  father. 
John  I'renner,  Sr..  was  born  in  (iermany  and 
when  a  voung  man  came  to  the  new  world,  set- 
tling in  Tazewell  ctnmty,  where  he  subsetiuently 
married  Rachel  Cieischwind,  also  born  in  Ger- 
many. The  father  followed  farming  as  a  life 
work  and  thus  i)ruvide(l  for  the  sui)]Jort  of  his 
family,  which  numbered  four  children.  He  lost 
his  first  wife  when  their  son  John  was  only  four 
years  of  age,  and  he  afterward  married  I-"lizabeth 
Steinberg,  of  Tazewell  county,  by  wliom  he  had 
ten  children.  In  1S85  he  removed  to  X'ermilion 
County.  Illinois,  and  now  resides  u|)on  a  farm 
near  Rankin. 

John  H.  I'renner  of  this  review  was  reared 
under  the  parental  roof.  His  educational  priv- 
ileges were  limited  and  were  those  afforded  by 
the  clistrict  schools.  He  received  ani])le  training 
at  farm  labor  and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age 
iK'gan  farming  on  his  own  account,  renting  land 
for  this  ])nr]M3se.  Making  the  best  use  of  his 
opiK)rtunities  and  saving  his  earnings  lie  at 
length  purchased  three  hnndre<l  and  twenty  acres 


of  land  in  Indiana,  which  he  rents,  while  he 
himself  leases  land  in  Inxiuois  county,  having 
been  on  the  Sheridan  farm  on  section  2tj,  Foun- 
tain Creek  township  for  fourteeen  years.  He 
conducts  this  as  though  it  was  his  own.  The 
place  Comprises  two  hundred  acres  oi  land  and 
he  has  been  very  successful  in  carrying  on  farm 
work  here. 

(  )u  the  9th  of  .November,  iXij2.  .Mr.  I'.renner 
was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  France,  a  native  of 
l.a  Salle  countx  ami  a  claughter  of  Henry  I'rance. 
They  are  the  i)arents  of  two  children.  Ray  and 
b'loyd.  In  the  connnunity  where  they  reside 
thev  have  won  many  frieiuls  and  the  hospitality 
of  the  best  homes  of  the  neighborhood  is  freely 
and   cordially   extended   them. 

Mr.  I'renner  belongs  to  the  l  )ild  hellows 
lodge  at  Rankin  and  is  likewise  connected  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  camj)  atid  the  Tribe  of 
l!en  llur  at  Rankin.  His  wife  is  al.so  identified 
with  the  latter  and  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church.  His  political  support  endorses 
the  i)rinciples  of  democracy  but  at  local  elections 
where  no  issue  is  involved  Mr.  IJrenner  voles 
in(lei)endently.  We  would  always  have  better 
public  service  if  such  a  course  was  followed. 
The  selection  of  candidates  for  local  oftice  should 
depend  entirely  upon  their  merit  and  not  upon 
])olitical  affiliation  as  they  are  chosen  merely  to 
take  charge  of  the  business  necessary  for  the 
conduct  of  county  and  municipal  affairs.  In 
Kjoo  -Mr.  I'.renner  was  elected  assessor  and  has 
served  continuously  in  that  office  for  six  years, 
while  for  two  years  he  has  been  collector,  and  the 
duties  of  the  positions  have  been  discharged  with 
a  promptness  and  fidelity  that  makes  him  a  pub- 
lic-s])irited  man. 


\ICT()R  C,EK.\RD. 


There  are  in  .\slikuiu  manv  representative  and 
valued  citizens  who  in  former  years  were  pro- 
moters of  the  agricultural  develoimient  of  the 
countv  and  to  this  class  belongs  X'ictor  (Gerard, 
a  retired  farmer  who,  thoui^h  living  in  the  vil- 
lage of  .\shkum,  is  still  the  owner  of  a  good 
tr.'ict  of  land  of  eighty-seven  acres  on  section  i''), 
Ashkum  township.     He  likewise  has  a  block  and 


314 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


a  half  of  real-estate  in  the  village,  in  the  midst 
of  which  stands  the  comfortable  and  commodi- 
ous home  which  he  occupie>. 

iMr.  Gerard  was  born  in  Dianen  Kapple. 
France  (now  German}).  October  19.  1840,  and 
was  the  fifth  of  the  six  children  born  unto  Ste- 
phen and  Rosa  Lee  Gerard,  wlio  were  farming 
people  of  France,  living  thirty-six  miles  north- 
west of  Strasburg.  The  other  members  of  the 
family  were  Mina.  Julian,  Rosa  Lee.  ]\Iary  and 
Edward,  but  Mctor  is  the  onlv  one  who  ever 
came  to  the  L'nited  States  and  he  therefore 
knows  nothing  of  the  whereabouts  of  the  other 
members  of  his  father's  household.  August  15. 
1863,  witnessed  his  arrival  in  America.  He  was 
at  that  time  a  young  man  of  thirt\'-three  vears 
and  the  hope  of  profiting  by  the  better  business 
opportunities  of  the  new  world  led  him  to  cross 
the  Atlantic.  He  made  his  way  to  Lacon,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  arrived  with  a  cash  cai)ital  of 
only  fifty  cents.  From  Lacon  he  went  to  ]\Ieta- 
mora.  Woodford  countv.  Illinois,  where  he  re- 
sided for  four  years.  In  1869  he  came  to  Iro- 
quois county,  where  he  has  since  resided  and 
through  the  greater  part  of  the  period  has  been 
closely  comiected  with  its  agricultural  interests. 
In  1895.  he  rented  his  farm  since  which  time 
he  has  lived  a  retired  life  in  Ashkum.  His  ear- 
nest purpose  and  unfaltering  diligence  consti- 
tuted his  sole  capital  and  upon  these  he  has 
builded  the  superstructure  of  his  prosperitv. 

Mr.  Gerard  was  married  to  ]\Iiss  Anna  Hu- 
guet.  a  daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Sophia  Huguet. 
of  Washington.  Illinois.  With  the  passing  of  the 
years  nine  children  were  added  to  the  family : 
Nicholas  G..  now  a  farmer  of  Ashkum  town- 
ship, who  married  Lizzie  Zimering.  by  wdiom  he 
lias  four  children.  Anna.  Tracy,  John  and  Lil- 
lian :  Edward  G..  a  farmer  of  Ashkum  township, 
who  wedded  Lucy  Gleason  and  has  three  chil- 
dren, Florence,  P.elle  and  Irene:  Mary,  the  wife 
of  Henry  Francis,  a  farmer  residing  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Ashkum,  by  whom  she  has  one  son, 
Dewey:  John  G.  and  Joseph  G.,  who  follow 
farming  and  are  still  at  home;  Frances,  the  wife 
of  Fred  l);ividson.  who  operates  her  father's 
farm  in  .\shkum  township  and  liy  whom  she  has 
two  children,  .\ndrcw  and  Iva:  Ida.  the  wife  of 
r.ert  \'andervlict.  who  is  clerking  in  Kankakee 
and  bv  whom  she  has  one  daughter.  I'earl:    Tu- 


lian.  who  is  a  bookkeeper  in  a  commission  house 
in  Kankakee :    and  Elizabeth,  at  home. 

In  his  political  affiliation  \ictor  Gerard  has 
continuously  been  a  democrat  since  coming  to 
the  United  States  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Catholic  church  at  Ashkum.  The 
hope  that  led  him  to  seek  a  home  in  America  has 
been  nK)re  than  realized,  for  as  the  years  have 
jjassed  he  has  embraced  the  opportunities  which 
have  been  presented  and  has  advanced  from  a 
humble  position  until  his  competence  is  now  suf- 
ficient to  enable  him  to  rest  from  further  labor. 


L.  C.  .MARSH. 


The  real  founders  and  promoters  of  a  town 
are  not  those  who  put  in  motion  the  wheels  of 
the  city  government  but  those  who  establish  and 
conduct  business  interests  of  extent  and  impor- 
tance— for  the  commercial  and  industrial  activity 
and  prosperity  are  the  real  foundation  of  a  city's 
growth  and  development.  In  this  connection 
therefore  Mr.  !Marsh  is  deserving  of  more 
than  passing  mention  for  he  figured  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  as  one  of  the  leading  merchants  of 
Watseka.  where  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  and 
implement  business.  He  was  born  in  Xew  Hart- 
ford. Connecticut.  June  17,  1828,  a  son  of  Mr. 
and  ]\Irs.  Daniel  Marsh,  who  were  also  natives 
of  the  Charter  Oak  state,  where  the  father  fol- 
lowed farming  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  His 
wife  died  in  Rochester.  Xew  York,  and  he  after- 
ward came  to  the  middle  west  with  his  son,  L. 
C.  Marsh,  at  whose  home  in  Wilmington,  Illi- 
Udis.  he  lived  retired  until  called  to  his  final  rest. 

At  the  usual  age  L.  C.  iMarsh  began  his  educa- 
tion as  a  common-school  student  in  his  native 
county  and  later  attended  an  institute  in  .\lfred, 
.\cw  York,  so  that  liberal  mental  discipline  well 
(|ualified  him  to  meet  and  solve  the  intricate  prob- 
lems of  a  business  career.  He  started  in  life  on 
his  own  account  as  proprietor  of  a  general  store 
in  ( )ranK'l.  Xew  York,  and  while  thus  engaged 
he  came  to  tlie  middle  west  to  look  over  the 
country.  He  finally  jjurchased  a  farm  near  Wil- 
mington. Illinois,  and  in  course  of  time  this 
proved  to  be  a  very  valuable  tract  of  land,  for  it 
was   found  that  it  was  underlaid  with  rich   coal 


L.   C.    MARSH. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


,V7 


1k«1>.  AitiT  i>l:icin','  his  iiivcslimnt.  Mr.  Marsh 
ri-tiiriu-(l  111  (  •raiiR-1.  N'l-w  \'<>rk.  whiri-  hi-  c;>ii- 
liiiiii.-<l  the  ciintlnct  of  liis  ^ciKTal  slori.-  fur  a  fuw 
years,  aiul  then,  ihspnsini.;  of  his  husiness  iiitir- 
ists  ill  tlie  east,  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Wihnini;- 
lon.  where  lie  eiii,':i,irc<l  in  tlie  dry-^oods  l)nsine» 
for  two  years.  (  >n  llie  e.xpiration  of  that  ptrind 
he  sold  ont  there  and  went  to  .Morris,  Illinois, 
where  he  a!.;aiii  conducted  a  dry-},'oods  store  for 
a  short  time.  At  a  subsei|iient  date  he  estab- 
lished a  jjrocery  store  in  Carbondale.  Illinois,  car- 
rvinfi  on  the  business  successfully  for  four  years 
or  until  1S72.  when  Ik-  -"Id  ■■ui  ;ind  vcmovdl  to 
Watseka. 

.Mr.  .Marsh  was  married  in  Schenectady.  .\ew 
York,  to  Miss  Larrie  1!.  Meeker,  a  native  of 
New  York,  where  her  parents  lived  until  tliev 
were  called  to  the  home  beyond.  Three  children 
were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh.  Jennie 
K..  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  Millard  V.  Dunlap. 
a  banker  of  Jacksonville.  Illinois,  lie  is  a  ])er- 
.sonal  friend  of  William  Jeiinin.ii.s  ISryan.  with 
whom  he  has  recently  been  on  a  tri])  abroad, 
j'annie,  the  second  daujihter.  died  in  Carbondale. 
Illinois,  when  Inil  cipht  months  old.  Lylta  N. 
is  with  her  mother  in  Watseka. 

( )n  coniin<j  to  Watseka  Mr.  M.ush  purchased 
the  Doyle  hardware  store  on  Main  street  and 
there  carried  a  line  of  •;eneral  shelf  and  lieavx 
hardware  and  farm  implements,  continuiii:^  in 
the  business  for  several  years,  but  at  lenijth  on 
account  of  his  health  lie  dis])osed  of  his  hard- 
ware but  continued  to  enjra^e  in  the  sale  of  farm 
implements  until  January.  i8(;S.  when  he  sohl 
out  and  lived  retired  until  his  death,  lie  was 
never  a  robust  man  and  during  fifteen  years  of  his 
life  he  spent  the  winters  in  the  south.  He  jiassed 
away  (  )ctober  26.  i8<jS.  amid  the  deej)  regret 
of  his  many  friends  as  well  as  his  immediate 
family. 

He  voted  the  re|)ub!ican  ticket  and  always 
kept  well  infornieil  on  the  (piestions  which  divide 
the  tw<»  great  parties  but  was  never  an  office 
seeker.  He  was  a  |)rominent  member  of  the  .Ma- 
sonic fraternity  and  the  Knights  of  Honor,  both 
of  Watseka.  and  he  always  attended  the  IVesby- 
terian  church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a  member. 
He  possessed  sujjcrior  musical  ability  and  was  a 
leader  in  the  church  choir  in  Watsek-i  and  also  in 
other  tf>wns   in   which    he    resided,    both    in    Illi- 


nois and  in  the  east,  and  his  services  were  greatly 
appreciated.  In  his  business  he  displayeil  an 
aptitude  for  successful  management  and  a  spirit 
of  trustworthiness  that  won  him  success  and 
honor  and  causes  his  memory  to  be  cherished 
by  all  who  knew  him.  .Mrs.  Marsh  owns  a  beau- 
tiful home  on  l-"a>t  Mulberry  street,  where  she 
and  her  daughter  reside,  but  she  spends  the 
winters  in  Louisiana  or  I-"lorida.  leaving  Watseka 
in  the  latter  piiri  of  November  and  returning  in 
the  s])ring. 


LVMLS   W  \SS(  )N. 


(  'ne  of  the  most  straightforward,  energetic 
and  successful  business  men  who  ever  lived  in 
Watseka  was  the  late  James  Was.son.  who  en- 
gaged in  real-estate  dealing  and  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  brick  for  many  years.  He  came  to  Iro- 
(|Uois  county  in  18^15.  and  first  .settled  in  .\sli 
(Irove  township,  where  he  purchasetl  a  farm.  He 
was  born  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  Januarv  iS. 
iS_>7.  His  father,  John  W'asson.  also  a  native  t^f 
(  )hio.  reside<l  on  a  farm  near  Cincinnati  for  sev- 
eral years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Delaware 
county.  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  general 
agricultural  pursuits  until  his  death. 

In  the  public  schools  of  Delaware  countv. 
Jan;es  W'asson  accpiircd  his  education.  ;md  when 
a  young  man  he  began  learning  the  brick-making 
trade,  thoroughly  mastering  the  business,  and 
after  a  short  time  engaging  in  the  same  line  on 
his  own  account.  He  owned  a  brickvard  ;it 
.Muncie.  Indiana,  where  he  continued  in  the  cou- 
duct  of  the  business  for  several  years,  and  at  the 
same  time  c.irried  on  farming  operations  near 
th.it  place.  He  resided  :it  .Muncie  until  his  re- 
n;oval  to  Iro(|Uois  county,  at  which  time  he  |)ur- 
chased  a  f;irm  in  .\sh  (Irove  township,  where  he 
carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  for  si.\ 
months.  Selling  that  pro|)erty.  he  removed  to 
W  atsek;i.  where  his  widow  now  resides  in  th;it 
section  111  the  city  known  ;is  (  Mil  Town.  Here 
he  began  investing  in  re.il  esl.ite  and  at  the  same 
timi;  rdso  established  ;i  brick  manuf:ictorv.  own- 
ing one  of  the  first  brickyards  at  Watseka,  in 
the  conduct  of  which  enteri)rise  he  em|)lo\ed  sev- 
eral men.     He  maun  fact  lued  the  brick  that  was 


3>« 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


usetl  ill  the  construction  of  the  Iroquois  county 
courthouse  and  also  tlie  public  schools  of  \\"at- 
seka.  anil  different  structures  which  add  much 
to  the  appearance  of  the  city.  He  had  purchased 
four  blocks  in  Old  Town,  and  likewise  made 
other  investments  in  property  in  W'atseka,  en- 
ijai^ing  quite  extensivelv  in  real-estate  dealing;, 
in  which  he  continued  in  connection  with  his  in- 
dustrial interests  up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Mr.  \\  asson  was  married  three  times.  He  first 
wedded  Miss  Clarissa  Taylor,  who  died  a  few 
years  later,  leaving  one  daughter,  now  Mrs. 
Flora  James,  a  resident  of  Kansas.  For  his  sec- 
ond wife  Mr.  Wasson  chose  ^liss  Susan  Car- 
michael,  who  died  in  Delaware  county,  Indiana. 
There  was  also  one  child  by  that  union,  Pjenja- 
min  Franklin  Wasson.  who  married  Margaret 
Zimmerman  and  now  resides  at  Everett,  Wash- 
ington. The  mother  passed  away  a  few  years 
after  her  marriage  and  for  his  third  wife  ^\r. 
Wasson  chose  Mrs.  .\rabella  (Peterson)  \'each, 
whom  he  wedded  in  Henry  county,  Indiana. 
Her  father,  Aaron  Peterson,  was  a  resident  far- 
mer of  Henry  county,  where  he  spent  his  last 
years.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  this 
marriage:  Mark  \\'..  who  married  Mamie  Ly- 
inan  and  is  a  farmer  residing  near  Ocean 
Springs,  ^lississippi ;  and  Richard  M..  who  wed- 
ded Naomi  Erickson  and  is  a  railroad  engineer 
on  the  Frisco  road  residing  at  Forth  Worth, 
Texas.  Mrs.  Wasson  w-as  first  married  to  Isaac 
F.  \^each,  of  West  ^'i^ginia.  who  was  a  farmer 
and  also  engaged  in  the  lumlier  business  in 
llenrv  county,  Indiana,  where  his  death  oc- 
curred. There  were  three  children  l^orn  to  Mr. 
and  ]\Irs.  \*each.  Kate,  the  eldest,  is  the  widow 
of  John  S.  Pumyea,  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
who  died  at  his  home  in  Guthrie,  Oklahoma.  His 
widow  now  resides  with  her  mother,  Mrs.  Was- 
son, in  W'atseka.  Doak  Veach  married  .\dda 
Mead,  and  they  reside  in  Marion,  Illinois,  where 
he  is  engaged  in  business  as  a  brick-mason.  Ada 
\'cach  became  the  wife  of  Franlv  Romine  and 
resides   in   Cham])aign,   Illinois. 

Mr.  Wasson  was  a  republican  in  his  political 
views  and  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  the 
political  situation  of  the  cmnitrv,  alth'niL;h  he 
never  sought  or  desireil  nffice.  He  served,  how- 
ever, in  a  few  minor  positions  and  was  school 
director  for  manv  vears.   Throughout  the  greater 


]jart  of  his  life  he  was  identified  with  the  Masonic 
fraternitv  and  took  a  deep  and  active  interest  in 
the  craft.  Pie  was  also  one  of  the  charter  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church  of  Watseka,  and  his 
widow  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  He  was  a  very  genial,  jovial  man 
and  was  a  most  entertaining  companion,  so  that 
he  was  very  pojnilar  in  social  circles.  He  died 
after  a  brief  illness  of  only  six  days,  on  the  26th 
of  l-"ebruary,  1885,  and  his  death  was  the  occa- 
sion of  sincere  and  widespread  regret.  Cour- 
teous, genial,  well  informed,  alert  and  enterpris- 
ing, he  stood  as  one  of  the  leading  rejaresentative 
men  of  his  citv  and  county — a  man  who  was  a 
power  in  his  community.  He  had  a  remarkable 
facultv  for  the  conduct  and  dispatch  of  business, 
and  his  interests  were  of  such  a  nature  as  con- 
tributed to  general  prosperity  as  well  as  to  indi- 
vidual success.  He  was  pre-eminently  a  man  of 
action  and  did  what  others  think  about  doing. 
He  was  a  man  amon,g  men  and  was  recognized 
as  such  by  all  who  knew  him.  Mrs.  Wasson  still 
owns  the  family  residence  at  (^Id  Town  and  the 
four  blocks  which  were  left  her  by  her  husband 
and  there  she  and  her  daughter.  Mrs.  Pumyea, 
now  reside. 


E.  J.  COBB. 


E.  J.  Cobb,  station  a.gent  for  the  Toledo,  Pe- 
oria &  Warsaw  Railroad  Company  at  Crescent 
City  since  November  6,  1889.  is  one  of  the  trusted 
officials  of  that  road,  as  his  long  continuance  in 
its  service  indicates.  He  was  born  near  Wood- 
land in  Iroquois  county,  Januarv  iS.  1864.  and 
is  a  son  of  J.  Cobb,  who  removed  from  Ohio  in 
1842  and  settled  on  the  prairie,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming.  He  became  the  owner  of  a  good 
tract  of  land  on  section  27,  Crescent  township, 
which  he  tilled  and  cultivated  until  he  had  made 
it  a  very  ])roductive  tract.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
have  now  departed  this  life.  Of  their  ten  chil- 
dren six  are  yet  living,  four  daughters  and  two 
^iins.  but  E.  J.  Cobb  of  this  review  is  now  tlie 
only  one  in  Iroquois  county. 

.\fter  mastering  the  branches  of  a  preliminary 
education  in  the  common  schools  E.  J.  Cobb 
s|>cnt  one  year  as  a  student  in  Onarga  and  also 
attended  a  business  college  at  Ann  .Vrbor,  Mich- 


lKnnLT)IS  COUNTY,  ll.l.l  \m|S. 


.V') 


ii;;in.  Iruni  whidi  be  \v;is  iir;iiliiat(.il  witli  llu- 
cl.nss  of  |J^3.  Ill  ii^5  1h"  i-iUercd  the  employ  of 
the  I'oleilo,  IViiria  iv:  \\  arsaw  Ivailmail  Company 
aii<l  has  since  remained  with  lliat  coqxiration  as 
one  of  its  faithful  and  valued  employes.  He  has 
acted  as  station  a^ent  at  Crescent  City  since 
.Vovember  <i.  iSS<;.  and  is  popular  here  because 
of  the  imfailinji  courtesy  which  he  extends  to  the 
patriMis  of  the  road  and  his  oblisjinj^  manner 
Combined  with  his  unremittinji  can-  <il  the  inter- 
ests of  the  company. 

.Mr.  Cobb  was  married  to  C'or<lelia  Kaler,  of 
lrcM|uois,  who  was  born  in  \  irtjinia  ami  was 
l)roiij.jht  by  her  ])arents  to  lilinnis  when  onlv  two 
\ears  old.  .She  is  a  daughter  of  S.  Kalcr,  who 
in  iS<>8  removed  from  the  (  )ld  Dominion  to  ihi.- 
state  and  s])ent  his  remaining  days  here.  I  lis 
widow  still  survives  and  is  now  livinij  with  .Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Cobb.  The  other  members  of  the  fam- 
ily are  their  two  children  :  (Gladys,  twelve  years 
of  a^je;  and  I'aul.  a  youth  of  cijjht  years. 

I*oliticall\  .Mr.  C'obb  affiliates  with  the  repub- 
lican ])arty  and  he  is  a  member  of  .Standard 
lodj^e.  .\n.  fKjj.  1.  (  ).  (  ).  1-'.,  and  of  the  Crescent 
camp,  .Vo.  14J9.  .M.  W.  .\.  His  wife  holds 
membership  in  the  Methodist  Kpiscojial  church. 
Their  h<ime  is  a  fine  two-stor\  residence  in  Cres- 
cent City  which  be  erected,  and  the  air  of  culture 
and  refinement  which  pervades  the  ])lace  makes 
it  attractive  to  their  manv  friends,  while  its  hos- 
ltitalit\-  is  one  of  its  pleasinj;  features.  Mr.  Cobb 
is  rc^'arded  as  a  cajiable  telef^rapb  oi)erator  and 
station  agent  and  is  well  likeil  in  the  community. 


TIIORXTOX    I.  now \ FY. 

Thornton  J.  Downey,  operating  a  farm  of 
four  hundred  ;ind  forty  acres,  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  which  he  owns,  is  a  self-made  man. 
for,  starting  out  in  life  ;i  poDr  man.  he  ba- 
worked  earnestly  and  persistentlv  until  today 
bis  well  improved  farm,  which  is  situated  on  sec- 
tion 25.  Lovejoy  township,  is  the  visible  evidence 
f>f  the  success  wliicb  he  has  made  in  his  labors. 
He  was  born  in  Shenandoah  conntw  X'irginia, 
CJctober  17,  1855,  a  son  fif  Rleazer  Downey,  also 
a  native  of  Shenandoah  county,  where  he  was 
reared  an<l  mnrriid  the  I;idv  of  his  clinii-i'  lniiiL: 
18 


.Mis-  L\dia  llahn,  also  a  native  of  that  slate, 
'i'he  father  followed  farming  throughout  his  en- 
tire life,  .and  died  in  bis  native  state,  in  July. 
iS<i.^  His  wife  survived  for  a  long  period,  her 
death  occurring  in  July,  lyc/),  at  the  home  of  a 
daughter  in  Rockingham  county.  \  irginia.  They 
were  the  parents  of  eight  children,  n.imely  :  Ja- 
cob, a  farmer  of  .Mount  Jackson,  \irgini:i;  .Mrs. 
.Martha  .Strole,  a  widow,  residing  at  I'.nvik,  In- 
diana: .Mary,  the  wife  of  H.  Liskey,  a  resident 
of  Rockingham  county,  X'irginia:  Thornton  J., 
of  this  review;  ICIi,  also  a  resident  of  Rocking- 
ham county:  .\ima,  the  wife  of  E.  ( i.  i-lckard,  of 
Inxptois  county,  residing  in  I'rairie  (jrcen  town- 
ship: Turner  .\..  a  resident  farmer  of  I'rairie 
<  ireen  township:  ami  I'amiie,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Thornton  J.  Downey,  the  eighth  in  order  of 
birth  in  his  father's  family,  was  reared  to  the 
occupation  of  farming,  assisting  his  father  in 
the  work  of  the  home  place  until  he  reached 
man's  estate.  During  the  winter  months  when 
n<it  busy  in  the  fields  be  pursued  his  studies  in 
the  district  schools,  :ui<l  thus  actpiircd  the  edu- 
cation which  fitte<l  him  to  later  begin  business 
on  his  own  account.  He  remained  in  his  native 
state  until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years, 
when,  in  1875,  he  made  his  way  to  Illinois,  com- 
ing at  once  to  Inxpiois  county,  where  he  worked 
as  a  farm  b.iml  for  eight  months,  subsequent  to 
which  time  he  went  to  F'.rnok,  Indiana,  being  cm- 
ployed  there  at  f;irm  labor  dtn-ing  the  succeeding 
two  vears.  He  tlun  came  again  to  Inxpiois 
county,  where  he  was  emjiloyed  in  a  similar  man- 
ner for  five  years,  when,  having  saved  from  his 
earnings  a  sum  sufficient  for  the  establishment 
of  a  home  of  bis  own,  he  was  married,  Decem- 
ber 2,^  1SS4,  to  .Miss  I.illie  M.  I'.arritt.  who  was 
bnni  and  reared  in  this  county,  a  daughter  of  L. 
I'.arritt. 

I'cillowiug  his  marriage  .Mr.  Downey  tof)k  up 
his  alxxle  on  the  Crawford  farm,  which  he  rented 
for  fourteen  years.  In  the  meantime,  having 
|)ros|)ered  in  his  undertakings,  he  made  purchase 
of  one  hinidred  and  sixty  acres,  which  he  rented, 
however,  for  two  years.  .Since  that  time  he  has 
w  I  irked  his  land,  and  has  since  built  a  good  barn 
and  has  otherwise  improved  the  place  and  ma<le 
it  ;i  valu.'dile  property.  In  addition  to  operating 
his  own  l.inil.  be  .ilso  rents  .n  frnet  of  two  bim- 


320 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


dred  and  cifjhtx'  acres  where  lie  resides,  thus 
farmiiiji'  ahoijether  four  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
which  he  manages  with  the  assistance  of  liired 
help.  He  is  also  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
raising  stock,  having  gcjod  grades  of  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs,  feeding  and  shipping  for  the 
market.  He  is  practical  and  jjrogressixe  in  all 
that  he  does  and  is  accounted  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Iroquois  count\ . 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
eight  living  children.  Harry.  Edgar.  I.illie.  Mau- 
rice, Irby.  \"era.  Anna  and  P>ernice.  all  of  whom 
are  }et  at  home  with  their  parents.  They  have 
also  lost  one  son.  Hiram  A.,  who  died  in  infancy. 
In  his  political  allegiance  Mr.  Downey  has  been  a 
lifelong  democrat  but  has  never  been  active  as 
an  office  seeker,  the  only  public  office  he  has  held 
being  that  of  school  director. 

Tile  life  of  Mr.  Downey  shows  what  can  be  ac- 
complished by  energy,  economy  and  determina- 
tion, for  he  started  out  in  life  a  poor  boy.  in  the 
humble  capacity  of  a  farm  laborer,  but  through, 
his  close  application  and  careful  management  of 
his  business  affairs  he  has  worked  his  way  stead- 
ily upward  year  by  year,  and  through  the  assist- 
ance of  his  estimable  wife,  who  has  indeed  proved 
to  him  a  faithful  companion  and  helpmate,  he  is 
today  in  possession  of  a  valuable  pro])erty  com- 
prising one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres,  which  con- 
stitutes one  of  the  excellent  farms  of  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state.  He  dates  his  residence  in  the 
countv  from  1875.  and  is  therefore  widely  and 
favorably  known,  for  he  has  ever  been  honorable 
and  trustworthy  in  all  his  trade  transactions  anfl 
has  therefore  won  the  confidence  and  high  re- 
yard  of  all  with  will  nil  he  has  been  associated. 


0\Vi;.\    KlvRX. 


Owen  Kern,  living  on  section  i<).  Crescent 
township,  is  numbered  among  the  old  settlers  of 
the  county.  .\  life  of  toil  in  the  Illinois  |jrairie 
country,  to  wliich  he  came  as  a  young  man  w  hen 
it  was  a  frontier  district,  has  made  him  one  of 
the  substantial  residents  of  the  county,  where 
he  is  still  actively  engaged  in  a,gricultin-al  pur- 
suits, owning  and  operating  two  hundred  and 
fortv  acres  of  well  improveil  land,     lie  has  lived 


in  the  count\  since  1855  and  many  events  which 
are  matters  of  history  to  otliers  are  known  to  him 
through  personal  ex])erience  or  as  a  witness. 

Mr.  Kern  was  born  in  Lehigh  count).  Penn- 
sylvania. Xovember  5.  1834.  His  father,  Henry 
Kern,  was  also  a  native  of  that  county,  where  he 
followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  He  was 
married  there  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Weir,  whose 
birthplace  was  likewise  in  Lehigh  county,  and 
in  1839  he  removed  westward  to  Indiana,  set- 
tling with  his  family  in  Tippecanoe  county, 
where  he  entered  land  from  the  government,  de- 
veloping a  good  farm  there,  lloth  he  and  his 
wife  spent  their  subse(|iient  years  in  that  county 
and  upon  the  farm  reared  their  family  of  eight 
children. 

Like  the  other  sons  of  the  houseliokl,  Owen 
Kern  earlv  became  familiar  with  the  duties  and 
labors  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist 
and  wdien  seventeen  years  of  age  he  took  up  car- 
pentering, following  the  trade  for  four  years. 
He  then  came  to  Illinois  and  bought  sixtx'  acres 
of  land  in  Onarga  township.  Iroquois  county, 
thus  wiselv  investing  his  earnings  in  real  estate. 
He  did  not  remove  to  Illinois,  however,  until 
1858. 

In  the  meantime,  on  the  28th  of  September, 
1856,  he  had  married  ]\liss  Catherine  Peters,  a 
native  of  Tippecanoe  county.  Indiana,  and  a 
tlau.ghter  of  Daniel  Peters,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania.  For  two  years  after  their  mar- 
riage the\^  remained  in  the  Hoosier  state  and 
then  took  up  their  abode  permanently  in  Iro- 
quois countv.  For  a  year  their  home  was  a 
t\pical  log  cabin  on  the  frontier  and  ;it  the  end 
of  that  time  Mr.  Kern  built  a  good  dwelling  in 
( )narga  township  and  developed  a  |iro(luctive 
farm,  upon  which  he  liveil  for  eight  years.  (  )n 
selling  that  jH-operty  he  bought  eighty  acres 
where  he  now  resides,  adjoining  one  hundred  and 
sixtv  acres  which  he  had  purchased  in  183(1  and 
which  has  been  the  Kern  homestead  since  i8')'i. 
His  is  one  of  the  best  ini])roved  farms  in  tlie 
countv  and  forms  a  most  attractive  feature  of 
the  landscape.  His  residence  is  a  beautiful  and 
commodious  dwelling.  There  are  many  other 
buildings  necessary  for  the  shelter  of  grain,  stock 
and  farm  implements  and  he  uses  the  latest  im- 
])roved  machinery  in  carrying  on  the  work  of 
the  fields.     The   land   is   well   tilled   and   he   also 


MR.    AXI)    .MRS.   ()\\  i:.\    K1".R.\. 


UNIVERSriY  UF  ILLINOIS 


iRonrnis  couxTv. 


i.\i  ii>. 


323 


raises  j;<«icl  jjradcd  sttick.  Ills  lilc  lia^  hccii  hik- 
111  iiidiistn  characterized  by  ]>irscv<.rancc  aiul 
»ln>M;i  purjmso.  and  in  all  tlial  In-  lias  undertaken 
he  has  shown  an  aptitude  for  successfid  ntan- 
aj;en;ent  and  a  strict  confurniitx  to  a  liiyh  staml- 
ard  <il  liusiness  ethics. 

In  iiy<H.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kern  celetirateil  tlieir 
;ii)lden  weildiniT.  nn  which  nccasion  many  friends 
and  relatives  feathered  to  ex|)ress  ti>  tlii>  wurthy 
an<l  honored  couple  their  conj^ratnlations  and 
yoixl  wishes.  .\s  the  years  passed  their  home 
was  Itlessed  with  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom 
are  yet  living.  The  t>l(lcst  survivin^j  nicniher 
of  the  family  is  Mary  IClizalieth.  the  wife  of  Les- 
ter L.  Stuhhs.  a  resident  farmer  of  t'oldwater. 
Kansas.  Iiy  whom  she  has  one  child,  l-'lossie. 
Leah  .Malinda  is  the  wife  of  1).  I'.  I'.ircel.  also 
a  farmer  of  L'oldwater.  Kansas,  and  they  have 
tl'ree  children.  I'.essie  lona.  Meivin  ( ).  and  Ray- 
u'ond  K.  Maria  Theresa,  the  third  memher  of 
the  family,  is  at  home.  Dora  .\nn  is  the  wife 
of  James  R.  I'.relsford.  a  farmer  oi  descent  City, 
and  they  have  tliree  children,  l-llmer  V...  Jessie 
.\.  and  (iertrude  .M.  Harriet  !•".  is  the  wife  of 
(ieortje  11.  Clark,  of  Crescent  City,  who  is  men- 
tionc<l  elsewhere  in  this  work;  Melissa  C.  is  the 
wife  of  J.  IVank  Jelly,  a  carpenter  of  Crescent 
City.  Ida  May  is  the  wife  of  l-'red  Ranz.  of 
Claytonville.  also  mentioned  on  another  i)a.i;e 
of  this  volume.  Henry  S.  died  when  only  tiiree 
weeks  old.  Calvin  luij^ene  died  at  the  ajjc  of 
twenty-one  years.  Effie  l.eona  is  the  wife  of  I'. 
S.  Humphreys,  who  assists  Mr.  Kern  in  the  op- 
eration of  the  farm,  and  they  have  one  chil<l. 
Hazel  Irene.  Mabel  C.  is  the  wife  of  IVancis 
Hartman.  of  .Miann'  county.  Indirma. 

.Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Kern  are  nuw  old-tiiiie  residents 
of  the  county  and  have  witnessetl  much  of  its 
t;rowth  ami  develii|)n)ent.  I-'or  a  half  centur\ 
they  have  traveleil  life's  journe\  tojj^ether.  shar- 
iu},'  with  each  other  its  jo\>  and  sorrows,  il-^ 
adversity  and  its  successes  and  miw  they  are  en- 
joying; the  fruit  of  their  former  labors  surround- 
ed by  lovinp  children  and  !.;randchildren.  Mr. 
Kern  has  always  stiHxl  for  pruj^ress  and  improve- 
iieiit.  He  was  amoni;  the  lirst  to  recoi^nize  the 
value  of  tilinj;  the  l.md  and  U>  i>nt  that  course 
in  |)ractice.  Politically  he  is  an  e.irnest  republican 
and  he  cast  his  first  ]>resiilenti;d  ballot  for  John  C. 
I"reirc>nt.  since  which  time  lu'  has  never  faileil  to 


vote  at  a  i)residential  election.  He  has  been 
honored  bv  his  fellow  townsmen  with  various 
local  offices,  servinj.;  as  school  director  for  eight- 
een \ears.  as  hijjluvay  commissioner  for  eleven 
years,  as  school  trustee  >ix  years,  assessor  one 
year  and  i)atlimaster  for  three  years.  He  helped 
to  construct  the  Toledo.  I'eoria  &  Warsaw  Rail- 
road acro.ss  the  county  in  i>^y)  but.  like  the  oth- 
ers who  as>isted  in  the  work,  received  no  com- 
|)ensation  for  that  service.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  promoters  ;uid  orijanizers  of  the  I'ir>t  Na- 
tional Uank  at  Crescent  City  antl  was  the  first 
man  nominated  for  president,  but  refused  to  ac- 
cei)t  that  office.  He  was  then  chosen  its  vice 
jiresident.  serving  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which 
time  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  bank.  He  and 
his  family  attend  the  Congrej^^Jitional  church,  fif 
which  .Mrs.  Kern  is  a  member,  hew  men  are 
more  widely  known  in  this  jiart  of  the  county 
than  ( )wen  Kern  and  none  are  held  in  higher 
esteem  or  more  justly  deserve  mention  in  this 
volun-.e  anions'^  the  re|)rcsentative  citizens. 


.M.ITloXSh:  C.\kR(  ).\. 

.\lphonse  Carroll,  who  in  early  life  learned 
the  shoemaker's  trade  which  he  followed  for  a 
long  ])eriod  but  has  11  iw  ])Ui  aside  business 
cares  to  spenil  the  evening;  of  life  in  ease  ami 
comfort,  makes  his  home  in  Clifton.  He  was 
born  in  i)rovince  of  Onebec.  Canad'i.  on  the  5th 
of  May.  1838,  his  father  being  Jo.-iejih  T.  Carron. 
a  farmer  of  that  locality.  In  early  life  .\lphonse 
learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  his  native 
country  and  in  1S57  he  cr(-)ssed  the  border  into 
the  L'nited  States,  making  his  way  southward 
to  Kankakee.  Illinois..  He  there  worked  at  his 
trade  until  1<^«.V  when  he  removed  to  Clifton, 
where  he  has  now  made  his  home  for  more  than 
four  decades.  He  establi.>ihed  a  shoe  shoj)  here 
and  continued  to  engage  in  making  and  repair- 
ing shoes  for  many  years,  receiving  a  liberal 
l)atronage  that  enable<l  him  as  time  passed  by  to 
put  aside  annually  a  goodly  sum  from  his  earn- 
ings until  he  is  now  in  comfortable  financial 
circumstances.  He  made  juilicious  investment  in 
property,  owning  eighty   acres  of   land    in    (.'he- 


324 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


banse  township,  together  w  ith  a  huusc  ami  lui  mi 
Third  avemie  in  Clifton,  where  he  resides. 

On  the  28th  of  July.  1862.  in  Kankakee.  Ilh- 
nois.  was  celebrated  the  niarriaije  of  Mr.  Carron 
and  Miss  Philenienc  Laroch,  of  that  ]jlace.  They 
have  two  children:  Xellie.  now  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Hobson  of  the  firm  of  Hobson  &  Sutton, 
grocers  of  Clifton;  and  .Anna,  the  wife  of  Fred 
P)rock,  a  farmer  oi  Chebanse  township. 

Zealous  and  emphatic  in  his  advocacy  of  re- 
jmblican  ])rinciples.  ^Ir.  Carron  has  continuously 
supported  the  party  since  custing  his  first  presi- 
dential vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860.  and  he 
has  never  seen  occasion  to  change  his  opinion 
concerning  the  superiority  of  the  party  principles 
as  elements  in  good  government.  He  was  a 
trustee  of  his  village  for  three  terms,  discharging 
his  duties  with  credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction 
to  his  constitutents.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
communicants  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  in 
Clifton,  where  they  make  their  home,  they  have 
manv  friends. 


JAMES  O.  WEST. 

This  is  a  utilitarian  age  and  the  successful  man 
is  he  who  recognizes  and  sizes  all  of  the  ad- 
vantages which  surround  him  and  who  utilizes 
every  opportunity  so  as  to  accomplish  maximum 
results  with  mininnmi  effort — that  is  without  use- 
less expenditure  of  time,  energy  or  money. 
James  O.  West  is  a  typical  representative  of  this 
sjjirit  as  manifest  in  farming  life  and  as  the  re- 
sult of  his  own  labors  he  now  owns  and  operates 
one  hundred  and  ninety-five  acres  of  valuable 
land,  one  hundred  and  twentv  acres  of  which  is 
in  his  home  place  on  section  7.  P.elmont  town- 
ship, lie  was  born  in  this  township  near  Wood- 
land on  section  18,  November  26,  1862.  and  is 
a  representative  of  one  of  the  old  families  of  the 
east.  His  father.  Thomas  West,  was  a  native 
of  Delaware  and  with  his  parents  removed  west- 
ward to  Indiana,  whenci'  tluy  came  to  Illinois  in 
1840.  Attracted  by  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Cal- 
ifornia. Thomas  West  made  his  way  to  the  Pa- 
cific coast  in  1841).  remaining  there  for  three 
\ears.  during  which  time  he  worked  to  a  consid- 
eral)le  extent  in  the  mines.  He  then  returned  to 
Illinois  and   in   this   state    t'ollowcd    farming,   be- 


ginning with  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  His  first  wife  died  leaving  no  children  and 
he  afterward  wedded  Mary  Longshore,  a  native 
of  this  state.  I-'ollowing  his  marriage  Mr.  West 
began  developing  and  improving  his  farm,  which 
he  placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 
Adding  to  his  property  from  time  to  time  as  his 
financial  resources  increased,  he  became  the 
owner  of  four  hundred  and  forty  acres  and  there- 
on resided  throughout  his  remaining  da\s.  pass- 
ing away  in  1887.  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years. 
His  widow  still  survives  and  is  now  in  her  sev- 
enty-second year. 

This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children,  five  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity. 
James  ( ).  West  was  reared  to  farm  life,  early 
becoming  familiar  with  the  work  of  field  and 
meadow.  He  also  had  good  common-school  ad- 
vantages and  spent  two  terms  as  a  student  in 
(  )narga  Seminary.  After  completing  his  educa- 
tion he  worked  for  his  father  until  the  latter's 
death  and  then  inherited  his  share  of  the  home- 
stead and  purchased  the  share  of  one  of  his 
brothers. 

On  the  5th  of  February.  i888.  Mr.  West  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Anna  Warren,  a  na- 
tive of  Middleport  township  and  a  daughter  of 
Wesley  Warren,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  but 
Iiecame  a  jjioneer  settler  of  Iroquois  county. 
After  his  marriage  James  West  built  a  home  on 
section  7.  P)elmont  township.  He  also  put  up  a 
good  barn,  thirty-six  by  forty-eight  feet,  and 
sheds  and  cribs  have  been  built  for  the  shelter  of 
stock  and  grain.  He  has  also  set  out  shade  and 
ornamental  trees  and  has  two  good  orchards  con- 
taining one  acre  of  apples  and  peaches.  There 
are  also  plum  and  cherry  trees  on  the  place  and 
in  season  he  gathers  considerable  fruit.  The 
farm  is  well  tiled  and  fences  divide  it  into  fields 
of  convenient  size.  In  i8g8  he  bought  sixty 
acres  adjoining  the  home  place  and  he  now  has 
a  valuable  and  highly  improved  farm,  owning 
altogether  one  lumdred  and  ninety-five  acres. 
1  le  raises  good  grades  of  stock,  including  Nor- 
man Percheron  horses. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  West  has  been 
blessed  with  hvr  children:  Dwight.  who  assists 
in  the  o|)eration  of  the  farm;  Mary,  at  school; 
rjnnie.  who  is  in  Watscka  at  school ;  Benjamin. 
also   in    school;   and    Hernie.   who   com]iletes   the 


IRtHjLulS  CuLMV.  ll.l.INi  tis. 


3^5 


familv.  Tlic  paroiits  attiiul  ilic  Miilindist  l{|)is- 
ic'i»al  dinrcli.  of  which  Mrs.  Wist  is  a  nuiiibir. 
Mr.  West  affiliati's  with  tlif  .\Ii«Iirn  Wo.xlmiii 
cain]).  No.  3ji)-  3'  Walst-ka.  ami  in  imliiics  he 
is  a  stalwart  republican  but  at  lucai  elections  votes 
without  reference  to  i)arty  ties.  He  has  been 
tlitch  commissioner  for  si.\  years  and  school  di- 
rector ft)r  ten  years  and  every  |>ublic  trust  re- 
poseil  in  him  is  faithfully  met.  in  citizenshi]). 
in  public  office,  in  home  and  social  life,  he  is  a 
man  worthy  of  the  confidence  anil  j;ood  will 
which  are  uniformly  tendered  iiim. 


I-RAXK    I.   Rll'l.l'.V. 


The  si)iril  of  proijress  and  enterprise  is  man- 
ifestcil  by  IVank  J.  Kiple>  in  his  farm  work, 
lie  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
JO.  1'rairie  ( ireen  township,  and  al.so  u])erates 
anniher  tract  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
adjoininij.  He  is  one  of  the  more  recent  arrivals 
in  lriK|uois  county,  where  he  has  lived  since  1S93. 
l)ut  is  a  native  son  of  illin<jis.  his  birth  havin;,'- 
occurretl  in  Kendall  county.  Seiitember  2.  1S63. 
He  Comes  of  Kn^lish  ancestry,  his  ])arents.  W'il- 
liain  and  iUizal)eth  (Stamper)  Ripley,  .havin.ij 
been  natives  of  i-"n.t,'Iand.  where  thev  were  rearetl. 
I-'ollowintj  their  marriaj^e  tliey  crossed  the  Atlan- 
tic to  the  L'nited  States  and  made  their  way  into 
tile  interior  of  the  country,  castinij  their  lot  with 
the  early  settlers  of  Kendall  county,  'i'lure  the 
father  purchased  land  and  opened  u|>  a  new 
farm,  performing  all  the  arduous  labor  neces- 
sary to  the  development  of  the  fields  antl  the  care 
I'f  tlic  .stock.  He  became  owner  of  two  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  and  upon  that  |)lace  reared  iiis 
family  an<l  remaine<l  until  called  to  iiis  final  rest. 
which  was  in  1S73.  Iiis  wife  survived  him  for 
aliout  twenty  years. 

i-'rank  J.  Ripiey  was  a  youth  of  only  ten  years 
at  the  time  of  iiis  father's  deaili.  i  ie  was  reared 
in  Ken<lali  county  and  at  the  usual  ape  entered 
the  public  sciiools  there.  i,ater  he  spent  two 
winter  seasons  as  a  student  in  the  .\urora  Sem- 
inary and  when  not  in  school  he  remaineil  upon 
the  farm  with  his  niotlier.  assistiuj:;  iter  in  the 
development  and  improvement  of  the  place  until 


liis  marriage,  while  later  he  carried  on  the  farm 
for  her. 

.Mr.  Ripley  was  married  in  Kendall  county,  in 
1SS4.  to  Miss  Jennie  \  ri-elaurl.  who.se  birth 
occurred  in  that  county,  where  slie  sjient  lier 
RirliiiKid  days  and  ac(|uired  her  education. 
After  farminjT  for  a  lime  in  Kendall  county,  and 
for  one  year  in  ( irundy  county.  .Mr.  i'iipley 
removed  to  iroijuois  county  in  iS'j^.  and  <lurinij 
the  succcedinjj  year  cultivated  a  tract  of  rented 
land,  in  iS<)4  he  located  where  he  now  resides 
and  has  since  workeil  dilijiently  in  further  ini- 
proviuf^-  and  developing;  the  place,  lie  now  has 
one  of  tile  neatest  homes  in  the  townsiiip.  liavinj:^ 
remodeled  and  rebuilt  the  house,  wliich  stands  in 
the  midst  of  a  lar^e  and  well  ke])t  lawn,  adorned 
by  a  number  of  fine  i)ine  and  cedar  trees, 
tof^ether  with  rtowerin^j  and  ornamental  shrubs. 
The  .urass  is  well  trimmed  and  the  jilace  is  most 
attractive  in  its  apiiearancc.  Xot  far  distant 
from  the  house  Mr.  Ri])ley  has  built  a  lar^je  corn 
cri!)  and  lias  other  buildiniis  for  tiie  shelter  of 
j^raiii  and  >tnik.  lie  has  tileil  and  fenced  the 
l)lace  and  altogctlier  has  made  a  good  farm, 
whereon  he  raises  the  cereals  best  adapted  to 
the  conditions  of  the  soil  and  climate,  also  rais- 
ing; horses,  cattle  and  lio.ijs  to  some  extent.  His 
attention.  iKjwever.  is  princi|iall\-  s^'iven  to  the 
cultivation   of  fjrain. 

L'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ri|ile\  have  been  born  five 
cliildren.  (.'Iiarles.  Illanche.  Irviny;,  i.yle  and 
Willie.  Mr.  liipley  and  his  son  Ciiarlcs  affiliate 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  ami  a  fraternal  in- 
surance order.  He  votes  with  the  republican 
l)arty  but  has  never  bad  time  nor  inclination 
for  ])ublic  office.  |)referrin};  to  concentrate  his 
1  iiiri,'iis  npnn  liis  business  alt'.iirs. 


W.  A.   Rt  iS|:\-i;1-:R(1KR. 

W.  A.  Roseni)erner.  the  senior  nienilier  of  the 
firm  of  I'iosenlierjjer  &  Miller,  dealers  in  lumber, 
buildinj;  materials  and  farm  iniptemeiits.  was 
born  in  Papineau  township,  Irotpiois  county,  Xo- 
vemiier  2-i,  i!^75.  i  Ie  is  a  son  of  Kmil  and 
Amand  l^oseniierger,  who  were  natives  of  (ler- 
nianv  and  on  coniiu},'  to  America  settled  in  I'api- 


326 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


neau  township.  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  in  1854. 
Eiiiil  Rosenbergor  purchased  a  farm  which  he 
continued  to  cultivate  for  some  time.  He  after- 
ward engaged  in  the  hardware  business  with 
Mr.  Engleburt.  uf  Papineau.  and  later  he  sold 
out  and  entered  the  firm  of  Rosenberger  Broth- 
ers, grain  dealers  of  F'apineau.  This  relation 
was  maintained  for  a  few  years,  when  Emil 
Rosenberger  sold  out  to  his  brother  August,  and 
removed  tu  Woodland,  wliere  he  began  dealing 
in  grain,  lumber  and  coal  in  connection  with 
Robert  Zemple.  .Sub.'^equently  thev  dissolved 
partnership  but  Mr.  Rosenberger  continued  in 
the  coal  and  grain  business  and  after  a  few  years 
formed  a  partnership  with  .Samuel  Williams,  of 
Watseka.  in  the  same  line,  this  association  being 
maintained  until  his  death  in  1892.  He  thus 
figured  actively  for  many  years  in  connection 
with  agricultural  and  conunercial  interests  in 
Iroquois  ct)unly.  His  political  allegiance  was 
given  to  the  democracy. 

W  .  A.  Rosenberger,  who  was  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  ten  children,  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  and  in  the  Terre  Haute  Commercial  Col- 
lege at  Terre  Haute.  Indiana,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  1894.  He  tlien  occui)ied  a  positioii 
as  public  accountant  in  Chicago  for  two  vears. 
after  which  he  ^])ein  ime  year  in  California,  on 
the  expiration  of  which  ])eriotl  he  returned  to 
I'apineau.  In  the  year  1899  he  jjurchased  the 
grain  and  implement  business  n\  William  Sievert. 
and  conducted  the  same  for  three  and  one-half 
years,  after  which  h.e  sold  out  to  the  R.  F.  Cum- 
mings  ( irain  Company,  of  Clifton.  Illinois,  but 
held  a  position  as  buyer  for  a  vear.  After  sever- 
ing his  connection  with  the  firm  he  removed  to 
Martinton.  Illinois,  h^or  two  and  a  half  vears 
he  has  been  connected  with  the  lumber  aiul  coal 
business  which  was  established  hv  ](>\m  Lee 
Sage  in  .Martintmi  ten  years  ago  and  which  wa- 
pnrcliasrd  i)y  .August  Rosenberger  &  Com]i:uiv, 
\\  .  A.  Rosenberger  of  this  review  being  a  mem- 
ber of  the  firm.  (  )n  the  2'itli  df  August,  U)o6, 
the  firm  \\:is  changed  to  Rosenberger  &  .Miller 
and  they  cnnduct  a  general  lumber  business,  also 
<leal  in  brick,  lime,  cement,  tile,  wire  fencing, 
farm  imi)lements  and  coal  of  all  kinds.  The\ 
occ'.i])y  a  large  building  sixty-two  bv  one  lunidred 
ar.d  fifty  feet,  in  which  they  store  all  their  Iinuber. 
The    trade    has    cimsiantlv    increased    since    .Mr, 


Rosenberger  became  a  member  of  the  firm  and 
has  long  since  reached  profitable  proportions. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  1899,  occurred  the 
luarriage  of  Mr.  Rosenberger  and  ]\Iiss  Emma 
Perrault.  who  was  born  in  Papineau  township 
in  1880.  Tiiey  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren but  only  one  daughter  is  now  living — 
Thelma  Inez.  Mr.  Rosenberger  is  a  stalwart 
democrat,  prominent  in  the  local  ranks  of  the 
party,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  county  central 
committee.  In  his  fraternal  relations  he  is  con- 
nected with  il-,e  -Masons,  the  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Alndein  Woodmen.  He  is  ?.n  enterprisnig 
and  up-to-date  business  man.  energetic  and  ])ro- 
gressive  and  carries  forward  to  successful  com- 
pletion whatever  he  undertakes. 


GEORGE  P.  STEPHEX.S. 

.\rtesia  township  has  its  full  share  of  enter- 
prising agriculturists  who  have  converted  the 
once  wild  |)rairie  into  rich  and  productive  farms. 
the  yield  of  which  is  misur])assed  in  other  sec- 
tions of  the  state.  (  )ne  of  the  thriftv  and  en- 
ergetic farmers  of  this  townshi])  is  George  P. 
Ste])heiis.  who  lives  on  section  (\  and  whu  owns 
one  huiidred  and  forty-two  acres  of  land,  while 
altogether  he  farius  three  hundred  acres.  More 
than  four  decades  have  come  and  gone  since  he 
arrived  in  this  county  in  1863.  He  was  Imrn  in 
Tuscarawas  countw  (  )hio,  .Se]itembcr  24,  1849, 
and  In  a  son  of  John  ."-^teijhens.  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, in  which  country  he  was  reared.  Com- 
ing to  the  new  world  in  1842.  he  established  his 
home  in  Ohio  and  was  married  there  to  Miss 
Susan  Mc.Mur])hy.  a  native  of  Delaware.  On 
leaving  Tuscarawas  comity  .Mr.  ."-^teijliens  took 
H])  his  alinik-  in  Licking  cminty,  ( )hio,  in  the 
year  1853.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and 
followed  that  pursuit  in  carl\-  life  but  afterward 
concentrated  his  energies  upnn  farm  work.  In 
1865  he  c:inu  tn  Iroquois  coiTfrtv,  Illinois,  set- 
tling upon  a  farm  u])on  which  he  spent  his  re- 
maining days,  iiassing  away  Ajjril  id,  i9or).  He 
had  survived  hi>  wife  for  about  two  years,  her 
death  having  oecin-red  .August  12.   i<;o4. 

(itorge  1'.  Ste]ihens  is  one  of  a  faiuilv  of  six 
snns  and  a  diughler  and   with  the  excejjtion   of 


(ii:(  )K(ii".  r.  sTi-:i'iii:.\"s. 


UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IRUQL'OIS  COUNTY.   ILLINOIS. 


.?-"^ 


one  brotluT  all  arc  ycl  living,  lie  was  a  yiuith 
ui  fifteen  vears  when  lie  came  to  lr<K|iiois  C'Hinty 
and  his  minority  was  s]K-nl  as  that  of  most  farm 
lads.  The  public-school  system  atTorded  him  his 
educational  privilej^es  and  after  altendini;  the  dis- 
trict scluHils  he  became  a  student  in  lluckley  hiy;li 
school.  After  he  put  aside  his  text-books  he 
assisted  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  homestead 
farm  until  he  attained  his  majority,  after  which 
he  conducted  a  meat  market  in  Buckley.  Subsc- 
ipiently  he  purchased  a  hardware  and  j^rocery 
business  in  that  town  and  carried  on  the  enter- 
prise for  about  four  years.  Throufjhout  his  life 
he  has  manifested  close  application  and  keen 
business  discrimination — f|ualities  which  are  al- 
ways essential  to  success. 

Mr.  Ste])hens  was  married  on  the  farm  where 
he  resides  N'ovember  13.  1879.  the  lady  of  his 
choice  lieinj.;  Miss  I'lora  Majors,  a  dau.i;;hter  of 
S.  M.  Majors,  who  is  represented  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  In  1881  Mr.  Stephens  removed  to 
the  farm  and  has  since  enj^ajjed  in  i;eneral  asjri- 
cultural  pursuits.  He  located  first  on  the  Ma- 
jors farm  and  afterward  i)urchascd  one  hundred 
and  forty-two  acres  adjoinini;.  lie  now  has  a 
UoikI  and  well  im])roved  ])roperty  and  in  addition 
to  this  he  owns  four  hundred  and  eiijfhly  acres 
of  land  in  Mercer  county.  North  Dakota,  which 
his  son  Raym(5nd  is  now  operatiuji;'.  Mr.  ."^te- 
I)hens  lost  his  first  wife  in  i8<;5  and  her  reniains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  lluckley  cemetery. 
There  were  five  children:  Raymond,  mentioned 
aliove;  I'rank  M..  of  Chicago;  John  1!.  and 
Harry,  at  home:  and  Hazel,  who  has  resided 
with  her  maternal  ji;rand|)arcnts  from  the  age  of 
three  years.  Mr.  Stei)hens  was  ajjain  married 
December  20.  1<;(/).  the  la<ly  of  his  choice  liciuiT 
Miss  Laura  M.  Ilurllmtt.  of  Chicago,  who  was 
reared   in   Inxpiois  county. 

Mr.  Stephens  exercises,  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  re- 
jmblicin  i)arty.  which  he  has  supported  since  at- 
taining his  majority.  He  has  never  sought  nor 
desired  office  and  the  only  ])ublic  jxisition  that  he 
has  ever  filled  has  been  that  of  a  memlK-r  and 
|)resident  of  the  school  board.  He  holds  mem- 
bership in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Del- 
rey.  in  which  he  is  serving  as  an  officer,  and  he 
is  an  earnest  worker  in  the  Sunday-sclK  ol,  in 
which  he  is  superintendent.     He  started  out   in 


life  a  poor  man  at  the  bottom  <>(  tin  ladder.  Ik- 
today  owes  no  man  a  dollar  ami  is  the  possessor 
of  good  farming  property  which  is  the  visible 
evidence  of  his  life  of  thrift  and  energy.  He 
has  lived  in  lrr«|uois  county  for  more  than  forty 
years  and  is  respected  and  honore<l  as  an  active 
and  industrious  citizen,  who  while  i)rom(iting 
his  individual  interests  has  also  helped  to  make 
and  imjirove  the  county.  A  man  of  exemplary 
habits,  of  high  principles  and  of  upright  conilucl, 
wherever  he  is  known  he  comniands  the  good 
will  and  trust  of  those  with  whom  he  is 
associatetl. 


S.   k.   W  Al.KI'.R.   .\1.   1). 

Dr.  S.  1\.  Walker,  who  is  engaged  in  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  and  surgery  along  modern  scien- 
tific lines  at  Chebanse.  was  born  August  30,  1863,. 
in  Kingston  township,  in  the  province  of  (^ntaria. 
Canada,  his  ])arents  being  ( ieorge  W.  and  ICliza 
(  Heaty )  Walker,  who  were  farming  people  of 
Canada  and  were  of  I'-nglish  and  derman  ex- 
traction. His  father  died  in  i<i03.  while  the 
mother  is  now  living  at  ( ilenvale,  (Ontario. 

Having  mastered  the  elementary  l)ranclus  of 
learning.  Dr.  Walker  continued  his  studies  in  the 
Syclenham  high  school  at  !\ingst<in.  Canada, 
and  determining  to  make  the  practice  of  medicine 
his  life  work  he  began  ])re|jaration  for  that  call- 
ing by  matriculation  in  (Juecns  L'niversity  at 
Kingstiin.  He  there  pursued  the  regular  four 
years'  course  and  was  graduated  with  the  de- 
grees of  M.  D.  and  (.'.  .M.  In  i88<j  he  came  to 
Chebanse.  where  he  has  since  engaged  in  active 
])ractice  with  growing  success,  his  ])rofessional 
duties  calling  him  into  nian\  nf  the  leading  homes 
of  the  town  and  surrounding  country.  He  has 
been  a  close  and  discriminating  student  of  the 
science  of  medicine,  keeping  in  touch  witli  the 
trend  of  niodern  thought  and  investigation,  ana 
he  is  identified  with  the  l>i-County  Medical  So- 
ciety, the  .State  Medical  .Association  and  Amer- 
ican Medical  .\ssociation.  He  assisted  in  or- 
ganizing the  Kankakee  Comity  Medical  Society 
and  was  identified  therewith  until  the  I'.i-County 
Medical    Society   was  organized. 

(  )n  the  ijth  of  July,  i8:;0.  at  Kankakee,  Dr. 
Walker  was  married  to  Miss  Hertha  W'ulfTe.  of 


33° 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


that  place.  He  holds  membership  witli  the  Mctli- 
odist  Episcopal  church  of  Chebanse.  while  his 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church  of 
Kankakee.  In  politics  he  is  a  stanch  republican 
and  about  1895  was  chosen  president  of  the  vil- 
lage board,  serving  for  one  term.  He  lielongs 
to  Chebanse  Temple  lodge.  Xo.  429,  .\.  !•".  &  A. 
M.,  in  which  he  has  filled  all  of  the  <iffices.  and 
likewise  affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  .\nierica.  tlie  Royal 
-Krcanum  and  the  Loyal  Americans.  To  him 
there  has  come  tlie  attainment  of  a  distinguished 
position  in  connection  with  the  |)ractice  of  med- 
icine and  surger\-  in  Iroquois  county,  for  he  has 
manifested  an  ability  which  shows  comprehensive 
understanding  of  the  science  of  medicine  and  a 
conscientious  regard  for  the  duties  and  obliga- 
tions that  devolve  upon  him  in  this  connection. 


THOMAS  WILLIS. 


The  life  record  of  Thomas  Willis  is  an  ex- 
cellent iIlu>tration  of  the  fact  that  in  America 
"labor  is  king" — that  earnest  purjiose  and  ])erse- 
verance  can  conquer  difficulties  and  obstacles  and 
secure  a  measure  of  success  which  places  the  in- 
dividual ami.ing  tlie  men  of  affluence  in  his  com- 
munity. .Mr.  Willis  is  one  of  the  well  known 
residents  of  Loda.  where  for  twenty  years  he  has 
made  his  home  and  is.  moreover,  classed  with 
the  old  settlers  of  the  county.  He  dates  his  resi- 
dence in  the  state  from  1853  and  thus  his  memory 
compasses  the  period  of  pioneer  development  as 
well  as  later  progress  in  this  portion  of  Illinois. 
He  was  born  in  .^-Somersetshire.  Englan<l.  June  to. 
1829.  His  father,  i'eter  W'iih's,  was  also  a  native 
of  England,  where  he  spent  the  jjericid  of  his 
minority,  lie  was  married  there  to  Sarah 
Cooms,  also  a  native  of  that  countrv,  and  the\ 
reared  their  family  there.  I'.otli  the  father  and 
mother  have  long  since   passed   awaw 

Thomas  Willis  was  the  youngest  of  their  four 
cliilrlren.  the  eldest  being  deorge  Willis,  \\  ho 
sjiint  his  einire  life  in  I'^ngland.  while  the  second 
son,  Robert  Willis,  was  the  first  of  the  family 
to  emigrate  to  the  new  world.  He  sjient  a  few 
\ears  in  Xew  ^'ork  state  and  thence  went  tn 
Wisconsin,  locating  ,at    I'ond   i\\\    l.ae,   wliere  his 


last  days  were  passed.  The  only  daughter,  P'liza- 
l)eth  Willis,  became  the  wife  of  John  Hopkins, 
and  crossing  the  .Atlantic  to  the  I'nited  State.-, 
they  settled  in  Illinois.  A  few  years  latter  they 
removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  Mr,  Hopkins  died. 

Thomas  Willis  was  reared  to  adult  age  in  Eng- 
land and  was  granted  fair  school  privileges  there, 
lie  is,  however,  a  self-made  man,  owing  his 
prosperity  entirely  to  his  well  directed  efforts. 
ISefore  leaving  his  native  countrx  he  was  married 
on  the  26th  of  March,  1851,  to  Miss  Ellen  Sal- 
vage, a  native  of  England,  and  soon  afterward 
they  took  sliip  at  liristol,  crossing  the  Atlantic 
on  a  sailing  vessel  which  eventually  reached  the 
harbor  of  Xew  York  in  safety,  .After  spending 
about  two  \ears  in  that  state  they  came  to  the 
middle  west  in  1853,  and,  locating  in  Chicago, 
Mr.  Willis  entered  the  employ  of  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  being  engaged  at  track-la\ing  an.d 
in  other  work.  He  dug  the  foundation  for  the 
depot  at  Chelianse,  and  later  he  was  pronToted 
to  foreman  and  had  charge  of  the  men  laxing  the 
track  and  building  the  road  as  far  south  as 
Paxton.  For  ten  years  he  was  in  the  eiuplov  of 
the  railroad  coni]iany,  and.  saving  his  earnings, 
he  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  in  1863,  be- 
coming owner  of  eighty  acres  in  Pigeon  (irove 
township.  With  characteristic  energy  he  l^egan 
its  development,  put  u])  the  necessary  buildings 
tilled  the  soil,  and  in  the  course  of  time  bought 
more  lai;d  until  he  Ix'came  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  acres,  constituting  a  well  improved  and 
valuable  farm  which  is  still  in  his  possessi(_)n. 
In  his  agricultural  life  lie  displayed  much  capa- 
bility in  developing  tlie  fields,  was  .systematic  and 
energetic  in  his  work  and  ke]it  in  touch  with  the 
trend  of  miMkrn  ])rogTess  as  manifest  in  farm  life, 
lie  continued  to  operate  his  land  until  i8Sf). 
when  he  rutted  the  farm,  removed  to  Loda,  and 
])urehasi.d  residence  propertw  He  was  after- 
ward engaged  in  the  agricultural  imjilement  bitsi- 
ness  here  for  a  few  years  but  has  now  lived 
retired  for  some  \ears  in  the  enjovment  ot  a  rest 
which    he   has   truly   earned   and    richh'   merits. 

L'nto  .Mr.  and  .\lr>.  Willis  ha\e  been  born 
eight  children:  I''.  I'.,  a  resilient  of  Hammond, 
Louisian;i  ;  .Mrs.  I'hebe  Webber,  of  .Montana: 
b'lkii,  the  wife  of  CTarles  ( )athoiit,  a  fanner  of 
I'igeon  ( lro\-e  townsliip  ;  Sarah,  the  wife  of  H, 
Stro.in,   who   carries   on   agr;c'.ilt.ir,al   pursuits   i:i 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILI.IXoIS. 


.Ui 


Art'.'sia  inwnsliiii :  .\il:i  I'.,  wlin  is  private  sccrc- 
tarv  to  t:U'  president  of  the  Detroit  City  ( ias  Co:u- 
pauv :  Iteriiice,  who  is  tlie  wife  of  Ivii^ene  Met- 
ers, of  Detroit,  Michifjan:  Thomas,  who  died 
when  a  yoimji  man  of  twenty  years;  I'anny. 
who  hicame  the  wife  of  W'ilHam  I  lockiidry.  ancl 
removed  to  N'eliraska,  where  she  died  in   |S</). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  are  memlnrs  of  the  Chris- 
tian chnrcli  of  I'a.xton.  with  which  he  lias  lieeii 
identit"ie<l  for  thirty-three  years,  lie  iias  lieen 
without  aspiration  for  jxihlic  office.  The  cause 
of  e<lucation.  however,  tiiids  in  him  a  warm  and 
stalwart  friend  and  he  has  <loiie  effective  service 
in  its  behalf  while  actini;  on  the  school  hoartl 
in  his  district  when  living;  on  tl'.e  farm  and  also 
on  the  Loda  school  hoard.  A  review  of  his  life 
shows  tint  he  has  advanced  from  a  lumihle  finan- 
cial position  to  one  of  al'tluence,  that  his  methods 
have  always  heen  honnrable.  and  that  his  success 
has  Come  as  the  sure  reward  of  earnest  and  un- 
faltering labor.  At  the  same  time  he  is  nt  that 
class  of  citizens  who.  while  |)ronioiini,r  in<lividMal 
interests,  yet  find  opportunity  to  aid  in  public 
proj;ress.  and  during  the  tifly-three  years  of  hi: 
resilience  in  Illinois  he  has  heen  much  interested 
in  the  tjrowth  and  ini|)rovement  (jf  the  county 
ai!d  to  the  extent  of  his  ability  has  aided  in  its 
substantial  ileveloijuunt.  Led  to  seek  a  home  in 
.\mer;ca  by  the  ho])e  of  enjovinj;  better  opjior- 
lunities  than  were  afforfled  Jiim  in  Jiis  native 
land,  he  was  not  disap])ointed  in  the  conditions 
which  he  foimd  here,  for  he  realize<l  that  ojjpor- 
tnnity  was  open  to  the  ambitions  encrjj;etic  man. 
He  has  never  feared  that  laborious  attention  to  the 
details  (if  business  so  necessary  to  success  and  in 
former  years  lalxired  persistently  and  nnremit- 
tingly  until  his  work  |)lace(l  him  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  beinjj  now  the  owner  of  a  jj^ood 
home  and  valuable  farm  returninj^  him  a  jjrati- 
fvinsr  income. 


CM  AKLI-..-^   R.  SllCHXi  mi. 

Charles  K.  Stichnoth.  who  is  successfully  car- 
rying on  general  agricultural  jnirsuits  in  Stock- 
hm\  township,  his  farm  being  on  section  34. 
where  he  owns  and  cultivates  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  arable  land,  is  a  native  son  of  this 
.- pi  111'      for   his    birth    occurred    upon    the    farm 


which  is  uiiw  hi>  home,  his  nafil  <lay  being  Sep- 
tember 7,  \X(>-,.  His  father.  ( ieorge  Stichnoth. 
was  a  native  of  Hanover,  (iermany.  and  came  to 
America  when  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  made 
his  way  direct  to  Illinois,  settling  first  in  Danville, 
where  he  worked  out  by  the  month  for  several 
xears.  He  was  married  there  to  .Miss  .Mary  Jane 
I'^ndsley.  a  native  of  X'ermiliou  conntx.  .\fter 
his  marriage  he  opcrateil  rented  land  in  .Milfonl 
township  for  several  years  an<l  his  first  i)ur- 
chase  made  him  owner  of  one  lumdred  and  sixtv 
acres  in  Stockland  township,  where  he  built  a 
house  ami  made  a  home.  1  ie  imjiroved  the  i)lace. 
devel(i))ing  an  excellent  farm,  the  well  tilleil  fields 
annually  returning  to  him  rich  harvests.  Later 
he  bought  one  hundred  anil  sixty  acres  adjoining 
and  resided  thereon  until  iSi^j,  when  he  removed 
to  Alabama.  There  he  owned  a  i>each  orchard 
containing  twelve  hundred  trees,  and  his  atten- 
tion was  given  to  horticultural  jjursuits  uji  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  wliich  occurred  in  11/33,  when 
he  was  seventy  years  of  age.  His  wife  died 
in    i8(>i.  when  fifty-six  years  of  age. 

Charles  R.  .siiilnuith  is  one  uf  seven  children, 
five  of  whom  reached  years  of  maturity.  He  was 
reared  u])on  the  home  farm  and  the  educational 
jirivilcges  which  he  enjoyed  were  those  afforded 
by  the  common  schools.  When  twenty-eight 
years  of  age  he  went  to  \ermilion  county  and 
was  there  employeil  for  two  years.  In  i.Si>4  he 
returned  to  the  homestead  farm,  purchased  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  ])roperty  and 
now  has  one  lumdred  and  sixty  acres  which  is 
rich  and  productive,  re.s|)onding  readily  to  the 
care  and  labor  he  bestows  u])on  i?.  In  addition 
to  cultivating  the  fields  he  has  heen  a  breeder 
and    dealer    in    shorthorn    cattle. 

(  )n  the  23d  of  September,  iSi>(),  Mr.  .Stichnoth 
was  united  in  luarriage  to  Miss  I'jiima  lironsing, 
a  native  of  X'ermilion  county  and  a  daughter  of 
.\ugust  lironsing.  a  native  of  (iermany.  who  came 
to  Illinois  when  a  young  man.  .Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stichnoth  have  become  the  ])arents  of  three  chil- 
dren:    .\ugust.  luldie  and  Robert. 

The  family  home  is  noted  for  its  warm- 
hearted and  generous  hospitality  and  both  Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Stichnoth  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends, 
politically  he  is  a  good  democrat  where  the  issues 
that  divide  the  two  ]>arties  are  involved  but  at 
local  elections  docs  not  consider  parte  lies.     Ffe 


332 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


has  served  as  highway  commissioner  for  three 
years  and  for  one  year  was  assessor,  filling  out 
an  unexpired  term.  lie  has  been  school 
director  and  trustee  fur  ten  years  and 
has  fraternal  relatiiin>  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  of  Milford  and  the  .Modern  Woodmen 
camp  at  Stockland.  Having  spent  his  entire  life 
in  this  ciiunty.  he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  here 
and  has  been  a  most  interested  witness  of  its 
growth  and  progress,  manifesting  a  public- 
sijirited  devotion  to  the  general  welfare.  That 
many  of  his  warmest  friends  are  those  who  have 
known  him  from  his  boyhootl  days  to  the  present 
is  an  indication  that  his  life  has  been  hdnoraljle 
and  straight  f(  irward. 


CHARLES  A.  CALKIX. 

Charles  A.  Calkin,  who  carries  on  general 
farming  interests  on  section  20  and  29,  Iro(|uois 
township,  traces  his  ancestry  back  to  an  early 
Xew  England  family.  He  is  a  descendant  of 
Oliver  Calkin,  a  son  of  Dr.  John  Calkin,  who 
was  a  physician  of  considerable  skill  and  came 
to  this  country  from  Wales  in  1750,  settling  in 
Salem.  Xew  York,  and  a  descendant  of  Hugh 
Calkin.  Representatives  of  the  family  took  an 
active  part  in  the  Revolutionary  war  as  advo- 
cates of  the  cause  of  independence.  James  M. 
Calkin,  the  father  of  our  subject,  is  one  of  the 
oldest  settlers  of  Iroquois  county.  He  is  now 
retired  and  lives  upon  the  farm  with  his  son 
Charles  two  miles  north  of  Crescent  City,  lie 
was  born  January  18.  1813.  in  Sullivan  count\ , 
Xew  York,  and  is  a  son  of  Moses  Calkin,  who 
was  a  native  of  the  same  locality.  His  grandfa- 
ther built  the  first  house  in  that  settlement. 
JVIoses  (^alkin,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  a  fanner  by  occu])ation  and  serveil  in  the 
war  of  1812. 

James  M.  Calkin  removed  from  the  F.mpire 
state  to  Will  county.  Illinois,  in  i8_^(),  trawling 
by  canrd  to  Ihiffalo  and  thence  to  Chicago  on  a 
boat  which  was  named  l);miel  Webster.  .\t  that 
time  the  metropolis  of  the  west  contained  a  iiopn- 
lalion  of  oidy  two  hundred  ami  there  were  two 
ta\-erns  in  the  little  village.  It  was  all  swamji 
land  at  that  time.      .Mr.  Calkin  made  lii>  wa\    to 


Will  county  and  there  resided  until  1850,  when 
he  went  overland  to  California,  leaving  his  fam- 
ily in  that  county.  He  spent  two  and  a  half 
years  on  the  Pacific  coast  engaged  in  mining 
most  of  the  time  and  made  some  money  while 
there.  He  then  returned  to  Will  county,  where 
he  carried  on  farming,  owning  a  good  tract  of 
land  there.  He  had  been  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  that  locality  before  he  made  his 
westward  trip  and  continued  his  residence  in 
Will  county  until  18O5,  when  he  removed  to  Iro- 
(juois  county  and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which 
he  yet  resides.  He  and  his  stin  Charles  own 
three  hundred  and  forty-seven  acres  of  land  on 
sections  20  and  29.  Irinjuois  township.  The  fa- 
ther improved  the  place,  erected  buildings,  put 
u])  a  fine  home  and  carried  forward  the  work 
of  development  and  cultivation  with  gratifxing 
success.- 

(  )n  the  i3tli  of  May,  1838.  James  M.  Calkin 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ?kliss  P.  F.  Harris  and 
they  have  now  traveled  life's  journey  together 
for  more  than  sixty-eight  years.  Thev  are  two 
of  the  oldest  settlers  living  in  Iroquois  county 
today.  ^Irs.  Calkin  was  born  December  4,  1820, 
in  Massachusetts,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Shadrach 
I  larris.  who  went  from  Massachusetts  to  \'er- 
ninnt  and  thence  to  Erie  county.  Xew  York. 
He  afterward  came  to  Illinois  with  his  familv. 
settling  in  \\'ill  county  in  1834.  \Miey  they 
arrived  in  Chicago  it  was  nothing  but  swamps 
and  Mrs.  Calkin  walked  through  or  waded  the 
swamps  on  the  journey  from  Chicago  to  their 
destination.  The  last  two  nights  befoie  they 
arrived  in  Chicago  from  the  east  they  slept  on 
the  sand  and  after  reaching  the  future  western 
metropolis,  which  then  contained  but  small  huts, 
she  had  to  slec])  on  the  hay.  then  called  prairie 
feathers.  There  were  more  Indians  in  Chicago 
at  that  time  than  were  white  people  and  the  red 
men  were  likwise  \ery  numerous  in  Will  county. 
Her  father  continued  to  live  in  Will  cinmtv  until 
iSf)4.  when  he  removed  to  Irtjquois  count\'  and 
bought  tile  farm  upon  which  our  subject  now 
resides.  'There  he  lived  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  sold  oiu  and  returned  to  Will  county, 
where   he   s|)ein    his    subsequent   davs. 

Cnto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  James  M.  C'alkin  were 
born  six  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  early 
life.     The  others  are:     .Marv,  the  wife  of  Robert 


OF  THE 
UNIVEKSnV  Of  ILLINOIS 


MR.  AXn   MRS.    I.   M.   CALKIX. 


MR.  WD  MRS.  C.  A.  CALKIN. 


19 


'  I 


u:    ,rlE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


ii7 


jarvis.  a  risitlciit  of  Texas ;  Xewill.  an  olil 
soldier  residing  in  MiifonI:  Kiilli.  \vli«>  marrici! 
Sanford  Oldham  and  lives  in  I'.Iaine  county.  Xc- 
braska  ;  and  Charles  A. 

In  his  political  views  James  M.  Lalkin  has 
heen  a  rejuihlican  since  the  orj^anization  of  the 
party  and  has  served  as  assessor  of  Iroquois 
township  for  five  years,  lie  has  voted  at  every 
presidential  election  from  the  time  he  cast  his 
first  ballot  for  Martin  \  an  I'.nren  to  the  present, 
and  he  also  voted  for  the  first  ;;overnor  of  Cali- 
fornia. He  and  his  wife  are  both  faithfnl  mem- 
bers of  the  .Methodist  I'!])isco])al  church  and  were 
amonjj  the  first  representatives  of  that  denomina- 
tion in  this  county.  .Mr.  Calkin  united  with 
the  church  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  and 
his  wife  when  a  little  maiden  of  ihiiteen  years. 
He  has  been  steward  and  class-leader  in  the 
church  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  prominent 
and  worthy  members,  contributin}^  ijenerously  of 
his  means  to  its  su]i])ort  and  doing  all  in  his 
power  to  advance  its  jjrowlh  and  extend  its  in- 
Huence.  He  and  his  wife  each  have  a  .gold  medal 
awarded  them  at  the  (  Hd  Settlers'  Reunion.  Mr. 
Calkin  has  now  |)assed  the  ninety-third  milestone 
on  life's  journey,  while  lii>  wife  is  but  little 
yinuij;er.  They  are  amonj;  tiie  most  venerable 
residents  of  the  count\-  and  are  most  respected 
])eople.  They  have  intimate  ])ersonal  knowledy;e 
of  many  of  the  events  which  have  left  their  im- 
press u|ion  the  state  and  wliich  to  other  people 
are  merelv  matters  of  history,  (ireat  have  been 
the  changes  that  have  la-en  wrought  since  they 
arrived  in  Illinois.  The  red  race  has  long  since 
been  supplanted  by  the  white  ))opulation  and  the 
Indian  wigwams  have  given  way  before  the  at- 
tractive liomes  that  now  ilot  the  county.  Wild 
land  which  was  uncultivated  or  else  was  used 
by  the  Indians  for  raising  only  a  little  patch  of 
Corn,  has  been  converted  into  rich  and  pro<luctive 
fields,  and  all  this  broad  countryside  is  cultivated, 
bringing  forth  rich  cro|)s  of  cereals  or  fruit.  The 
Calkin  family  in  the  early  days  lived  in  true  pio- 
neer style  and  they  aided  in  laying  broad  and 
dee|)  the  foundation  upon  which  the  jjresent 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  county   rests. 

Charles  .\.  Calkin  was  educati^l  in  the  common 
schools  of  IriHjuois  county  and  also  s|)ent  one 
year  as  a  student  at  IlliMHuJngton,  Illinois.  He 
lias  alwavs  lived  at  home  and  as  his  vcars  and 


strength  have  increased  has  aided  more  and  more 
largely  in  farm  work,  long  since  assiuning  con- 
trol of  the  farm.  .\s  slaletl.  with  his  father  he 
owns  a  valuable  tract  of  land  of  three  hundred 
an<l  forty-seven  acres  on  sections  jo  and  2t).  Iro- 
•  piois  township,  and  none  of  the  accessories  or 
conveniences  of  a  mo<lcl  farm  are  lacking  upon 
this  place. 

-Mr.  Calkin  was  married  .March  12.  1S83.  to 
.Miss  Jennie  Stire,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Lacon,  Illinois,  and  they  have  si.x  children: 
I'ersis.  Morris  S..  Ilulda  \  ..  Ruth  .\..  .Mary 
Melle  and  Xewell  (i..  all  at  home.  The  children 
have  been  educated  in  (  )narga  and  in  LSushnell, 
Illinois. 

Charles  .\.  Calkin  carries  on  general  farming 
and  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  the  rais- 
ing of  sheep,  cattle  and  thoroughbred  Jersey 
hogs.  He  also  figures  in  connection  with  finan- 
cial circles,  being  vice  president  of  the  First  Xa- 
tional  I  lank  of  Crescent  City.  He  is  independent 
in  his  political  views,  supjiorting  men  and  meas- 
ures rather  than  party,  bor  eighteen  years  he 
served  as  clerk  of  the  school  boanl  and  he  has 
been  township  collector.  He  and  his  wife  and 
all  of  their  family  are  memlK'rs  of  the  Methodist 
L])iscopaI  church,  the  work  of  which  has  been 
greatly  promoted  through  their  etTorls  and  co- 
o|)eration.  Mr.  Calkin  has  served  for  twenty- 
three  years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school  and  has  also  been  steward  and  trustee  of 
the  church.  He  is  a  member  of  Standard  lodge. 
.\'o.  Tk)/.  I.  (  t.  ( >.  I-".,  and  of  Crescent  cam]).  Xo. 
I42().  M.  \\  .  A.  lie  has  met  in  his  business  life 
with  a  measure  of  success  that  is  indicative  of  his 
ability  and  enter])rise.  of  his  careful  management 
and  keen  discriminati(jn.  and  he  is  now  classed 
with  the  sub.stantial  residents  of  Irocpiois  county. 


CLAl'nE  X.  SAUM. 


In  ])rofessional  circles  Claude  X.  Sauiu  has 
gained  an  enviable  ])osition.  being  accounted  one 
of  the  able  members  of  the  bar  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty. He  resides  in  W'atseka  and.  is  a  member  of 
the  law  firm  of  Kay,  Saum  &  Kay.  .\  native 
son  of  the  county,  his  birth  occurred  March  lO, 
1875.     His  father.  Cicorge  W.  Saum,  was  born 


338 


PAST  AXD  PRKSKXT  OF 


in  De  Kalb  county,  Illinois,  and  when  twenty-one 
years  of  age  removed  to  Irofjuois  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years,  retiring 
from  active  business  life  in  1892,  since  which 
time  he  has  resided  in  Oilman.  In  early  man- 
hood he  wedded  Maggie  \.  P.irchfield,  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania. 

Claude  X.  Saum  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools  of  this  county  and  in  the  Oilman  high 
school,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  the 
class  of  1893.  Following  the  completion  of  his 
literary  education  he  worked  upon  the  home  farm 
for  two  years,  but  thinking  to  find  professional 
life  more  congenial  he  took  up  the  study  of 
law  in  Oilman  in  the  office  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Spencer  S.  Cone.  Subsequently  he  con- 
tinued his  studies  in  Dixon  (Illinois)  Law  School 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1897.  The 
same  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  com- 
menced practice  at  Oilman,  where  he  remained 
until  1902,  when  he  removed  to  Watseka  and 
formed  a  partnership  with  James  H.  Carey,  the 
firm  of  Carey  &  Saum  having  a  continuous  ex- 
istence until  September,  1905,  when  Mr.  Saum 
became  a  member  of  the  present  well  known  and 
prominent  law  firm  of  Kay,  Saum  &  Kay.  Al- 
though a  young  man  his  years  seem  no  bar  to 
his  progress  and  he  is  accounted  an  able  member 
of  the  Iroquois  county  bar,  a  position  to  wdiich 
he  has  attained  by  reason  of  his  wide  and  ac- 
curate knowledge,  his  correct  application  of  legal 
principles  and  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his 
clients. 

Mr.  Saum  was  married  in  1901  to  Miss  Olive 
Mather,  a  native  of  Jackson,-  Mississippi,  and 
they  are  accorded  a  prominent  position  in  the 
social  circles  of  the  city  in  which  they  make 
their  home.  Mr.  Saum  is  identified  with  Oilman 
lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  also  a 
popular  and  valued  member  of  the  Iroquois  Club. 


IRA  H.\MILTON  OILLUM,  :\I.  D. 

Dr.  Ira  Hamilton  Oillum,  who  died  at  his 
home  in  Milford,  March  6,  1906,  was  for  years 
one  of  the  leading  and  well  known  physicians  of 
Iroquois  county.  He  became  a  resident  of  Mil- 
ford,  August  I,  1883,  and  the  high  character  of 


his  professional  service  and  of  his  individual 
worth  made  him  a  man  whom  to  know  was  to 
esteem,  and  honor.  Corn  in  Indiana  on  the  18th 
of  September,  1843,  '^^  ^^'^'^  reared  to  manhood 
in  th;it  state  and  acquired  a  liberal  education 
at  P)loomdale.  In  the  period  of  his  later  youth 
and  early  manhood  there  was  great  discussion 
of  the  slavery  question  and  the  right  of  govern- 
mental interference.  Party  feeling  ran  very 
high  and  old  political  organizations  ceased  to  ex- 
ist, while  new  ones  took  their  place,  their  or- 
ganization caused  by  the  momentous  questions 
of  the  period.  Dr.  Oillum  watched  with  interest 
the  progress  of  events  in  the  south  and  in  1863, 
when  not  yet  twenty  years  of  age,  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  government,  becoming  a  member 
of  Company  H,  Sixty-third  Indiana  \'olunteer 
Infantry.  Thoroughly  patriotic  in  spirit  and 
faithful  in  his  service,  he  continued  at  the  front 
throughout  the  remainder  of  the  war  and  partici- 
pated in  a  number  of  important  engagements, 
including  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tennessee.  Be- 
coming ver_\-  ill  with  typhoid  fever,  he  was  in  the 
hospital  for  a  considerable  period,  recovering  his 
health  toward  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  Indianapolis  after  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  in  1865  and  returned  home 
with  the  boys  in  blue  who  had  so  faithfully  de- 
fended the  old  flag  and  the  cause  it  represented. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  aid 
Dr.  Oillum  returned  home  and  resumed  his 
studies  at  lUoomdale,  completing  a  course  there. 
Subsequently  he  engaged  in  teaching  in  Foun- 
tain county,  Indiana,  and  afterward  at  Newport, 
that  state,  and  thus  he  entered  upon  active  busi- 
ness life,  atlhough  in  later  years  he  transferred 
his  allegiance  from  the  teacher's  profession  to 
that  of  the  physician's. 

.\t  Newport,  Indiana,  Dr.  Oillum  was  married 
on  the  14th  of  August,  1867,  to  Miss  Sarah 
Richardson,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Eliza- 
lieth  Richardson.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  residents  of  the  Hoosier  state,  to  which 
he  removed  with  his  father,  Joseph  Richardson, 
who  entered  land  from  the  government  and 
cleared  and  developed  a  farm,  upon  which  he 
spent  his  remaining  days.  Following  their  mar- 
riage Dr.  and  Mrs.  Gillum  resided  near.  New- 
port and  he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  there, 
pursuing    his    first   course   of   lectures    in    Rush 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


339 


Medical  College  in  Chicago  in  i8<.>S.  lie  located 
at  Ivesdale,  Chainpaigii  county,  Illinois,  wIkto 
lie  entered  actively  ii]x>n  the  ])ractice  of  niedicine 
and  surgery,  .\inbitioiis  to  attain  the  greatest 
jHrrfcction  possible,  in  1872,  he  again  entered 
Rush,  where  he  coni])leted  tlie  regular  course 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1S73.  He 
then  practiced  in  I'arke  county,  Indiana,  opening 
an  office  in  Sylvania.  where  he  continued  in  the 
active  and  successful  prosecution  of  his  profes- 
sion for  ten  years.  Thinking  to  find  a  still  more 
favorable  opening  at  Milford.  Illinois,  he  re- 
nittved  to  this  city  in  1883  and  soon  demon- 
strated his  ability  to  successfully  cope  with  the 
difficult  problems  which  continually  confront  the 
physician.  Witiiin  a  short  space  of  time  he  had 
secured  a  liberal  patronage  and  liis  practice  stead- 
ily increased  in  extent  and  importance.  He  be- 
canie  the  loved  family  physician  in  many  a  house- 
hold and  his  skill  and  ability  were  demonstrated 
on  various  ixrcasions.  He  held  membershi])  in 
a  number  of  medical  si>cieties  and  kejjt  abreast 
with  his  profession  in  the  onward  march  of  prog- 
ress through  the  ])erusal  of  meilical  and  scientific 
journals  and  other  medical  literature,  l)eing  a 
great  reader  and  student. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  (lillum  became  the  i)arents  of 
si.\  children,  of  whom  four  are  yet  living:  Mrs. 
Frank  W'ideman.  of  Milford:  Mrs.  James  .\Ilen, 
who  is  living  in  Eureka,  Illinois:  Mrs.  Fleet  Gil- 
luni  Thompson,  of  Peoria ;  and  William  Jcnner, 
who  is  a  professor  of  music,  living  in  Sheldon, 
Iowa.  They  also  lost  two  children,  one  d_\ing 
in  infancy  and  the  other  in  early  childhood. 

Politically  the  Doctor  was  identitied  with  the 
rei)ublican  party  and  after  coming  to  Milford  he 
served  on  the  national  board  of  examiners  for 
twelve  years.  In  Indiana  he  was  recognized 
as  one  of  the  standard  bearers  of  his  party  and 
was  elected  and  servetl  in  the  state  legislature 
as  representative  from  Parke  county.  He  always 
stood  for  good  government,  placing  the  general 
welfare  before  partisanshiji  or  self-aggrandize- 
ment. He  regarded  it  as  the  duty  as  well  as 
the  privilege  of  every  .\merican  citizen  to  keep 
well  informed  oi\  the  issues  of  the  day  and  ex- 
press his  preferences  regarding  political  princi- 
ples. His  public  life,  professional  and  political, 
was  characterized  at  all  times  by  a  sense  of  con- 
scientious obligation  and  a  faithful  performance 


of  duty.  There  was  a  considerateness  and  kind- 
liness in  his  manner  that  won  confidence  and 
made  him  a  cheery  presence  in  the  sickr<x)m, 
and  when  he  was  called  from  this  life  his  death 
came  as  a  personal  bereavement  to  many  who 
knew.  res]K'Ctefl  an<l  honored  him  and  wIkj  were 
bound  to  him  in  the  strongest  ties  of  friendship 
as  well  as  of  professional  service.  The  poor 
and  needy  always  found  in  him  a  friend  and  he 
would  as  readily  answer  a  call  from  those  from 
whom  he  could  expect  no  remuneration  as  froin 
his  well-to-do  patients.  He  tiM>k  great  interest 
in  schools  and  educational  affairs  and  materially 
assisted  in  establishing  the  library  at  Milford. 
Being  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  be 
was  laid  to  rest  bv  those  orders. 


LOUIS  J.  li:mfn.\ger. 

Louis  J.  Lemenager,  the  present  supervisor  of 
.\slikum  township,  now  serving  for  the  second 
year,  is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising, 
making  a  specialty  of  the  breeding  of  fine  short- 
horn cattle.  His  farm  comprises  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  and  has  been  his  place 
of  residence  for  the  past  nine  years.  He  is  one 
of  the  native  sons  of  Iro(|uois  county,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  .\shkum  township,  June  16. 
181)7. 

His  parents  were  Eugene  and  .\ntoinette 
( .\ucremaime)  Lemenager.  The  mother,  a  na- 
tive of  llelgium,  came  to  the  L'nitcd  States  when 
thirteen  years  of  age.  The  father,  who  was  also 
born  in  P>elgium.  died  October  27,  1899,  at  the 
age  of  sixty  years  and  nineteen  days.  He  was 
born  Octol)cr  8,  1839.  and  came  to  .\merica  in 
the  s]iring  of  1856,  locating  in  .\sbkum  town- 
shi]),  where  he  secured  a  farm,  u])on  which  he 
resided  until  his  death.  He  owned  at  that  time 
four  hun(lre<l  and  eighty  acres  of  land  all  im- 
proved. His  life  demonstrated  what  could  be 
accomplished  by  determined  purpose  and  mi- 
faltering  energy.  He  was  at  one  time  supervisor 
of  his  townshi])  and  he  was  justly  regarded  as 
a  prominent  farmer  and  highly  respected  citizen. 
His  wife,  who  was  liorn  October  31,  1842.  came 
with  her  ])arents  to  Invpiois  cminU    in   iS!;;.  the 


340 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


family  home  being  establislied  in  Ashkum  town- 
ship. She  was  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Ancre- 
maune,  who  was  a  brick  manufacturer  and  spent 
about  eight  years  in  that  line  of  Ijusiness  in  Chi- 
cago, while  subsequently  he  removed  to  a  farm 
near  Green  Day,  Wisconsin,  residing  there  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  about  1890.  It  was 
on  the  23d  of  September.  1861,  that  his  daughter 
Antoinette  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Eugene 
Lemenager.  In  the  family  w-ere  six  children : 
Jules,  a  resident  of  Ashkum  township :  Arthur, 
who  is  living  in  the  same  township  near  the 
village  of  Ashkum  :  Mrs.  Eugene  Poskin,  of  Ash- 
kum township:  Louis  J.;  Hubert,  of  Ashkum 
township;  and  ^Irs.  Alexander  Petit,  of  Dan- 
forth  township. 

Louis  J.  Lemenager  was  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  to  the  age  of  seventeen  years  and  during 
that  period  spent  the  w^inter  months  as  a  pupil 
in  the  Plato  school,  this  county.  He  afterward 
spent  one  year  at  Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  in 
Onarga,  and  throughout  much  of  his  life  he  has 
carried  on  general  farming.  He  also  devotes 
considerable  time  to  civil  engineering  and  has  as- 
sisted in  several  important  surveys  for  drainage 
and  other  improvements  in  this  section  of  the 
county.  During  the  past  nine  \ears  he  has  re- 
sided upon  his  present  farm,  owning  a  valuable 
property  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  .\sh- 
kum  townshi]).  which  is  well  tilled  and  brings 
forth  abundant  harvests.  In  all  of  his  farm 
work  he  is  progressive  as  well  as  practical  and 
excellent  results  have  therefore  attended  his 
labors. 

When  twenty-two  years  of  age  Mr.  Lem- 
enager was  married  to  .Miss  .\ugusta  Poskin,  a 
daughter  of  August  Poskin,  an  early  resident 
of  Iroquois  county,  now  deceased.  Four  chil- 
dren grace  this  miion,  .\ugust,  Albert,  Stella  and 
William,  aged  respectively  sixteen,  thirteen,  nine 
and  seven  vears. 

Mr.  Lemenager  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  sujjport  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  de- 
mocracy and  has  served  for  five  years  as  school 
trustee  in  Iroquois  townslii]i  and  has  been  school 
director  in  .\shkum  township  nine  \cars.  So- 
cially he  is  connected  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  family  attend  the  Catho- 
lic church.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in 
Iroquois    county,     where    he    has    manifest    the 


strong  and  .sterling  qualities  that  have  gained 
for  him  a  place  among  the  substantial  citizens 
and  have  also  won  for  him  the  favorable  regard 
of  his  fellowmen. 


GEORGE  A.  WEEKS. 

It  is  seldom  that  death  brings  genuine  sorrow 
to  so  manv  liearts  as  it  did  when  George  Au- 
gustus Weeks  was  called  from  this  life  on  the 
24th  of  September.  1Q04.  He  had  been  reared 
in  Sheldon  and  from  his  boyhood  days  had  dis- 
])layed  many  sterling  traits  of  character  which 
endeared  him  to  those  who  knew  him,  and  no 
resident  of  the  city  was  more  widely  known  than 
he.  His  birth  occurred  in  ^ilonticello,  Indiana, 
on  the  ii)th  of  July,  i86!j,  and  he  was  the  second 
son  of  William  Augustus  and  Annie  E.  (Moore"! 
\\'eeks.  Mention  is  made  of  his  parents  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work  in  connection  with  the 
history   of  his  brother.    Paschal   B.   Weeks. 

George  .\.  Weeks  spent  the  first  six  vears  of 
his  life  in  the  place  of  his  nativity  and  then  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Shel- 
don, where  he  continued  to  reside  U])  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  He  was  known  here  as  boy  and 
luan,  joyous  and  free-hearted  in  youth,  and  when 
tlie  age  of  discretion  and  responsibility  came  he 
took  up  the  duties  of  life  bravely  and  manfully 
becoming  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  repre- 
sentatives cif  business  life  in  the  town.  His 
father  established  a  grocery  and  provision  busi- 
ness in  .Sheldon  and  later  began  dealing  in  dry 
goods  and  groceries.  .After  his  death  the  busi- 
ness was  continued  by  ^Irs.  Weeks  and  her  two 
sons.  Paschal  and  (leorge.  and  for  sixteen  vears 
tlu'  latltr  was  prominently  identified  with  com- 
mercial interests  in  Sheldon,  being  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  ])rogressive  and  energetic  busi- 
ness men  of  the  town.  After  his  father's  death 
he  largely  had  the  management  of  the  store  and 
through  his  capability,  keen  foresight  and  in- 
domitable pur])ose  he  increased  the  volume  of 
trade  until  the  store  became  one  of  the  largest  in 
this  part  nf  the  county.  Xew  lines  were  con- 
linuall\-  added  and  finally  the  business  developed 
into  .-i  department  store.  George  .\.  Weeks  not 
only  worked  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  trade  but 


(•.EORr,!-:   A.    WKKKS. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


34J 


extended  his  efforts  into  otlicr  lines.  I  le  invented 
a  lace  curtain  cxhibitur.  for  which  there  was 
a  wide  sale,  and  siibse(|iieiitly  he  bejjaii  the  manu- 
facture of  couches,  meeting  with  gratifying  suc- 
cess in  that  undertaking.  Mis  busy  mind  was 
continually  evolving  new  ideas  and  in  all  of  his 
work  he  wrought  along  modern  lines,  keei)ing 
in  touch  witii  advanced  thouglu  and  methotis. 

(  )n  the  jSth  of  December.  \i)i)2.  .Mr.  Weeks 
was  united  in  marriage  at  Little  Rock.  Arkansas, 
with  Miss  Winifred  Strickler.  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  I.  X.  Strickler.  who  were  at  that  time 
living  in  Hunter,  .\rkansas.  but  had  formerly 
been  residents  of  Sheldon.  Mrs.  Weeks'  early 
girlh(X(d  days  were  here  passed,  so  that  she  did 
not  come  as  a  stranger  to  Sheldon  when  brought 
to  the  city  as  a  liride.  The  young  couple  at 
once  took  pnjminent  place  in  the  social  life  of 
the  town  and  the  hospitality  of  their  own  home 
was  greatly  enjoyed  by  all  wiio  knew  them,  so 
warm-hearted,   generous   and    free   was   it. 

.Mr.  Weeks  belonged  to  Davy  Crockett  camj). 
No.  55J.  .M.  W.  .\..  which  he  joined  on  its  or- 
ganization and  served  as  its  tirst  escort,  ami  when 
he  was  called  to  his  final  rest  the  interment  was 
conrlucted  umler  the  aus])ices  of  that  cam]). 
Those  who  knew  .Mr.  Weeks  recognized  in  him 
strong  and  salient  characteristics  which  were 
worthy  of  emulation  and  of  high  commemlation. 
He  was  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  his  city 
and  his  aid  and  co-operation  were  always  a  factor 
in  promoting  the  plans  and  movements  for  the 
general  good.  He  held  friendship  inviolable, 
recognized  the  jjcrsonal  obligation  in  all  of  his 
relations  with  his  fcllowmen  and  in  his  home  life 
was  known  as  a  most  devoted  son.  hu.-iband  and 
father.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks  had  been 
born  a  little  son,  George  .\.  Since  the  death 
of  Mr.  Weeks  the  mother  and  son  have  returned 
to  Hunter,  .\rkansas.  where  her  parents  reside. 


WILLIAM  1!.\R()X. 


<')n  a  farm  on  section  7.  Iroquois  town.ship.  re- 
sides William  Haron.  jvhose  capable  management 
in  agricultural  inter^ts  is  widely  recognized. 
He  has.  moreover,  been  a  factor  in  financial  cir- 
cles since  the  organization  of  the  I'irst  National 


Hank  at  Crescent  City  in  i«>o3,  when  he  became 
one  of  its  directors.  .\  native  son  of  the  county, 
his  birth  occurred  in  I'apineau  township,  on  the 
I2th  of  February,  1871,  and  he  comes  of  French 
ancestr>-.  His  father,  Moses  Baron,  was  born 
in  Canada  and  came  to  this  country  when  a 
boy  of  five  years  with  liis  mother.  He  was 
reared  in  Papineau  township,  the  district  being 
then  a  frontier  settlement.  He  worked  for 
James  Martin  for  eight  years  and  later  began 
business  on  his  own  account.  I'ros|)ering  in  his 
undertakings,  he  made  judicious  investnients  in 
real  estate,  buying  land  from  time  to  time  until 
he  was  one  of  the  largest  landowners  of  the 
comity,  his  possessions  aggregating  sixteen  hun- 
dred acres.  He  has  since  disposed  of  a  portion 
of  this  but  he  now  owns  about  one  th<:)usand 
acres  and  is  living  retired  in  St.  .\nne.  his  ex- 
tensive possessions  returning  him  a  very  grati- 
fying income  that  supplies  him  with  all  of  the 
Comforts  and  the  luxuries  of  life  that  he  may  de- 
sire. His  wife  has  passed  away.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  thirteen  children,  and  theirs  is  the  re- 
markable record  that  all  are  yet  living. 

William  Raron  was  rearetl  in  I'apineau  town- 
ship, and  no  event  of  special  imi)ortance  oc- 
curred to  vary  for  him  the  routine  of  farm  life. 
He  worked  in  the  fields  from  the  time  of  early 
s])ring  planting  until  crojjs  were  harvested  in  the 
late  autumn.  In  the  winter  months  he  attended 
school  and  continued  to  assist  his  father  until 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  when  he  started  out 
u])on  an  independent  business  career.  He  con- 
tinued actively  in  farm  work  until  i<kx).  when 
he  purcha.sed  his  present  place  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  on  section  7.  Irocjuois  township. 
He  also  owned  an  interest  in  one  hun<lred  and 
seventy-six  acres  which  he  sold  recently.  He  is 
an  enterprising  farmer  and  carries  on  general 
agricultural  inirsuits  and  stock-raising,  having 
a  fine  herd  of  thoroughbred  polled  .\ngus  cattle. 
Me  also  raises  gCMid  grades  of  draft  horses.  The 
farm  is  well  equipped  with  substantial  buildings 
and  the  latest  improved  machinery,  and  in  fact 
none  of  the  accessories  of  a  model  farm  property 
of  the  twentieth  century  are  lacking. 

Mr.  r.aron  was  married  to  Miss  .\nna  Raboin, 
a  daughter  of  Joseph  Raboin.  one  of  the  old 
French  settlers  of  .\shkum  township.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Uaron  have  four  children.  Blanch.  Milton, 


344 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Rernice  and  Luverne,  all  of  whom  are  yet  at 
home.  The  parents  are  devoted  and  devout 
communicants  of  the  Catholic  church  at  L"Erabk-. 
His  political  views  endorse  republican  principles 
and  his  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  at  Papineau.  Without 
havinjj  assistance  at  the  outset  of  his  career  Wil- 
liam P.aron  has  labored  enersjetically  and  per- 
sistently, realizing:  that  in  America  "labor  is  king" 
and  it  is  the  rule  of  this  sovereign  that  gains  the 
tribute   of   success   and   pro.spcrity. 


DA\TD  BEESOX. 


David  Beeson,  police  justice  of  Pigeon  (irove 
township  and  a  resident  of  Cissna  Park,  starteil 
in  life  in  this  county  as  a  renter  and  is  now 
living-  retired  from  business  cares,  having  through 
years  of  former  activity  and  toil  won  a  com- 
fortaljle  com])etence.  Pie  came  to  the  county  in 
1868  and  has  since  resided  within  its  borders. 
His  birthplace  was  Randolph  county.  Xorth 
Carolina,  and  his  natal  dav  December  27,  1840. 
His  father.  Isaac  Beeson,  was  likewise  born  in 
the  same  county  and  was  married  there  to  Re- 
becca Lamb,  a  native  of  Xorth  Carolina.  Mr. 
Beeson  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  also  a 
miller  and  farmer.  He  possessed  much  natural 
mechanical  ability  and  ingenuity  and  was  able  to 
turn  his  hand  to  almost  any  kind  of  mechanical 
work.  In  1845  'ic  removed  with  his  family  to 
Parke  county,  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  the 
conduct  of  a  gri.stmill.  spending  his  remaining 
days  in  that  locality.  He  was  not  long  permitted 
to  enjoy  his  new  home,  however,  for  his  death 
occurred  in  1846.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
a  number  of  years  and  also  died  in  Parke  county. 

David  Beeson  of  this  review  was  a  lad  of  but 
six  years  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  He 
was  reared  in  Parke  county,  but  as  the  family 
were  left  in  somewhat  limited  financial  circum- 
stances his  educational  privileges  and  other  op- 
Ijortunities  were  meager  and  it  has  been  through 
reading,  e.xperience  and  observation  that  he  has 
broadened  his  knowledge  and  become  a  well  in- 
formed man. 

The  ])eriod  that  tested  the  loyalty  and  valor 
of  .\merican  citizens  found   Mr.   I'.eeson  to  be  a 


brave  and  stalwart  champion  of  the  Union  cause. 
On  the  28th  of  July.  1862.  he  enlisted  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  A,  Eighty-fifth  Indiana  \'olun- 
teer  Infantrx'.  with  which  command  he  went  to 
the  south,  the  regiment  being  attached  to  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland.  He  participated  in  a 
number  of  engagements,  the  most  important  be- 
ing that  of  Franklin.  Tennessee.  He  w^as  fre- 
quently on  the  skirmish  line  and  in  scouting  ex- 
peditions and  for  a  time  he  was  ill  in  the  hospital 
at  Danville,  Kentucky,  with  typhoid  fever.  Sub- 
sequentlv  he  was  transferred  to  the  hospital  at 
Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  afterward  to  the  con- 
valescent barracks  in  Louisville.  Before  his  re- 
covery he  was  sent  to  the  Soldier's  Home  in 
Indianapiilis  but  as  soon  as  he  had  sufficiently 
recuperated  he  rejoined  his  regiment  and  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  being  mustered  out  at 
Nashville  and  honorably  discharged  at  Indian- 
apolis. Indiana.  Jtily  5,  1865.  He  then  returned 
home  and  for  two  years  thereafter  was  engaged 
in  farming. 

Mr.  Pieeson  had  been  married  on  the  20th  of 
November  20.  1860.  to  Miss  Nancy  E.  Morgan, 
who  was  burn  in  Indiana,  where  her  girlhood  and 
her  school  days  were  passed.  She  was  a  daugh- 
ter of  Wyatt  Morgan,  a  native  of  North  Caro- 
lina and  a  pioneer  settler  of  the  Hoosier  state. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  war  ended  Mr.  Bee- 
son remained  in  Indiana  and  in  1868  came  to  Iro- 
quois county,  Illinois.  The  first  year  he  rented 
land  and  afterward  bought  in  Artesia  township 
a  place  of  forty  acres,  on  which  few  improve- 
ments had  been  made.  He  began  the  further  de- 
velopment and  cultivation  of  the  place  and  later 
added  twent}'  acres  adjoining  the  original  tract. 
He  built  there  good  farm  buildings,  secured 
modern  machinery  to  work  the  fields  and  c.ire 
for  the  crops  and  continued  in  active  farm  work 
until  1890.  when  he  sold  his  ])lace  and  removed  to 
Cissna  Park.  1  lere  lu-  purchased  a  residence 
and  two  acres  of  land. 

L'nlo  Mr.  and  Mrs.  iieeson  have  been  burn 
two  sons,  jdlni,  wlm  is  married  and  lives  at 
Cissna  Park,  has  a  son,  l'"loyd  Beeson.  Sylvester 
is  at  home,  and  both  he  and  his  brother  are  em- 
])loyed  on  the  rural  mail  mute.  The  father  has 
been  a  life-long  repulilican.  casting  his  first  vote 
for  .\braham  Lincoln  in  1864  while  a  member 
lit  the  army.      ICver\'   four  vears  at  the  polls  he 


IRCjgLdlS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


345 


has  jjiven  ciulorscmi-nt  U<  the  staiulanl  bearers 
of  the  ]>any  and  lie  al.so  takes  an  active  interest 
in  liMTal  elections,  never  niissinjj  but  one.  Since 
coniinR  to  Cissna  Park  be  was  elected  and  served 
on  the  town  board  and  he  is  now  servin}.;  tor 
two  terms  as  police  niajjistrate,  ])rovin}j  a  caini- 
ble  officer,  who  in  the  discbarj^e  of  his  duty  is 
swerved  by  neither  fear  nor  favor,  lie  and  his 
wife  are  faithful  members  of  the  Methodist  l{i)is- 
copal  church,  in  which  be  is  scrvin!.j  as  trustee  aTul 
l)rcsident  of  the  btard.  while  hi.s  wife  belongs  to 
the  missionary  society.  I'raternally  he  is  con- 
nected with  lluckley  lod«je.  \o.  (>^4.  A.  I-'.  &  A, 
M..  and  he  maintains  i)leasant  relations  with  his 
old  army  comrades  lhrou}j;h  bis  membersbii)  in 
the  ( Irand  Army  ])ost  at  Cissna  Park.  Thirty- 
eipht  years  have  come  and  .y;one  since  he  arrived 
in  this  coiuUy.  tindin}^  here  much  wet  and  swampy 
land,  the  work  of  reclamation  havinij  scarcely 
been  betjun  in  some  districts.  lie  has  seen  the 
best  farms  made  and  towns  built  up  and  can  re- 
late many  interesting  incidents  of  earlier  days 
and  of  the  changes  that  have  occurred  to  bring 
aboiu  the  present  develo[)ment. 


.\II-.L\  l.\    L.   MILI.I.U. 


Melvin  L.  .Miller  is  the  junior  member  of  the 
tirm  of  Rcj.senberger  &  .Miller,  dealers  in  lumber. 
omI.  building  materials  and  farm  machinery  at 
Martinton.  The  attractiveness  of  Iroquois  comi- 
ty as  a  place  of  residence  is  indicated  In  the  lad 
that  many  of  her  native  sons  have  remained  with- 
in her  borders,  enjoying  the  advantages  here 
otTered  and  by  improvement  of  the  opportunities 
which  surround  all.  working  their  way  upward 
to  success.  To  this  class  belongs  .Mr.  .Miller, 
who  was  born  .\pril  H).  1870.  in  .\fartinton  town- 
ship, and  is  a  son  of  .Mvin  and  .\ddie  M.  (  Pear- 
son) Miller,  .\lvin  .Miler  was  born  in  I'ord 
county.  Illinois,  bis  father  having  come  to  this 
state  at  an  early  day.  Removing  to  .Martinton 
townshi]).  .Mr.  .Miller  purchased  two  hundred 
acres  of  land  which  he  broke  and  improved, 
making  his  home  there  continuously  until  188'). 
when  he  removed  to  Cbebanse.  where  he  resided 
for   five  years.     On   the  expiration   of  that   pe- 


riod he  went  to  Nebraska,  where  be  has  since 
made  his  home. 

.Melvin  L.  .Miller  was  educated  in  the  country 
schools  and  in  Cbadron  .\cademy.  Through  the 
period  of  his  boyhood  and  \outIi  he  live<l  at  home, 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  until  twenty-one 
years  of  age,  when  be  entered  the  railroad  ser- 
vice and  for  live  years  was  thus  engaged  in  the 
west.  In  181/)  he  took  up  bis  abixle  in  Martin- 
ton township,  where  for  ten  years  he  followed 
farming,  operating  his  fathers  tract  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty'  acres,  which  he  brought  under 
a  high  state  of  development,  annually  harvesting 
rich  crojis.  In  August.  Kjof),  however,  he  be- 
came a  factor  in  commercial  life  in  Martinton  by 
forming  a  ])artnershi])  with  William  Rosenberger 
as  a  dealer  in  lumber,  coal.  lime,  cement,  tile 
and  brick.  The  firm  enjoys  a  good  patronage 
which  is  constantly  increasing,  and  as  the  years 
li.ive  i)assed  bv  .Mr.  Miller  has  in  his  business 
life  won  a  creditable  measure  of  success.  I'or 
one  year  he  traveled  for  the  International  Har- 
vester Companv . 

In  his  |)olitical  views  .\lr.  .Miller  i>  a  repnl)- 
licaii  and  be  affiliates  with  several  fraternal  or- 
ganizations, including  the  Masons,  the  .Modern 
Woodmen  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  was 
married  in  llemingford,  Nebraska,  in  i8(>i.  to 
.Miss  (irace  Schaffer,  a  native  of  Iowa,  and  they 
became  the  jiarents  of  two  children,  Russell  and 
Irene.  In  Martinton  they  have  gaiiie<l  many 
friends,  who  esteem  them  because  of  their  gen- 
uine ])ersonal  worth  and  many  good  traits  of 
character,  and  Mr.  .Miller  is  making  for  himself 
an  honorable  jilacc  in  trade  circles  and  winning 
that  measure  of  success  which  comes  as  the  re- 
ward of  i-liise  and  pirsist'ent  application. 


ARTIICk  NOCRIF. 


.\rtluir  Nciurie.  carrying  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  in  Concord  t<nvnsliip.  was  born 
in  P.eaver  township.  Ir<X|uois  county,  in  1883. 
His  father,  ( ielos  Nourie,  was  a  native  of  Canada 
and  was  only  si.x  years  of  age  when  brought  by 
his  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family  home  being 
established  in  Reaver  township,  Inxiuois  county, 
in  pioneer  days.     There  be  was  reared  to  agri- 


34*5 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


cultural  pursuits  and  as  a  life  work  followed 
farming  and  stock-raising.  His  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  .\melia  Labric.  was  al.so  a 
native  of  Canada. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  to 
vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  Arthur  Xourie 
in  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  At  the 
usual  age  he  entered  the  public  schools  and  there- 
in mastered  the  common  branches  of  English 
learning.  When  not  busy  with  his  text-books  he 
assisted  in  the  work  of  the  home  farm  and  early 
gained  practical  experience  in  the  best  methods 
of  tilling  the  soil  and  caring  for  the  crops.  He 
came  to  his  present  place  of  residence  in  Con- 
cord township  in  1902.  settling  upon  his  father's 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  acres  on 
sections  3  and  4.  He  has  since  tiled  twenty 
acres  of  the  land  and  has  made  other  substan- 
tial improvements  and  as  the  years  pass  by  he 
is  carefully  conducting  his  farming  interests  with 
good  success.  He  is  a  man  of  industry  and  de- 
termination and  is  meeting  with  good  success. 

In  1902,  in  Beaverville.  Illinois.  Air.  Xourie 
was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  Anna  Lafond, 
who  was  born  in  Beaver  township,  and  they 
have  three  children,  .\nita,  Clifford  and  Isabella. 
]\Ir.  Nourie  was  reared  in  the  Catholic  faith  and 
is  a  communicant  of  that  church,  while  in  his 
political  views  and  affiliation  he  is  a  republican 
but  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  office,  pre- 
ferring to  concentrate  his  time  and  energies  upon 
his  business  interests. 


SAMUEL  C.  liL'R.M.sdX. 

.\niong  the  prominent  and  well-to-do  agricul- 
turists of  Iroquois  county  is  numbered  Samuel 
C.  Hurnison,  who  owns  and  ojierates  an  excel- 
lent property  comjjrising  four  hundred  and  fortv 
acres,  situated  on  section  29.  Lovejoy  township, 
his  postoffice  being  Plooiieston.  The  family  was 
founded  in  .\merica  about  1831,  at  which  time 
the  i)aternal  grandfatlicr  of  our  subject  came  from 
England  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  The  fa- 
ther. William  I'.urnison,  was  born  in  the  father- 
land in  181 1  and  when  a  young  man  of  about 
twenty  years  accompanied  his  ])arents  on  their 
emigration  to  the  new  world.     After  residing  in 


the  Keystone  state  for  a  number  of  years.  \\'il- 
liam  Burnison.  in  1853.  brought  his  family  to 
the  west,  thereby  hoping  to  enjoy  better  advan- 
tages in  this  new  and  rapidly  growing  country. 
They  drove  across  the  country  with  a  four-horse 
team  and  were  four  weeks  upon  the  road,  flak- 
ing his  way  to  Illinois,  ^Ir.  Burnison  settled  first 
in  Dcwitt  county,  near  Clinton,  where  he  made 
his  home  until  187 1,  when  he  removed  to  Iro- 
quois county,  owning  and  operating  a  farm  here 
throughout  his  remaining  days  but  his  death  oc- 
curred while  he  was  on  a  business  trip  to  .\1- 
legheny  City,  Pennsylvania.  His  wife  survived 
for  a  number  of  years,  when.  she.  too  was  called 
to  her  final  rest. 

The  son,  Samuel  C.  Burnison.  was  born  in 
Pittsburg.  Pennsylvania.  November  15.  1840, 
and  was  a  youth  of  thirteen  years  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents  on  their  removal  to  this 
state,  the  family  home,  as  stated,  being  estab- 
lished in  Dewitt  county.  His  education,  begun 
in  the  common  schools  in  the  east,  was  continued 
in  the  district  schools  of  Dewitt  county,  and 
there  he  was  reared  to  manhood,  assisting  his 
father  in  his  farm  work  until  he  was  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  when  he  established  a  home  of 
his  own  by  his  marriage.  C)ctober  15,  1865,  to 
IMiss  Catherine  Ann  Acken,  who  was  born  in 
Morris  county.  X'ew  Jersey,  a  daughter  of  \\"\\- 
liam  Acken,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Dewitt 
county,  this  state.  Later  he  removed  to  Iro- 
(juois  ciiunty.  and  thence  to  Lincoln.  Xebraska, 
where  his  death  occurred  in  1900.  His  widow, 
however,  still  survives  and  makes  her  home  with 
her  children,  numbering  three  sons  and  four 
daughters.  The  sons,  Joseph  H.,  \\'illiam 
(George  and  John  X'aughn,  are  all  brick  and  stone 
masons.  'i"he  daughters  are  Mrs.  Martha  Large, 
Mrs.  Hattie  League,  Airs.  Ella  Ferguson  and 
Mrs.   Burnison. 

Following  their  marriage  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.urni- 
son  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, which  he  ojK'rated  for  eight  years,  subsequent 
to  whicli  period  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county, 
where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres 
of  land,  which  has  continued  to  be  his  home  to 
the  present  time.  For  this  tract  he  paid  twenty- 
two  and  a  half  dollars  ])er  acre.  This  was  all 
wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came  into  his  pos- 
session, but  with  a  determined  spirit  Mr.  Burni- 


MR.    AM)    MRS.   S.    C.    BL'RXISOX. 


OF  THE 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


i4') 


son  iiiulcrtiK'k  till'  artluous  task  of  Itrcakinj,'  tin- 
laiul.  which  Ik-  divided  into  liclds  .it  onivciiiciit 
size  bv  buiUhnjj  siil)staiitial  Icnccs.  Ik-  hkc- 
wisc  ort-cU'd  a  small  house,  in  which  the  family 
made  their  luHiie  for  many  years,  shariny  in  the 
hardships  and  trials  incident  to  eslal)li>hin.u  a 
home  on  the  frontier,  lie  has  at  dilTereni  tinie.- 
added  to  his  original  purchase  uniil  hi>  home 
place  now  emliraces  a  fine  tract  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres,  and  in  addition  to  this  owns 
another  tract  situated  on  section  30.  lie  luis  re- 
placed the  little  jnoneer  home  hy  a  fine  ci>untry 
resilience,  in  the  rear  of  which  .stands  a  good 
liarn  and  other  outhuildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  stock.  His  home  is  surrounded  by  a 
fine  grove  containmg  one  thousand  catalpa  trees, 
and  altogether  his  pro|)erty  is  one  of  the  finest 
in  this  section  of  the   stale. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  I'.urnison  have  eight  living  chil- 
dren— four  sons  and  four  daughters:  (ieorgc 
L..  who  is  married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in 
Lovejoy  townshi]);  Thomas  A.,  who  assists  his 
father  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm;  Robert 
L.  and  lienjamin  II..  also  under  die  parental 
roof;  Anna  Jane,  now  the  wife  of  (ieorge  I  lart- 
man.  a  resident  fanner  of  I'rairie  (Ireen  town- 
ship; Xellie  C.  the  wife  of  Cassius  Hall,  who  re- 
sides in  Danville.  Illinois;  and  Harriet  l^liza- 
beth  and  Myrtle  I-'dith.  both  \oung  ladies  at 
home.  They  have  also  lost  three  children; 
Mary,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years; 
William  .S..  when  two  \ears  of  age;  and  Matilda. 
who  died  at  the  age  of  three  years. 

.Mr.  I'.urnison  gives  his  ])olitical  support  to 
the  republican  party,  casting  his  first  presidential 
ballot  in  i8<)4.  in  support  of  .\braham  Lincoln, 
and  has  never  missed  an  election  since  that  time, 
always  casting  his  ballot  for  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  |)arty  in  which  lie  so  firmly  believes. 
He  is  a  believer  in  good  schools,  and  has  servetl 
for  fifteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  school  board. 
but  aside  from  this  has  never  held  other  jiublic 
office.  I'.oih  he  and  his  wife  ;ire  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist   l^piscopal  church. 

Having  lived  in  the  county  for  more  than  .'i 
half  centnrx-  Mr.  I'.urnison  is  familiar  with  the 
great  changes  which  have  here  been  wrought, 
and  he  has  been  an  active  partici])ant  in  much  of 
the  development  and  ]irogress  that  has  here  been 
iindf    ill    .■ivriciilmv.il    liiu'-       lb-    1im<    led    ii    \(r\ 


active  and  busy  life  and  in  addition  to  his  farm- 
ing interests,  for  many  \ears  owned  and  oji- 
erated  a  threshing  machine,  and  his  eldest  son 
still  carries  on  ojjerations  along  that  line.  He 
h;is  workiil  diligenllv  in  the  ac(|uiremenl  of  a 
goiicl  property  and  a  coiiiiieteiice  and  today  his 
fine  farm  is  evidence  of  his  success,  and  in  ad- 
<lition  to  this  pro])erty  he  also  owns  a  section 
of  land  in  North  Dakota,  and  he  is  today  ac- 
counitd  one  of  the  iirospenms  and  highly  es- 
teeiiud  citizens  of  Iroi|nois  comitx. 


.\SIIKIM   |(  »rk.\Ai. 


.\slikum  is  fortunate  in  being  re])resented  by 
one  of  the  best  countrv  weeklies  in  the  state. 
The  firm  who  jnit  out  this  thriving  paper  is  com- 
posed of  Harry  C  (iili)in.  editor  and  business 
manager,  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  Stella  M.  Little, 
r.oth  are  ex]ierienced  newspajier  ])eo|)le,  as  is 
evidenced  liy  the  \im  and  energy  they  |)Ut  into 
every  issue  of  their  paper.  That  the  peo])le  of 
the  community  appreciate  their  etTorts  is  jirovcn 
by  one  of  the  largest  and  best  paying  lists  of  sub- 
scribers and  the  best  advertising  and  job  patron- 
age ever  given  a  jiajicr  in  a  town  of  like  size. 


jOHX  A.   MII.LKR. 


John  .\.  Miller,  who  conducts  a  general  store 
in  I'ittwood,  is  a  son  of  Uriah  and  Uatherine 
Miller,  who  were  pioneer  residents  of  Kankakee 
county.  John  Miller — he  objects  to  the  title  .Mr. 
— was  born  near  Momence.  h'ebrnarv  1.  iSod. 
bill  when  he  was  only  two  years  old  his  jiareiits 
removed  to  Middleport  township,  Iro(|uois  coun- 
ty, where  his  father  died  in  .Sejitember.  1S72. 
leaving  his  mother  with  the  responsibilitv  of 
rearing  the  family.  He  had  one  sister.  Lida. 
and  two  brothers.  William  anil  Lharles.  Wil- 
liam (lied  when  twenty-one  years  of  age.  The 
mother  is  now  making  her  home  in  Watsek.i, 
Illinois. 

When  J,  A.  .Miller  was  nine  years  of  age  he 
began  working  for  other  peo])le  and  through  his 
own   e\iTtion>   he  has  .iiiiiilti'd  a  lucrative  biisi- 


350 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ness  and  accumulated  considerable  property, 
owning  his  own  business  house,  the  residence 
adjoining  it  and  other  property  in  the  town. 
He  opened  his  store  in  the  winter  of  1893  and 
has  worked  untiringly  and  continuously  in  build- 
ing up  the  splendid  trade  which  he  now  enjoys. 
He  has  also  been  postmaster  for  several  years, 
managing  the  office  in  connection  with  his  general 
mercantile  interests. 

On  the  loth  of  September.  1890,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  J.  A.  ]\liller  and  ^liss  Maud 
Dixon,  who  belongs  to  a  pioneer  family  of 
Plato,  being  a  granddaughter  of  John  Wilson, 
one  of  the  early  surveyors  of  Iroquois  county, 
who  settled  on  the  Iroquois  river  while  there 
were  many  Indians  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
!Many  of  his  original  field  notes  are  still  in  ex- 
istence and  his  labors  were  an  element  in  the  early 
reclamation  of  the  county.  Four  sons  have  been 
born  into  the  ^ililk-r  household:  Durward  \\\, 
June  22,  1891;  William,  August  29,  1894;  (Or- 
lando, February  22,  1897;  and  Uriah  James,  who 
bears  a  family  name  and  was  born  April  20,  1904. 

John  A.  Miller  votes  the  republican  ticket  and 
is  interested  in  the  growth  and  success  of  the 
party.  He  belongs  to  the  Pittwood  Christian 
church,  to  the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows lodge  at  Martinton  and  to  the  Modern 
Woodmen  camp  at  Pittwood,  in  wliich  he  has 
been  a  constant  worker  and  officeholder  since 
he  united  with  the  order.  He  is  third  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Illinois  State  Detective  Association 
and  is  acquainted  with  all  the  social  and  political 
movements  of  Iroquois  county,  while  his  co-op- 
eration along  various  lines  has  been  of  decided 
advantage  to  the  county  in  its  dcvelnjjmcnt  and 
progress. 


WlLLl.VM  HECKER,  M.  D. 

William  Hecker,  a  physician  of  Watseka,  who 
in  his  i)ractice  is  making  a  specialty  of  surgery,  is 
possessed  of  most  accurate  scientific  knowledge 
and  in  the  practical  work  of  the  profession  has 
demonstrated  his  ability  to  accurately  apply  the 
princi])les  of  the  medical  science  to  the  needs  of 
his  patients.  By  broad  reading  and  discriminating 
investigation  he  has  kept  fully  abreast  of  the 
progress  of  the  times  as  manifest  by  the  medical 


fraternity  and  has  a  patronage  which  manv  an 
older  physician  might  well  envy. 

Dr.  Hecker  was  born  in  Cambria,  Wisconsin, 
^larch  17.  1873.  His  father.  Christopher  Heck- 
er, a  native  of  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  when  a  young  man  and  settled  in  \\'is- 
consin,  where  he  followed  farming  until  his  re- 
tirement from  active  business  life  a  few  years 
ago.  The  mother,  ilrs.  Augusta  (Krebs) 
Hecker.  was  also  a  native  of  Germany  and  they 
became  prominent  residents  of  the  section  of 
^^'isconsin  in  which  they  established  their  home, 
Mr.  Hecker  taking  an  active  part  in  public  affairs 
as  well  as  in  agricultural  life.  The  family  num- 
bered five  children,  two  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Dr.  Hecker,  the  oldest,  began  his  education  in 
a  countrv  school  and  afterward  attended  Law- 
rence L'niversity  at  Appleton,  Wisconsin,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1898.  Determining  upon 
the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  as  a  life 
work,  he  began  preparation  for  that  calling  and 
won  his  degree  at  the  time  of  his  graduation 
from  the  Northwestern  ^Medical  College  in  1902. 
He  located  for  practice  in  Watseka  in  June  of 
that  year  and  has  remained  here  continuously 
since,  but  in  the  meantime  has  pursued  many 
e.xtra  courses  of  study  in  Chicago,  making  a 
specialty  of  surgery.  The  periods  of  vacation 
have  largely  been  devoted  to  study  and  investi- 
gation and  to  the  acquirement  of  broad  practical 
e-xperience  through  hospital  work.  He  has  al- 
ways been  extremely  proficient  as  a  surgeon  and 
in  his  study  and  practice  has  kept  fully  abreast 
with  the  times,  being  ambitious  to  advance  in  his 
proficiency  that  his  labors  may  be  of  still  greater 
benefit  to  mankind.  Added  to  his  laudable  de- 
sire for  success  and  his  love  of  scientific  research 
there  is  manifest  in  his  work  a  humanitarian 
spirit  that  is  most  commendable. 

On  the  5th  of  November,  1902,  Dr.  Hecker 
was  married  to  Miss  Jessie  E.  Leatherman,  a 
daughter  of  John  E.  Leatherman,  a  prominent 
resident  of  Watseka  and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war.  Dr.  Hecker  is  identified  with  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  with  the  Iro- 
quois Club  of  Watseka.  and  also  holds  member- 
sliip  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His 
interests  are  thus  varied.  He  is  not  so  abnor- 
mally developed   in  any  one  direction  as  to  be- 


IROgLULS  COUNTY.   II. 1. 1  \(  MS. 


35 « 


cnmc  a  K<-""'>'^  '^I'l  '^^  ■'  yii'iJ^  "i;i"  >>f  well 
rc>nn<lf(l  characti-r.  j^iviiij.;  due  |)riimiiu'ncc  to  tlu- 
various  iiiti-rots  cpi"  life  wliicli  wnrk  for  j^jood 
citizcnslii|)  and  for  coiiiinendahlc  social  relations 
as  well  as  for  business  success  and  ])roniiiience. 


THKuDokl-:   1-1.\(  II 


Theodore  I'incli.  living;  on  section  jj^.  I'rairic 
Cireeii  township,  not  far  from  Hoopesion.  is  a 
pro)j;ressive  and  substantial  farmer  and  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  p.iys  tribute  to  his  care,  labor 
and  careful  manajjrement.  lie  has  one  hundred 
and  si.xty  acres  in  his  home  place,  constitiuiii).,'  a 
very  attractive  farm.  He  was  born  in  this  town- 
.ship.  March  14.  1S34,  and  is  a  son  of  Robert 
Finch,  a  native  of  (  )hit>.  in  which  state  he  was 
reared.  In  l-'ountain  county.  Indiana,  he  married 
Sarah  .\.  Crawford,  who  was  born  in  ( )bio.  and 
in  1X52  .Mr.  I'inch  removed  to  Iro(|uois  countv. 
Illinois,  purchasinfj  land  in  Prairie  (ircen  town- 
ship, upon  which  he  located.  He  entered  al- 
together about  seven  hundred  acres  from  the 
government.  It  was  raw  and  undeveloi)ed  but 
he  opened  up  a  new  farm,  erected  substantial 
buildings  there  and  in  course  of  years  developed 
an  excellent  pro])crty.  which  constantly  increased 
in  value  and  productiveness.  He  resided  con- 
tinuously upon  that  farm  until  i8<)3.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Colfax.  Indiana,  where  he  purchased 
a  tract  of  land  upon  which  he  \et  makes  his  home. 
being  now  a  hale  and  hearty  old  man  of  eighty- 
seven  years.  His  wife  is  also  living  and  they  are 
a  most  esteemed  and  worthy  old  couple.  eTijoving 
in  large  measure  the  friendship  .ind  kindly  regard 
of  all  with  whom  they  have  come  in  contact. 

I  heodore  I-"inch  was  one  of  eight  sons  and 
three  ilaughters.  all  of  wIkmu  are  yet  living  and 
with  the  exception  of  one  son  all  have  reared 
families  of  their  own.  Theodore  was  reared 
U|)on  the  old  home  farm  in  I'rairie  ( Irecn  town- 
ship, which  he  now  owns.  .Vo  event  of  sjiecial 
importance  occurred  to  vary  the  routine  of  farm 
life  for  him  in  his  boyhood  days,  for  in  the  sum- 
mer months  he  worked  in  the  fields  and  in  the 
winter  seasons  atteiuled  schoil.  He  remained 
with  his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  majority 
20 


and  made  preparation  for  having  a  home  of  his 
own  by  his  marriage. 

It  was  in  InKjuois  counl_\.  on  the  51I1  of  April, 
1877.  that  TheiKlore  1-inch  wedfled  Miss  Ijiretta 
Handy,  who  was  born  in  l-"ountain  county.  In- 
diana, but  was  reared  in  lro<|uuis  county,  Illinois, 
having  been  brought  to  this  .state  when  a  child 
of  four  years,  .\fter  acquiring  her  ])reliminarv 
education  in  the  di.strict  schools  .she  continued 
her  studies  in  lloope.ston  and  afterward  success- 
fullv  engaged  in  teaching  for  live  years  |)rior  to 
her  marriage.  The  \oung  couple  located  upon  a 
farm  on  section  26.  I'rairie  ( Ireen  township. — 
a  place  of  two  hundred  an<l  fiftv-six  acres. — 
which  Mr.  I-'inch  cultivated  for  a  number  of 
years.  He  built  a  good  barn  and  house  there, 
laiil  many  rods  of  tile  aiul  fenced  the  farm,  also 
planted  fruit  trees  and  in  other  ways  im|)roved 
the  proi)ert\.  In  ii)02  he  rented  that  and  located 
on  his  present  farm  on  section  23,  I'rairc  (ireen 
township.  With  farming  he  raises  good  stfick 
and  he  also  feeds  and  fattens  a  large  mnnber  of 
hogs  for  the  market  annually.  His  lainled  posses- 
sions are  now  extensive  and  valuable  and  be 
derives  therefrom  a  financial  return  which  as  the 
\ears  have  passed  has  made  him  the  pos.sessor  of 
;i  most  comfortable  com])etence. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  l-'inch  have  been  born 
nine  children:  Kohert  W..  a  farmer  of  I'rairie 
(ireen  township,  who  is  married  and  has  two 
children.  Ciordon  and  .\lmyra  :  (ioldie.  the  wife 
of  James  I'ield.  a  resident  farmer  of  the  same 
township:  Mabel,  the  wife  of  Chester  Field,  who 
follows  farming  in  I'rairie  (Ireen  township:  Ray- 
mond J.  and  (^harles  .\..  at  home:  Jamie  an<l 
Ruby  K..  twins,  but  the  former  died  at  the  age 
of  seven  years:  and  .McKinley  and  Hobart.  twins. 
The  p(5litical  views  of  .Mr.  l-'inch  are  in  har- 
mony with  the  |)rincii)les  of  the  republican  party. 
He  has  served  on  the  school  board  and  as  town- 
shi])  school  trustee,  also  as  highway  connnissioner 
for  three  years,  and  is  remiss  in  none  of  the 
iluties  of  citizenshi]).  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  I'nited  Brethren  church  and  Ixith  are  w'orthy 
pe<i))le  of  the  community,  with  many  friends  who 
esteem  them  highly.  Mr.  Finch  has  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Prairie  drcen  township  throughout  his 
entire  life.  He  broke  the  virgin  sod.  driving  ox 
teams  to  the  breaking  plow,  and  has  herded 
stock  all  over  the  prairies  here.     He  has  lived 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


to  see  the  advance  of  modern  development  and 
improvement  and  rejoices  in  what  has  been  ac- 
complished, for  although  he  lias  many  pleasant 
memories  of  the  "good  old  days"  he  yet  knows 
that  substantial  advancement  has  been  made  in 
many  ways  and  he  has  kept  in  touch  with  the 
trend  of  modern  improvement. 


JOHN  L.  .AIULLER. 

John  h.  }iluller  has  for  seventeen  years  re- 
sided on  section  17,  Iroquois  township,  where  he 
operates  eighty  acres  of  land.  He  has  been  a 
director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Crescent 
City  since  1904  and  is  thus  closely  associated 
with  the  business  life  of  this  part  of  the  county. 
It  was  in  this  township  that  his  birth  occurred 
on  the  23d  of  December,  1858,  his  parents  hav- 
ing located  here  the  previous  year.  The  father, 
John  F.  ^fuller,  was  born  in  Mechlenberg.  (ier- 
many,  and  in  1857  crossed  the  Atlantic  to  the 
new  world,  locating  the  same  year  in  Iroquois 
county,  where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and  became  the 
owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  rich 
land,  which  he  improved  and  brought  under  a 
high  state  of  cultivation.  He  also  placed  sub- 
stantial buildings  on  the  farm  and  diligently  en- 
gaged in  tilling  the  soil  and  raising  stock.  Thus 
he  prospered  year  after  year  and  in  1902  he  re- 
tired from  active  business  life  and  removed  to 
Crescent  City,  where  he  is  now  living  at  the  age 
of  seventy-six  years,  while  his  wife  is  sixty-nine 
years  of  age.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children,  of  whom  two  sons  and  two  daughters 
are  yet  living:  John  L. ;  Lewis,  who  married 
Erma  Harris  and  lives  in  Iroquois  townslii]^ ; 
Carrie,  the  wife  of  August  Ritter,  living  in  Iowa : 
and  Sophia,  the  wife  of  Frank  Caveney,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Iroquois  township. 

John  L.  Muller  is  indebted  to  the  public-school 
system  of  the  county  for  the  educational  privi- 
leges afforded  him  in  youth  and  when  not  busy 
with  his  text-books  or  the  pleasures  of  the  play- 
ground his  attention  was  largely  devoted  to  the 
work  of  the  farm.  He  is  now  residing  on  his 
father's  farm  on  section  17,  Iroquois  township, 
where    he    has    lived    for    seventeen    vears.     He 


carried  on  the  work  of  raising  the  cereals  best 
adapted  to  the  soil  and  climatic  conditions  and 
he  also  raises  stock.  In  this  work  he  annually 
adds  to  his  income  and  is  now  a  prosperous 
farmer. 

Mr.  Muller  was  married  in  1890,  to  Miss  Reka 
Kahlmetz,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  they  have 
five  children :  Lula,  Charles,  John,  Eddie  and 
Harry,  all  yet  under  the  parental  roof.  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Muller  are  worthy  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  are  highly  esteemed  people.  He 
affiliates  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  at 
Crescent  City,  and  his  political  views  are  in  ac- 
cord with  the  principles  of  democracy.  He  has 
acted  on  the  school  board,  but  has  never  sought 
or  desired  office  as  a  reward  for  party  fealty, 
feeling  that  his  time  and  attention  are  fully  oc- 
cupied w'ith  his  business  interests.  He  has  been 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Crescent  City  since  1904.  A  man  of  good 
business  ability  and  much  native  force  of  charac- 
ter, he  is  industrious  and  enterprising  and  has 
achieved  well  merited  success.  He  is  also  a  high- 
ly respected  and  valued  citizen,  and  his  aid  is 
never  withheld  from  anv  movement  or  measure 
calculated  to  upbuild  or  benefit  the  community. 


FRED  A.  CRANDALL. 

The  spirit  of  thrift  and  enterprise  which  domi- 
nates Fred  A.  Crandall  in  his  business  life  has 
made  him  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  two 
hundred  acres  on  sections  21  and  22.  Loda  tow'u- 
ship.  It  adjoins  the  cor])oration  limits  of  the 
village  of  Loda,  so  that  the  ])rivileges  and  ad- 
vantages of  town  life  as  well  as  those  of  a  rural 
existence  are  easilv  secured.  The  farm  which 
is  his  home  was  his  birthplace  and  his  natal  day 
was  May  9,  1862. 

His  father,  Erastus  R.  Crandall,  was  a  native 
of  Lockport,  New  York,  and  a  man  of  good  edu- 
cation. He  came  west  to  Illinois  about  1854 
with  his  father,  David  S.  Crandall,  who  was 
editor  and  publisher  of  the  first  daily  newspaper 
ever  issued  at  Lockport,  New  York.  Erastus  R. 
Crandall  came  w-est  to  enter  the  field  of  jour- 
nalism here  and  published  the  Garden  State,  the 
first  jiaper  at  Loda.     He  and  his  brother  after- 


.MRS.    I\    .\.   CR.-\ND.\1.L. 


^rRS.   E.   R.   CR.-\\'D.ALT,. 


H.  R.  IRA.XD.MJ, 


F.    .\.    t  K.W  D.M.I.. 


! 

UNIVERSiVt  Uh  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


353 


ward  >tartiil  a  pajnr  in  I'rbana,  llliiiois.  wliicli 
tlux  |>ul>li>lutl  for  two  years.  Kcturiiin;j  to 
L«xla.  tile  falhtr  <>f  mir  subject  was  here  mar- 
rieil  t">  .Mary  }.  Smith,  a  native  of  New  \\>Tk 
city,  who  cante  to  Inx|iiois  county  with  her 
brother,  .\ilaui  .^niith,  wlio  was  the  owner  of 
the  land  u|Kin  wlticli  the  town  of  I>i<la  now 
stands.  l"or  a  time  .Mr.  Craudall  en^afjed  in  the 
real-estate  business  and  later  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  farniin};.  lie  broke  the  prairie  and  opened 
U|>  a  new  larni,  bccomin^j  eventually  the  owner 
of  live  hundred  acres,  lie  enclosed  this  with 
a  fence,  added  many  modern  impr(,)vements  and 
tnmsformed  a  wild  tract  of  land  into  one  of  rich 
fertility.  I'.arns.  sheds  an<l  a  comfortable  dwell- 
iufj  were  erected  by  him  and  in  iSf)^  he  set  out 
the  trees  which  now  constitute  a  tine  prove. 
loiter  he  removed  to  southern  (.'alifornia.  goinij 
to  .San  Diepo.  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of 
years  and  while  on  a  visit  at  his  home  in  Lo<la 
he  passed  away  in  .'September.  i<)03-  He  never 
Sought  nor  would  he  hold  public  office,  but  was 
well  known  as  a  most  iniblic-s))irited  man  and 
one  whose  devotion  to  the  general  jjood  stood 
as  an  nni|uestione<l  fact  in  his  life.  His  widow 
survives  him  and  still  resi<les  in  California,  and 
their  only  daujj;hter.  Ada.  is  tlie  wife  of  Charles 
M.    I'ickard,  a  lawyer  of  Chicaj^o. 

bred  .\.  Crandall.  the  only  son.  was  reared 
upon  the  old  honie  farm  and  was  educated  in 
the  LiKla  schools  and  in  Champaij^jn  University. 
Keturninj^  home,  he  tiKik  charge  of  the  farm  for 
his  father,  who  was  in  poDr  health,  and  later 
succee<led  to  the  ownersbi]i  of  this  place.  In  the 
meantime,  however,  he  had  gone  to  Iowa  and 
had  purchased  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land  in  Ihiena  \'ista  county,  where  he  opened 
up  and  develojjed  a  gond  farm. 

.Mr.  Crandall  was  married  in  that  county,  on 
Christmas  eve  of  l)<<^*<.  to  Miss  Sarah  !•".  Clem- 
ens, who  was  born,  reared  and  educated  in  Iowa. 
.Mr,  (.  randall  farmed  in  Iowa  for  five  years  anil 
then  sold  his  property  there,  returning  to  Iro- 
<|Uois  county  to  take  charge  of  the  old  home- 
sti-ail  and  care  for  his  father.  He  has  kept 
everything  about  his  place  in  a  good  condition 
of  rc])air  and  imjjrovement  and  the  farm  in  all 
of  its  departntents  indicates  his  careful  super- 
vision and  ])rogressive  methods.  In  addition 
to  this  priipiTl\    bi-  iiwn^  ;i   Ii.ili"   sciiiim   nf  land. 


Constituting  a  well  im|)roved  farm,  which  he 
Ixjugbt  in  I'aulding  county,  (  >hio.  Me  is  a  man 
of  good  business  ability,  systematic  in  all  that 
he  ilix'S,  accurate  in  the  management  and  con- 
trol of  his  business  atTairs  and  reliable  in  all 
of  his  transactions. 

L'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Crandall  have  been  born 
three  children.  Steven  .\.,  .Mice  .M.  and  .\da  L. 
The  ])arents  hold  memlK-rship  in  the  I'.aptist 
church,  in  which  .Mr.  Crandall  is  .serving  on  the 
board  of  trustees  and  as  church  treasurer.  He 
is  also  connected  with  the  W'ooilmen  camj)  at 
Loda  and  in  his  |>olitical  views  is  a  stalwart 
republican.  The  con.sensus  of  public  opinion 
regarding  hint  is  favorable,  for  bis  life  has  been 
characterized  by  activity  and  reliability  in  busi- 
ness, by  loyalty  in  citizeusbi])  and  by  those  traits 
in  S(xrial  life  which  win   warm  friendships. 


LV.MA.X   A.   l;l'..\JA.MI\. 

Lyman  .\.  lienjamin.  wh<i  for  almost  a  third 
of  a  centiu\v  was  comiected  with  agricultural 
interests  in  Iroipiois  county,  departed  this  life 
August  iJ.  i8<;7,  and  in  his  death  the  conmiunity 
lost  a  representative  citizen  and  an  active  and 
honorable  business  man.  He  was  born  in  JetTer- 
son  county.  .\ew  York.  jiiK  iS.  i82<).  and  was 
descended  from  an  old  colonial  family  that  was 
established  in  .\ew  I'"ngland  at  an  early  period 
in  the  colonization  of  the  new  world.  Jonas 
lienjamin.  the  grandfather,  was  a  native  of 
WoiMlstock.  X'ermont.  and  served  as  a  drummer 
l)oy  and  scjldier  in  the  war  for  independence. 
.\fter  the  establishment  of  the  re|)ublic  he  re- 
moved from  the  (Ireen  MountHin  state  ti)  JetTer- 
son  county.  New  N'ork.  settling  in  the  midst  of 
what  was  then  a  wilderness,  for  that  section  of 
the  Country  was  a  frontier  <listrict,  in  which 
the  work  of  improvement  ami  ]>rogress  had 
scarcelv   birn  begini. 

There  in  a  pioneer  home  William  lienjamin, 
father  of  our  subject,  was  born  July  8,  1800.  and 
untler  the  parental  roof  the  days  of  his  child- 
hood and  youth  were  ])assed.  Having  attaiiutl 
his  majority,  he  wedded  Charlotte  Welch,  a  na- 
tive of  JetTerson  county  .'uid  a  daughter  of  John 
Welch,  oiii-  iif  till'  piniiitr  M-ltlii-.  lit   the  cnntilv 


356 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Her  brother,  Charles  Welch,  Jr.,  was  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Jefferson  county.  The 
young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a 
wild  tract  of  land,  which  Air.  Benjamin,  how- 
ever, cleared  and  broke,  transforming  it  into  a 
good  farm  which  continued  his  place  of  his 
residence  throughout  his  subsequent  years.  He 
passed  away  in  February,  1867,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven  years,  and  his  wife  departed  this  life 
about  ten  years  later.  Their  family  numbered 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  reached  adult 
age:  Lyman  A.;  Charles  \\'..  a  farmer  and 
contractor  of  Cook  county,  Illinois;  Anson,  who 
is  a  farmer  of  Smith  county,  Kansas;  John,  who 
served  for  three  years  in  the  Civil  war  and  after- 
ward died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  army; 
Addie,  the  deceased  wife  of  William  Hart ;  and 
Libbie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Byron  L.  Penn\-,  of 
Adams,  Jefferson  county.  New  York. 

There  occurred  no  event  of  special  importance 
to  vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  Lyman  A. 
Benjamin  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth, 
save  that  he  was  enabled  to  supplement  his  com- 
mon-school education  by  several  terms'  attend- 
ance at  Jefferson  County  Institute  and  thus  ac- 
quired a  good  education.  Later  he  engaged  in 
teaching  throughout  the  winter  months  and  in 
the  summer  seasons  devoted  his  energies  to  farm 
work.  The  possibilities  for  agricultural  devel- 
opment and  progress  in  the  middle  west  attracted 
him  and  in  the  fall  of  1855  he  arrived  in  Illinois, 
purchasing  a  farm  in  Dupage  county,  upon  which 
he  took  up  his  abode.  He  continued  its  improve- 
ment and  development  until  November,  1864, 
at  which  time  he  sold  the  property  and  came  to 
Iroquois  county.  He  then  made  investment  in 
forty  acres  of  raw  prairie  land  in  Dan  forth  town- 
ship and  at  once  broke  the  fields,  planted  his  seed 
and  in  due  course  of  time  harvested  good  crops. 
Necessary  farm  buildings  were  erected  and  as 
financial  resources  increased  he  extended  the 
bnundaries  of  his  property  until  his  farm  em- 
braced one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  rich  and 
arable  land,  the  fields  he  responding  readilv  in 
golden  harvests  to  the  care  and  labor  which  he 
bestowed  upon  them.  The  buildings  which  he 
erected  were  commodious  and  substantial  and  he 
carried  on  !iis  farm  work  with  um-emiiting  dili- 
gence and  toil  until  his  place  Ijccame  one  of  tlu- 
valuable  properties  of  Danforth  township. 


As  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney Mr.  Benjamin  chose  Miss  Phoebe  Ann 
Webb,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  Jeft'erson 
county.  New  York,  January  24,  1854.  She  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  that  state,  but  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Jefferson  county.  Her 
father,  Darius  \\'ebb,  was  a  prominent  citizen  of 
his  locality  and  for  many  years  followed  the 
millwright's  trade.  He  died  in  Oswego  county, 
New  York,  April  20,  1901,  when  almost  ninet\-- 
six  years  of  age.  Air.  and  Airs.  Lyman  became 
the  parents  of  five  children :  Fred,  who  married 
Aliss  Alelissa  J.  Parker  and  resides  in  Watseka, 
is  now  circuit  clerk  of  Iroquois  county.  He  has 
three  children:  James,  who  is  employed  in  a 
store  at  Forrest,  Illinois ;  Fred  P..  a  student  in 
the  State  University ;  and  Madge,  who  is  attend- 
ing the  university  at  Ada,  Ohio.  Rev.  \\'illiam 
D.  Benjamin,  the  second  of  the  family,  is  a  minis- 
ter of  the  Alethodist  Episcopal  church,  now  lo- 
cated at  Bushnell,  Illinois.  He  wedded  Rose 
Clark,  and  they  have  two  children :  Ona,  who 
is  attending  Hedding  College,  at  Abingdon,  Illi- 
nois :  and  Harry,  at  home.  Edwin  N.,  a  farmer 
of  Sedgwick  countv,  Kansas,  wedded  Katie 
Critser,  and  they  have  four  children:  Ilda.  who 
is  engaged  in  teaching  in  Sedgwick  county ; 
Roy.  Rebecca  and  \'era,  all  at  home.  Ida.  who 
spent  eight  years  as  a  successful  teacher  of  Iro- 
quois county  and  two  years  as  a  teacher  at  Cissna 
Park.  Illinois,  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  J. 
Landis.  a  resident  farmer  of  this  county,  who  for 
eight  years  was  engaged  in  the  drug  business  at 
Cissna  Park.  Charles  W..  who  completes  the 
family  and  is  a  farmer  of  Onarga  township,  mar- 
ried Aliss  Lydia  Alitchell. 

The  parents  were  devoted  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  contributing"  gener- 
ously to  its  support  and  taking  an  active  part  in 
its  work.  Air.  Benjamin  served  as  one  of  the 
church  stewards.  When  age  confered  upon  him 
the  right  of  franchise  he  cast  his  ballot  f<")r  the 
candidates  of  the  whig  party  and  later  he  joined 
the  ranks  of  the  new  republican  party  which  he 
continued  to  support  until  his  demise.  He 
served  as  assessor  for  a  number  of  years  and  in 
other  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  in  which  he 
was  ever  found  as  a  faithful  and  capable  official. 
The  cause  of  education  received  his  earnest  sup- 
port and  endorsement  and  his  labors  as  a  member 


IROQUOIS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


357 


of  the  scliool  board  were  cffcclivf  and  far-nacli- 
iiig.  He  looked  at  lite  from  a  broad  standpoint, 
recufjnizcd  its  possibilities  and  its  ohlii^ations,  im- 
proving the  former  and  conscientiously  met  the 
latter.  He  continued  to  reside  u])on  his  farm 
until  called  to  his  final  rest  August  12.  181)7.  '" 
his  family  he  was  a  devoted  husband  and  father 
and  he  left  a  record  which  is  well  worthy  of  em- 
ulation. Mrs.  Benjamin  still  survives  her  hus- 
band and  yet  lives  in  Danforth  townslii]). 


FRIEDRICH  BRKYMFAER. 

Friedrich  Breymeyer  is  accortlcd  a  position  of 
prominence  in  agricultural  circles  because  of  his 
extensive  farming  and  stock-raising  interests. 
He  owns  three  well  improved  farms  in  Ash  ( irove 
township,  and  his  success  is  the  merited  reward 
of  his  capable  management,  diligence  and  pro- 
gressive spirit.  He  came  from  Germany  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  new  world  and  has  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  taking  this  step,  for  here  he 
found  good  opportunities,  which,  by  the  way, 
arc  aUvays  open  to  ambitious  young  men,  and 
in  this  country  where  labor  finds  its  just  reward 
he  has  advanced  to  a  place  among  the  foremost 
representatives  of  agriculture  in  a  district  where 
progressive  farming  meets  with  success. 

Mr.  Breymeyer  was  born  in  Schaumbcrg 
Li|.'pe.  (.jennany.  May  18.  1847,  his  birthplace 
being  the  little  village  of  Meerbeck.  opening  his 
eyes  to  the  light  of  day  in  the  same  house  where 
his  father,  (iotlieb  Breymeyer.  was  born.  The 
latter  spent  the  days  of  his  childhood  and  youth 
there  and  in  early  manhiwd  wedded  Marie 
Schoenbeck.  who  was  likewise  born  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Meerbeck.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by 
occupation  and  also  engaged  in  the  manufacture 
of  oil  on  a  small  scale  with  horse-])uwer,  his 
dual  business  providing  him  with  funds  neces- 
sary for  the  sujiport  of  his  family,  which  num- 
bered five  sons  and  three  daughters.  In  i8^>2  he 
made  the  voyage  to  the  new  world,  coming  direct 
to  Illinois.  In  Will  county  he  joined  a  sister 
and  brother-in-law,  who  had  previously  located 
there  and  Mr.  Breymeyer  took  up  his  abode  upon 
a  farm  which  remained  his  home  until  1871. 
when  he  reniovcd  to  Kansas,  settling  west  of  To- 


peka.  There  he  opened  up  a  new  farm,  ui)on 
which  he  spent  his  last  days,  his  death  occurring 
there  about  i8<>7,  when  he  was  in  his  eighty- 
third  year.  His  wife  passed  aw.i\  in  i8<):;.  at 
the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

I-'rie<lrich  Brexiueyer  is  the  elijesl  .surviving 
member  of  the  fanuly,  the  others  being:  Henry, 
who  is  president  of  the  Wamego  State  Bank  and 
owns  nearly  three  thousand  acres  of  land  ;  Caro- 
line, the  wife  of  William  Seggebruch,  of  .\sh 
Grove  township;  Gotlieb,  who  is  a  farmer  and 
also  a  stockholder  and  director  in  his  brother's 
bank  in  Kansas;  Engel,  the  wife  of  Henry  Saol- 
ter.  a  farmer  of  Kan.sas ;  and  William,  who  car- 
ries on  agricultural  ))ursuits  in  the  same  neigh- 
borhood in  the  Sunflower  state.  Sophia  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  Ernest  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  years. 

Friedrich  Breymeyer  was  a  youth  of  fifteen 
when  the  family  left  the  fatherland  and  became 
residents  of  Will  county,  Illinois.  He  was  liberal- 
ly educated  in  select  schools  in  Germany  but  only 
attended  a  private  evening  school  for  one  month 
after  coming  to  the  L'nited  States,  but  he  soon 
mastered  the  language  and  by  reading  and  obser- 
vation has  become  a  well  informed  man.  He 
came  to  Iroquois  county  in  1872.  when  a  young 
man  of  tw'cnty-five  years,  having  purchased  land 
here  before  his  removal.  He  became  owner  of 
one  hundred  and  eleven  acres  which  was  raw  and 
uncultivated  but  he  soon  broke  the  prairie  and 
began  farming. 

I'.uilding  a  shanty  on  his  place  he  kept  bache- 
lor's hall  for  a  year,  after  which  he  luarried, 
on  the  9th  of  February,  187,^,  Miss  Sophie 
Lucke,  who  was  born  in  Will  comity,  Illinois, 
anil  was  of  (ierman  parentage.  They  began 
their  domestic  life  in  a  ])rimitive  home  upon  the 
farm  and  thus  lived  until  al>out  1883,  when  Mr. 
Itreymeyer,  having  |)ros[iere<l  in  his  undertak- 
ings, erected  a  commodious  and  substantial  two- 
.story  frame  residence,  making  one  of  the  at- 
tractive homes  of  the  county.  He  likewise 
built  a  large  barn  and  provided  shelter  for  his 
grain  and  stock.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  tile 
the  land,  early  realizing  the  value  of  such  a 
niiive  in  draining  the  fields  and  thus  |)romoting 
their  fertility,  .\dding  to  his  original  holdings, 
he  became  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  sixtv- 
tu..  :irr.v  ,tt'  !;ui(l  ill  (Hic  farm  and  was  cnntimi- 


358 


FAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ously  and  successfully  engaged  in  its  cultivation 
until  i8<j4.  when  he  was  elected  count)-  treas- 
urer and  removed  to  W'atseka  in  order  to  enter 
upon  the  duties  of  the  office.  He  filled  the  posi- 
tion for  four  years,  and  during  that  period 
bought  another  parm  near  his  homestead  prop- 
erty, comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  was  already  improved.  In  1899  he  re- 
sumed agricultural  pursuits  on  the  old  home- 
stead. Realizing  that  there  is  no  better  invest- 
ment than  Illinois  real  estate.  He  has  since 
purchased  another  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  forty-eight  acres,  also  in  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship, so  that  he  now  owns  altogether  five  hun- 
1  dred  and  seventy  acres  of  valuable  farm  land. 
He  likewise  purchased  six  acres  in  W'oodworth, 
in  the  midst  of  which  stands  a  good  residence, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1906  he  removed  to  the 
village,  where  he  now  resides.  His  time  is 
devoted  to  the  supervision  of  his  farming  in- 
terests, which  are  valuable  and  return  to  him  a 
splendid  income. 

Unto  Air.  and  Mrs.  iJrcymever  have  been 
born  four  children,  who  are  yet  living  but  they 
lost  their  first  born,  Fred,  at  the  age  of  three 
years.  Those  who  still  sur  live  are :  Sophie, 
the  wife  of  Adolph  Munstermann,  a  farmer  of 
this  county :  August,  who  is  married  and  lives 
upon  line  of  his  father's  farms:  John,  who  is 
married  and  is  engaged  in  operating  a  portion 
of  the  old  homestead  and  also  in  breeding  and 
dealing  in  shorthorn  cattle :  and  William,  a 
farmer  at  home.  The  sons  have  all  been  given 
good  educational  privileges  and  ha\e  been  stu- 
dents in  Llie  high  school  at  Watscka. 

In  politics  Mr.  lireymeycr  is  a  true  blue  re- 
publican, unfaltering  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
l)arty.  In  1906  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  congres- 
sional convention  to  boom  Joseph  Cannon  for  the 
presidency.  He  was  elected  and  served  on  the 
school  board  for  eighteen  years  and  for  a  long 
period  was  its  president,  lie  was  likewise  com- 
missioner of  highways  two  terms  and  assessor 
for  four  terms,  and  was  elected  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term  as  township  treasurer,  to  wliicii 
office  he  has  been  three  times  elected.  He  has 
now  filled  that  position  for  five  years,  ami  i>\er 
the  record  nf  his  official  service  tliere  falls  no 
shadow  of  wrong  nor  sus])icion  of  evil,  inv  he 
has  been  most  loyal  to  the  trust  reposed  in  him. 


1 1  e  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  the  county 
conventions  and  -twice  to  the  state  conventions 
and  assisted  in  nominating  Governor  Deneen. 
For  a  long  period  he  has  been  regarded  as  a 
leading  citizen  of  Ash  Grove  township — a  man 
whose  word  is  as  good  as  his  bond  and  whose 
fidelity  in  all  life's  relations  is  above  question. 
The  trust  reposed  in  him  is  indicated  by  the  fact 
that  he  has  been  chosen  to  serve  as  guardian  of 
minors  and  as  administrator  of  estates.  He  was 
reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and  was  one  of  the 
promoters  of  the  movement  toward  securing  the 
establishment  of  the  present  church  at  \\'ood- 
worth.  He  served  as  trustee  at  the  time  of  the 
erection  of  the  house  of  worship  and  has  been  a 
most  generous  contributor  to  the  support  of  the 
churcli. 

.Mr.  r.reymeyer  has  traveled  very  extensivelv 
north,  south,  east  and  west,  and  has  thus  gained 
an  intimate  knowledge  of  his  adopted  land. 
\  iewed  in  a  personal  light  he  is  a  strong  man, 
strong  in  his  honor  and  his  good  name  and  in  his 
success,  and  in  the  principles  wliich  have  guided 
his  actions.  The  nobility  of  his  character  is  above 
question  and  is  conceded  by  all.  I  lis  labors  have 
been  of  direct  benefit  to  his  comnumit\-  in  manv 
ways  and  all  acknowledge  his  personal  worth. 
Such  is  the  record  of  a  man  who  has  worked  his 
wa\-  upward  from  an  obscure  ]iosition  to  one 
of  eminence  in  the  communitv  where  he  has  so 
long  resided. 


TACOI!    I.   WISE. 


Jacul)  J.  Wise  is  one  of  the  e.xttnsive  land- 
owners and  successful  agriculturists  of  b'ountain 
Creek  township,  his  home  being  on  section  1 1 , 
where  he  has  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
lie  is  numbered  among  the  early  .settlers  of  the 
county.  f(ir  he  took  up  his  abode  within  its  bor- 
ders in  1S55.  The  work  of  development  and  im- 
prnvement  had  scarcely  been  begun  then  and 
there  were  various  evidences  of  the  jjrimal  con- 
ditions of  things.  The  land  was  wet  and 
s\vam])y,  the  native  liirests  were  micnt,  the 
streams  were  unbridged  and  there  were  few 
roads  made.  Here  and  there  a  hardy  frontiers- 
man with  the  hope  of  making  for  himself  a  good 


I.    WISE. 


Or  I  HE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


.1^" 


home  in  tlie  west  had  established  himself  on  a 
farm  and  thus  the  foundation  for  the  present 
jjTowth  and  prosperity  of  the  county  was  heinj;: 
laid.  Mr.  Wise  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early 
settlers  and  aided  in  the  work  of  primitive  devel- 
opment and  in  the  passinij  years  has  ke])t  in  touch 
with  the  trend  of  modern  progress.  He  has  now 
readied  the  age  of  eighty  years  and  is  a  vener- 
able and  respected  citizen. 

He  was  born  September  15,  iSj(».  in  what  is 
now  (irant  county.  West  \irginia.  althought  at 
that  time  a  i)art  of  the  <  )ld  Dominion,  'lliere 
he  was  reared  upon  a  farm  and  in  Randolph 
county,  that  state,  he  was  married  June  19.  1H55. 
the  lady  of  his  choice  Ix-ing  .Miss  Elizabeth 
Moore.  The  succeeding  autumn  he  started  with 
his  young  bride  for  Illinois.  He  had  first  visited 
the  state  in  1851.  at  which  time  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  government  land, 
upon  which  he  now  resides.  It  was  wet  and 
swampy  but  he  believed  that  he  recognized  pos- 
sibilities for  development  that  would  lead  to  suc- 
cess and  in  the  fall  of  1835  'i*-'  i^-'me  to  his  western 
possessions.  Soon  he  broke  some  i>rairie  and 
put  in  a  cro|).  He  built  a  little  cabin  and  began 
to  farm  and  as  the  years  jiassed  a  great  change 
was  seen  in  the  place.  Some  years  later  he 
bought  more  land,  but  in  the  early  days  he  and 
his  wife  exiierienced  great  hardshijis  and  jiriva- 
tions.  Thev  and  their  children  were  ill  all  one 
summer  an<l  ihey  lost  one  child,  but  they  ])erse- 
vered  and  Mr.  Wise  eventually  placed  his  land 
under  the  plow  an<l  converted  it  into  jiroductive 
fields.  He  also  built  another  dwelling,  together 
with  barns  and  sheds.  He  put  out  an  orchard 
and  upon  his  farm  he  raised  the  timlx;r  which 
was  used  in  building  the  bam.  .\s  his  financial 
resources  increased  he  bought  more  land  from 
time  to  time,  adding  in  forty-acre  tracts  until  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  in  the  homestead.  He  also  has  another 
farm  on  section  15.  Fountain  Creek  townshi]).  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tion 10,  one  hunilred  and  sixty  acres  on  section 
4.  save  that  six  acres  has  been  taken  off  "for  rail- 
road purposes,  and  one  hundred  acres  on  section 
12.  I'ountain  Creek  township.  He  also  Iwught 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Stockland  town- 
ship. He  owns  altogether  more  than  one  thou- 
s;uid    ■Airn-i   of   vrilnable    Illinois    land,   embraced 


in  i\w  iuiproved  farms.  For  about  ten  nionths 
after  his  arrival  here  in  1851  he  made  rails  at 
fifty  cents  per  hundred  in  order  to  get  money  to 
buy  his  first  land. 

Mr.  Wise  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss 
of  his  wife  in  1877.  her  death  occurring  on  the 
4th  of  December  of  that  year.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eight  children:  .Mrs.  Rebecca  lllake. 
who  is  living  in  Watseka :  Susie,  the  wife  of  L. 
E.  Jones,  of  Stockland  town.ship :  Samuel  .\..  a 
resident  farmer  of  Ash  drove  township:  .\rabell, 
the  wife  of  Klias  Fruitt,  of  Lrbana ;  Amanda  J., 
the  wife  of  William  ['.  .McCray,  a  farmer  of 
Fountain  Creek  township:  and  Linnie  .May,  the 
wife  of  Kdward  Heebee,  of  Claytonville.  Illinois. 
They  also  lost  two  children :  Fmma  V...  wiio 
died  when  eight  months  old :  and  Amos,  who 
died  when  a  young  man  of  nineteen  years.  ( )n 
the  131)1  of  .\ugust.  i8t)<),  Mr.  Wise  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Mrs.  Mar\ 
M.  Peddicord,  the  widow  of  T.  J.  I'eddicord. 
who  died  in  i8<>7.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  I'eddicord  had 
a  son.  William  H..  who  was  drowned  when  nine- 
teen years  of  age.  Mrs.  Wise  was  born  and 
reared  in  Kentucky  and  was  married  there,  her 
son  being  ten  years  of  age  when  they  removed 
to  Iro(|uois. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  \\  ise  has  long  been 
an  earnest  republican,  giving  unfaltering  support 
to  the  ])any  since  he  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  .\braham  Lincoln  in  1864.  He  has  never 
desired  nor  filled  i)ublic  office,  save  that  he  was 
highway  commissioner  for  six  years  and  school 
trustee  of  his  townshi])  for  several  years.  He 
and  his  wife  hold  niembershi])  in  the  I'nited 
r.rethren  cinircli  of  1-ountain  Creek,  of  which 
they  are  charter  members,  and  he  has  been  a  most 
liberal  contributor  to  the  church  and  a  public- 
spirited  citizen,  whose  efforts  have  been  far- 
reaching  aiiil  beneficial  in  behalf  of  general  im- 
provement and  progress.  He  has  seen  the  whole 
county  change  from  a  wilderness  and  swamp  and 
has  himself  |>ut  thousands  of  dollars  into  ditching 
and  tiling.  He  has  seen  the  la-st  farms  made 
from  land  which  was  once  regarded  as  utterly 
worthless  and  as  the  years  have  gone  by  all  the 
eviileiices  of  a  modern  and  progressive  civiliza- 
tion have  Ix'en  introduced  anil  lro(|Uois  county 
is  toda\'  peopled  with  a  ])ros|)erous  and  contented 
l>opulation,  who  have  made  this  one  of  the  rich- 


^f^2 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


est  fanning  districts  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Wise  lias 
advanced  in  line  with  the  trend  of  general  prog- 
ress and  although  in  his  early  days  here  he  siif- 
ferred  the  hardshijjs  and  experienced  the  ])riva- 
tions  of  pioneer  life  he  is  today  one  of  the  most 
])rosperiius  citizens  and  extensive  landholders. 
.\'or  has  his  pathway  heen  strewn  with  the  wreck 
of  other  men's  fortunes.  (_)n  the  contrary  he  has 
been  honi)ral)le  and  straightforward  in  his  busi- 
ness dealings  and  his  success  is  the  legitimate 
outcome  of  his  labor  and   careful   investment. 


TOHX  WIEXRA.XK. 


John  W'ienrank.  whnse  farming  interests  em- 
brace an  excellent  tract  of  land  of  one  hundred 
and  fifty  acres  on  section  i.  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship, is  numbered  among  the  ])ioneer  residents 
of  this  portion  of  the  state,  having  taken  up  his 
abode  in  Illinois  in  1853.  He  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany.  Deceniljer  2,  1840,  and  when  a 
lad  of  about  thirteen  years  accompanied  his  ]iar- 
ents  on  their  removal  from  the  fatherland  to  the 
new  world.  The  family  home  was  established 
in  Peoria  county  and  there  he  w-as  reared,  re- 
ceiving instruction  in  both  the  German  and  Eng- 
lish schools,  while  in  farm  work  he  was  am]ily 
trained  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  with 
whom  he  remained  until  he  had  reached  man's 
estate.  He  afterw'ard  worked  by  the  month  for 
several  years  as  a  farm  hand  and  thus  made  his 
start  in  life.  His  record  therefore  proves  what 
can  be  accomplished  bv  determined  energv  and 
unfaltering  purpose,  for  although  a  farm  hand 
at  the  outset  of  his  career  he  is  now  the  owner  of 
a  valuable  propertw 

Mr.  W'ienrank  was  married  in  \\  imdhird  emm- 
t\-,  Illinois,  in  1S71.  to  .Miss  .\ntje  Duitsman.  a 
native  of  (iermany.  l-'ollowing  their  marriage 
he  carried  un  farming  for  several  years  in  Wood- 
ford county  and  in  1X77  came  to  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, where  he  purchased  the  farm  u]ion  which  he 
Udw-  resides.  He  has  since  greatly  impro\ed  the 
dwelling  and  everything  about  his  place  jiresents 
a  neat  and  well  kept  ap])earance.  for  the  work  of 
re])air  is  being  constantly  carried  furward  .-ind 
thus  everything  is  kept  in  first  cla.ss  condition, 
lie  has  ])lanted  considerable  fruit  upon  his  jilace 


and  has  employed  the  most  mo<lern  methods  of 
farming  and  tilling  the  fields,  so  that  large  crops 
are  annually  harvested.  He  also  owns  an  ad- 
joining farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
which  is  likewise  well  improved,  and  he  has  a 
third  farm  in  lielmont  township,  comprising  a 
quarter  section. 

In  K-po  -Mr.  \\  ienrank  was  called  u])on  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  passed  away  in 
.March  of  that  year  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the 
Lutheran  cemetery  of  W'oodworth.  They  were 
the  parents  of  six  children :  Jacob,  a  resident 
farmer  of  lielmont  township:  John  1!..  who  as- 
sists his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home  farm  : 
Christ,  who  is  married  and  is  a  farmer  of  .Vsh 
Grove  townshi]i :  Albert,  who  is  associated  with 
his  father  and  brother;  I'ulke.  the  wife  of  Jacob 
\'an  Haven:  and  Hea.  the  wife  of  .'-^imon  lUihr. 
a  resident   farmer  of  Crescent  township. 

-Mr.  ^\'ienrank  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church  of  W'oodworth.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a  democrat  and  has  been  elected  and 
served  .as  township  collector  and  as  justice  of  the 
]:eace  of  Ash  (jrove  township.  He  has  likewise 
been  a  delegate  to  county  conventions  and  is 
much  interested  in  the  ])art_\'  and  its  growth.  He 
has  made  a  splendid  record  in  business  circles, 
for  although  he  started  out  emj)t\-handed  he  is 
today  the  owner  of  three  valuable  farm  projjcr- 
ties,  from  which  he  derives  an  excellent  income. 
Investigation  into  his  historv  shows  must  hnii- 
orable  methods.  He  has  been  watchful  of  his 
opportunities  for  judicious  investment  and 
throughout  his  life  has  shown  that  close  a])])lica- 
tion   without   which  success  cannot  be  achieved. 


1(  )11\    I-..   W  ILLS, 


John  L.  Wills.  sui)ei"inten(lent  of  the  Iroquois 
county  farm,  in  which  ca|)acity  he  has  charge  of 
the  operation  of  three  hundred  and  ninety  acres 
of  land. -is  gi\-ing  the  utmost  satisfaction  in  this 
office.  He  so  capably  manages  the  business  of 
the  institution  that  the  farm  is  almost  self-su])- 
])orting  and  the  lax  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
poor  is  lower  in  this  county  than  in  an\'  county 
in  the  state.      In   his  childhood  (la\s  he  came  to 


IROOIOIS  eOrXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


3''3 


Illinois  with  his  parents  am!  has  ci>miimal!v  n-- 
siilctl  in  lr<K|u«)is  cniinly  since  1871. 

He  was  hum  l-"ohrnary  20.  iS^i'i.  in  _|iiiniiiL;> 
cutuiiy.  Indiana,  a  son  uf  John  and  Amanda 
(  I'.wan  I  Wills,  who  were  likcwisf  natives  of  thai 
state,  the  lornuT  horn  in  Dearborn  county  and 
the  latter  in  jeiniinys  county.  John  Wills.  .*>^r.. 
was  a  c<H)]>er  h\  traile.  His  wife  was  a  daiii,'h- 
ter  of  Iose|)li  I'.wan.  who  came  to  lro(|ui>is  conn- 
tv  in  iS/o  and  was  almost  a  centenarian  at  the 
time  t>f  his  death,  lackinjj  hut  a  lew  months  of 
attainini;  the  one  hundredth  auniversar\  of  his 
hirth.  Previous  to  his  marriaj.je  John  Wills. 
.*>r..  had  removed  to  Jenninj;s  count>.  Imliana. 
and  later  took  up  his  almde  in  Xewton  county, 
that  slate,  where  he  remained  for  five  years.  He 
then  removed  to  Iro(|uoi.s  county,  settling  in  W  ai- 
seka  in  1871.  He  conducted  a  car|)enter  shop 
and  c«x)perage  business  for  many  years,  beinj; 
thus  closely  associated  with  the  industrial  life  of 
the  town.  He  remained  a  resident  of  Watseka 
initil  called  to  his  final  rest  in  September.  i<;02. 
when  seventy-six  years  of  age.  while  his  wife  is 
still  living  in  her  eighty-first  year  and  makes  her 
home  with  her  son  John.  Their  family  numbered 
nine  children,  eight  of  whom  reached  years  of 
maturity. 

John  li.  Wills  was  the  youngest  of  tiie  family 
and  was  reared  in  Watseka.  enjoying  the  ailvan- 
tages  offered  by  the  city  schools.  When  a  young 
man  he  began  earning  his  own  living  by  farm 
work,  being  em])loyed  by  the  month.  He  worked 
on  the  county  farm  under  Isaac  W.  Cast,  who 
conducted  the  farm  for  twelve  years,  and  during 
the  last  year  of  that  time  Mr.  Wills  was  in  his 
.service.  Mr.  Cast  then  died  but  his  widow  re- 
tained the  superintendency  of  the  farm  and  .Mr. 
Wills  remained  her  chief  assistant  for  four  years. 

On  the  iQth  of  .Vjiril.  i8<^i.  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  John  L.  Wills  and  Miss  Ola 
Cast,  a  daughter  of  Isaac  W.  Cast,  who 
was  a  native  of  ( )hio  and  in  1S50  be- 
came a  resident  of  N'ermiliun  county,  Illinois, 
whence  he  removed  to  IriMpiois  county  in  1857. 
I'ollowing  his  marriage  Mr.  Wills  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade.  siMin  became  the  owner  of  a 
shop  and  conducted  business  in  that  line  for 
fourteen  \ears.  In  f.ict  he  still  owns  this  shoj) 
but  his  attention  is  now  given  to  agricultural 
interests.     In  .March,  kki^.  he  was  elected  to  the 


superintendency  of  the  cotmty  farm,  the  work  of 
which  he  conducts  in  a  most  able  manner.  He 
had  Ik-ch  j)ractically  at  its  head  for  four  years 
inider  .Mrs.  Cast,  who  died  in  i<;00.  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four  years,  lie  thoroughly  understands  the 
business  necessary  to  its  successful  conduct,  and 
in  addition  to  tilling  the  soil  he  raises  fine  stock, 
keeping  imported  Scotch  shorthorn  cattle  from 
the  \\  ithers  herd. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Wills  have  been  liorn  six 
children,  of  whom  on«  died  in  infancy,  while 
Clara  passed  away  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
Mar\-.  the  eldest,  is  now  a  student  in  Watseka. 
I'.ertha.  Leslie  and  John  are  all  under  the  parental 
riHif.  Mr.  Wills  Ijelongs  to  IriKpiois  lodge.  No. 
74.  I.  o.  (  ).  [•'..  of  Watseka.  of  which  he  is  a 
\ahie<I  representative.  He  is  a  past  gran<l  (.)f 
the  order  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  grand 
lodge,  representing  the  local  organization  at 
.Springfield  in  HXM-  He  is  likewise  a  member  of 
Watseka  camp  of  the  Mo<lern  Woodmen  and 
he  and  his  wife  attend  the  Christian  church. 
I'Vom  his  boyhood  days  he  has  resided  contin- 
uously in  this  county  and  the  consensus  of  jiublic 
opinion  regarding  hiiu  is  altogther  favorable. 


|(  »IIN   .MdNTVRI-:. 


The  gentleman  whose  name  intnxluces  this 
review  is  one  of  the  citizens  of  foreign  birth 
who  has  been  a  valuable  factor  in  the  development 
and  upbuilding  of  Iroquois  county.  He  owns 
and  operates  a  fine  farm  of  two  hundred  acres, 
situated  on  section  3^1,  Lovejoy  townshi]).  all  of 
which  has  been  actpiired  through  his  own  well 
directed  labor  and  careful  management.  .\  na- 
tive of  the  Emerald  isle,  he  was  l)orn  in  June. 
1840.  and  was  there  reared  and  educated,  the 
common  .scIkjoIs  of  that  country  afFonling  him 
the  advantages  which  he  enjoyed  in  his  youth. 
He  remained  in  his  native  country  until  he  had 
reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  when,  hav- 
ing heard  favorable  re|Kirts  concerning  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  enjoyed  across  the  water,  he  ac- 
cordingly sailed  for  the  I'nitnl  States  in  i8()8. 
arriving  in  New  York  on  the  '>th  of  June  of  that 
year.  He  secured  emi>loyment  at  .Mbany,  that 
state,    where   he   remained    for   about   one    vear. 


364 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


subsequent  to  which  time  he  went  to  Canada, 
where  he  spent  a  short  time,  after  which  he  made 
his  way  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed on  the  construction  of  a  railroad  for  a  time 
and  then  secured  employment  on  a  farm  near  that 
place,  working  for  one  man  for  more  than  five 
years.  Having  carefully  husbanded  his  re- 
sources, so  that  he  felt  justified  in  engaging 
in  business  on  his  own  account,  he  made  his 
way  to  Iroquois  county  in  1875,  and  jjurchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundred  an^  sixty  acres,  situated  in 
Lovejoy  township,  and  this  has  continued  to  be 
his  place  of  residence  to  the  present  time.  ( )nly 
a  small  clearing  had  been  made  when  this  prop- 
erty came  into  his  possession,  but  Mr.  Mclntyre 
at  once  look  up  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and 
develo])ing  his  land  and  in  due  course  of  time  the 
fields  brought  forth  rich  harvests  as  a  result  of 
the  care  and  labor  which  he  bestowed  upon  the 
land.  He  further  improved  the  place  by  the 
erection  of  suitable  buildings  and  a  good  home 
and  took  up  his  abode  thereon  in  1876.  He  has 
tiled  his  land,  built  good  fences  and  altogether 
has  a  well  improved  and  valuable  property.  As 
his  financial  resources  increased  he  added  an 
additional  tract  of  forty  acres  to  his  original  pur- 
chase and  now  has  altogether  a  tract  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  all  in  one  body. 

On  the  i8th  of  February,  1880,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  Mclntyre  and  Miss  Isabella 
Davis,  likewise  a  native  of  Ireland,  where  she 
was  reared  to  the  age  of  seventeen  years.  They 
have  become  the  parents  of  three  daughters,  all 
of  whom  have  been  liberally  educated.  Gertrude 
is  a  teacher  in  Iroquois  county.  Margaret  is 
with  her  parents.  Daisy,  the  youngest  of  the 
famil}-,  is  now  the  wife  of  William  Mclntyre,  a 
business  man  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Mclntyre  is  a  true  blue  republican,  and 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  in  1872  in  support 
of  General  Grant,  and  has  since  that  time  sup- 
ported the  candidates  of  that  party.  He  has 
never  sought  or  desired  public  office,  preferring 
to  give  his  undivided  time  and  attention  to  his 
private  business  affairs,  in  which  he  has  met  with 
very  gratifying  success.  Although  Mr.  Mcln- 
tyre was  reared  in  the  faith  of  the  Episcopal 
church,  he  now  holds  memliership  with  the  Pres- 
byterian denomination  at  Wellington,  to  which 
his  wife  also  belongs. 


Mr.  Mclntyre  has  been  a  resident  of  Iroquois 
county  for  the  past  thirty  years  and  during  that 
period  has  been  active  and  helpful  in  the  agri- 
cultural development  of  this  part  of  the  state. 

Taking  up  his  abode  in  the  new  world  when  a 
young  man,  he  soon  adapted  himself  to  the 
changed  conditions  of  the  new  and  rapidly  de- 
veloping country  and  by  his  energy  and  economy 
has  worked  his  way  ujjward  from  a  poor  boy  to 
a  citizen  of  worth  and  afifluence,  who  enjoys  the 
favorable  regard  of  a  large  acquaintance,  and 
he  and  his  familv  have  manv  warm  friends. 


tho:mas  lo\'eless. 

Thomas  Loveless,  who  is  familiarly  known  as 
Squire  on  the  streets  of  }\IiIford.  is  one  of  the 
popular  men  of  the  town  and  an  old  settler  of  the 
state,  whose  life  record  has  been  creditable  to  the 
commonwealth,  for  he  has  ever  upheld  the  legal 
and  political  status  of  his  community  and  given 
hearty  co-operation  and  support  to  those  meas- 
ures which  have  direct  bearing  upon  the  welfare 
and  improvement  of  a  commuiTity.  He  has  lived 
in  Illinois  since  the  28th  of  September,  1858. 

His  birth  had  occurred  nineteen  years  before 
in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  his  natal  day  having 
been  Alay  4,  1839.  I'^  his  youth  he  accompanied 
his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Tippecanoe  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  where  he  was  reared  and  his  educa- 
tional privileges  were  those  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools,  but  he  manifested  a  special  aptitude 
in  his  studies  and  his  reading  in  later  years  has 
constantly  broadened  his  knowledge,  making  him 
a  well  informed  man,  so  that  in  early  manhood 
he  was  well  qualified  for  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing, which  he  followed  first  in  Indiana  and  later 
in   Illinois. 

Mr.  Loveless  was  married  in  Tippecanoe 
county.  Indiana,  in  July,  1858,  to  Miss  Harriet 
Funk,  a  native  of  that  state,  where  her  girlhood 
days  were  passed.  In  the  fall  of  1848  they 
removed  to  Iroquois  county,  settling  on  a  farm 
near  Milford.  Mr.  Loveless  had  visited  the  state 
in  1854  when  a  youth  of  fourteen  years.  After 
bringing  his  bride  to  the  new  home  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  in  raising  and  feeding  stock. 
His  first  purchase  of  land  made  him  owner  of 


MR.   AND   MkS.   THOMAS  LOVELESS. 


Or  SHE 
UNIVERSir*  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  H.I.IXolS. 


Zf>7 


fiftv-one  acres,  wliicli  he  brouRht  uiuler  a  hi^h 
state  (if  cultivation,  lie  built  a  house  there  and 
continued  the  active  work  of  farniinjr  until  liis 
lields  had  returned  to  him  abundant  harvesi>i. 
He  also  eiifrajred  in  buyintj,  feeding  and  shi]>])ini; 
stock,  carrvinj;^  on  that  business  for  thirty  years. 
lie  was  one  of  the  well  known  dealers  and  ship- 
pers of  lriK|uois  county,  for  his  business  steadily 
increased  in  volume  and  importance.  Ik-ini;-  an 
e.scellent  jud^e  of  stock  he  was  enabled  to  make 
careful  purchases  and  i)rotitable  sales  and  he 
eventually  became  one  of  the  extensive  shi])pcrs 
of  the  county.  .\s  his  financial  resources  per- 
mitted he  bought  land  from  lime  to  time  and  he 
now  owns  alxnit  seven  hundred  acres  in  Iroquois 
County,  and  also  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres  in 
Tippecan<x*  county.  Indiana,  and  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Arkansas.  Mis  farm  was 
for  many  years  a  scene  of  great  business  activity 
but  eventually  he  put  aside  agricultural  interests. 
and  in  18S3  located  in  Milford.  where  he  erected 
a  pleasant  and  attractive  home.  He  is  much 
interested  in  the  upbuilding  and  improvement  of 
the  town,  and  his  labors  have  had  direct  bearing 
upon  its  growth  and  development,  and  in  the 
advancement  of  those  interests  which  are  a  mat- 
ter of  civic  virtue  and  of  civic  pride.  In  K/J5 
Mr.  Loveless  was  called  upon  to  mourti  the  loss 
of  his  wife,  who  in  that  year  was  laid  to  rest  in 
Maple  ( irove  cemeter\-.  There  are  six  living  chil- 
dren by  this  union  :  ( ieorge,  who  is  married  and 
follows  farming  in  Tijipecanoe  county,  Indiana : 
Mrs.  Lydia  Dalstnnii,  who  is  a  widow  and  re- 
sides in  Ilooix'Ston :  William  \\  ..  a  resident  farm- 
er of  this  county;  Emma,  the  wife  of  W.  T. 
Caldwell,  a  photographer  of  Milford  :  ( )llie.  the 
wife  of  Charles  McMillen.  of  Tippecanoe  coun- 
ty. Indiana;  and  Thomas  I!..  wIk)  is  ojjerating  the 
old  homestead  farm.  They  also  lost  two  chil- 
dren, Elizabeth  and  Jacob,  who  died  in  early 
youth. 

Mr.  Ij)veless  has  the  honor  of  belonging  to 
that  great  band  of  young  men  who  in  iSTio  cast 
their  first  vote  and  thereby  supported  Illinois' 
greatest  statesman,  .\braham  Lincoln,  lie  has 
since  voted  for  each  nominee  on  the  republican 
ticket  with  one  e.xception.  When  on  the  farm 
he  served  as  highway  commissioner  and  also  as 
township  schcH)l  trustee  and  since  removing  to 
Milford  has  Ix'cn  elected  and  re-elected  to  the 
21 


niVice  of  justice  of  the  peace,  so  that  he  is  now 
serving  for  the  tenth  consecutive  year  in  that 
jjosition.  His  decisions  are  strictly  fair  and  im- 
partial and  no  higher  testimonial  of  capable  ser- 
vice could  be  given  than  the  fact  that  he  has 
ag'ain  and  again  been  chosen  by  popular  suffrage. 
■  He  has  frequently  been  a  delegate  to  county  and 
state  conventions  and  at  all  times  is  a  faithful 
and  efficient  officer,  richly  meriting  the  trust  re- 
l)nsed  in  him.  Strong  and  positive  in  his  re|)ub- 
licanism,  his  parly  fealty  is  not  grounded  on 
liartisan  prejudice  and  he  enjoys  the  respect  an<l 
confidence  of  all  his  associates  irres])ective  of 
])arty.  He  is  identified  with  that  class  in  the 
movement  toward  higher  jjolitics  which  is  com- 
mon to  both  parties  and  which  constitutes  the 
most  hopeful  ])olitical  sign  of  the  period. 

He  has  been  identified  with  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity since  i8<i7  but  is  now  a  demilted  Masun. 
He  also  joined  the  Odd  P'cllows  lodge  in  1867, 
served  through  all  the  chairs  and  is  a  past  grand 
of  Milford  lodge,  which  he  lias  likewise  repre- 
sented in  the  grand  lodge  of  the  slate.  He  was 
also  identifie<I  with  the  encampment  and  is  a 
grand  past  ])atriarch.  I'or  forty-eight  years  he 
has  live<l  in  Irotpiois  comity  and  has  seen  much 
of  its  growth  and  develojiment  as  the  swamps 
anil  sloughs  have  been  drained  and  the  ])rairie 
cleared  and  cultivated.  There  has  been  no 
more  gratifying  nor  substantial  progress  made 
than  in  agricultural  lines  in  this  direction  an<l 
Mr.  Loveless  has  borne  his  full  share.  He  has 
a  wide  ac(|uaintancc  in  W'atseka  and  throughout 
the  county  where  he  is  known  as  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  worth,  and  the  success  which  has 
crowned  his  efl'orts  has  made  him  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial  citizens   (if   tlif   i-iimmunitv. 


H.\R.M  sen AlMl'.URG. 

Harm  Scliaumburg.  now  living  in  Milford,  was 
for  years  one  of  the  active  and  jjrosperous  farm- 
ers of  Milford  township  aiul  one  of  the  earlv 
settlers  of  Illinois,  where  he  has  resided  from 
early  l)oylio<id  days.  More  than  fifty-one  years 
have  been  added  to  the  cycle  of  the  centuries 
since  he  took  up  his  abode  in  this  state  and  from 
childhood  to  earlv  manhood,  from  earl\-  manhood 


368 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


to  the  prime  of  life,  lie  has  so  hved  as  to  ,i;aiii 
the  favorable  regard  of  a  lartje  circle  of  friends 
and  acquaintances.  A  native  of  Germany,  he 
was  born  in  Prussia.  February  19.  1846.  and 
came  to  the  new  world  with  his  mother  and  her 
family  when  a  lad  of  nine  years.  The  family 
home  was  established  in  Peoria  county.  Illinois,- 
and  subsequent  removals  took  them  to  Tazewell. 
Woodford   and    L!vin,s:ston   counties. 

Thus  it  was  that  the  subject  of  this  review 
was  reared  to  manhood  in  this  state.  His  school 
privileges  were  limited  and  his  youth  was  large- 
ly a  periotl  of  earnest  and  unremitting  toil.  He 
was  but  eighteen  years  of  age  when  he  responded 
to  the  country's  call  for  aid  and  in  May.  1864,  at 
Quincy,  Illinois,  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of  Com- 
pany B,  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Illi- 
nois Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  sent  south 
with  his  regiment  to  Memphis  and  served  on 
picket  and  guard  duty.  He  participated  in  the 
battle  at  Memjjhis.  Tennessee,  where  two  hun- 
dred of  his  regiment  were  killed  or  taken  prison- 
ers. While  at  the  front  he  became  ill  and  was  in 
the  hospital  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  for  a  short 
time.  He  served  until  after  the  expiration  of 
his  term  of  enlistment  and  was  then  sent  home 
and  honorably  discharged  at  Springfield.  Illinois. 
His  brother,  Franz,  who  was  one  of  three  sons 
to  come  with  the  mother  to  the  new  world,  was 
a  soldier  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry  and 
served  throughout  the  war.  He  now  resides  at 
Cruger,  Illinois,  while  the  younger  brother.  John. 
makes  his  home  in  Nebraska. 

From  his  youth  Harm  Schaumburg  was  de- 
pendent upon  liis  own  resources  not  only  for  a 
living,  but  also  had  to  assist  his  mother  in  sup- 
port of  the  family.  They  had  to  endure  many 
hardships  and  privations  in  the  early  years  of 
their  residence  in  the  new  world  because  of  their 
limited  financial  condition.  When  the  war  was 
over  Mr.  Schainnburg  i>f  this  review  resumed 
work  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month  and  was 
thus  employed  for  several  years,  after  which 
he  was  married  and  thus  made  arrangements  for 
having  a  home  of  his  own.  It  was  in  Woodford 
county,  in  1871,  that  Miss  Anna  Lucht,  a  Ger- 
man lady,  became  his  wife.  In  1874  he  removed 
with  his  little  family  to  Milford  township  and 
with  the  money  he  had  saved  from  his  earnings 
purchased  eighty  acres  of  unimproved  land  which 


Ik-  broke  and  cultivated.  He  also  placed  the 
necessary  l)uildings  upon  his  farm  and  there  suc- 
cessfuUv  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits 
for  nine  vears.  after  which  he  sold  that  jjrdjjerty 
and  bonglit  a  place  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres  constituting  a  farm  upon  which  are  fair 
improvements.  He  later  bought  one  hundred 
acres  adjoining.  He  has  led  a  life  of  industry 
and  activity  and  as  the  years  have  rolled  around 
he  has  acumulated  a  goodly  measure  of  success. 
.\11  of  the  buildings  upon  his  place  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  thrift,  labor  and  enterprise.  He 
has  set  out  fruit  and  shade  trees,  which  aild 
much  to  ihc  value  and  attractive  appearance  of 
his  farm,  and  in  the  fields  he  has  annually  raisetl 
good  cro])s.  which  have  come  to  him  as  the  re- 
ward of  the  care  and  labor  he  has  bestowed  upon 
the  fields.  He  has  also  raised  good  stock,  mak- 
ing a  specialty  of  horses  and  hogs.  Thus  his 
life  was  passed  in  imremitting  diligence  and  ac- 
tivity until  1902,  when  he  put  aside  the  more  ac- 
tive duties  of  the  farm  and  pinxhased  a  neat  and 
a  substantial  residence  in  ^Milford  which  he  has 
since  occupied,  enjoying  there  a  well  earned  re- 
tirement from  further  labor.  He  also  purchased 
nine  acres  of  land  in  Milford,  which  he  divided 
into  lots.  This  tract  was  called  Schaumburg's 
first  addition  to  ^Milford.  He  has  sold  about  one- 
half  nf  these  lots. 

;\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Schaumburg  have  a  family  of 
six  sons  and  three  daughters,  as  follows :  Wil- 
liam, who  is  farming  the  old  homestead  :  Wirtje. 
who  also  carries  on  agricultural  pursuits ;  Jonas, 
who  follows  farming  on  the  old  home  place : 
I'ranz  and  Louis,  who  give  their  attention  to 
general  agricultural  ]nn-suits :  John,  who  is  with 
his  ])arents  in  Alilford;  Ann  E.,  the  wife  of 
Jose])h  \"an  H(i\-eln  :  Perteke.  the  wife  of  Dick 
Casper ;  and  Anna,  the  wife  of  Sebo  Frederick, 
a  resident  farmer  of  Crescent  township.  Thev 
also  lost  three  children.  Frank  Mnd  Harm  meet- 
ing death  by  accident,  being  instantly  killed,  and 
Alma,  who  died  in  her  second  vear. 

[n  community  afifairs  Mr.  .Schaumburg  has 
manifested  a  spirit  of  devotion  to  the  general 
welfare  that  is  most  commendable.  He  votes 
an  independent  local  ballot  but  supjjorts  the  re- 
IMililican  ])arty  on  state  and  national  issues. 
While  on  the  farm  he  was  elected  and  served 
fnr  fourteen  consecutive  vears  as  highwav  com- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.   ILLINOIS. 


Z^*) 


missiiincr  and  was  lar).;il_v  iiiMnimi'iUal  in  i-s- 
tal>lishin^  jjimhI  matls.  IK'  also  si-rvi'd  nn  tlu- 
m:1h">1  biiani  ami  thai  lie  has  thi-  (.ntirc  (.niiti- 
diiici-  and  trust  ni"  his  fclltiwincn  is  indii'iitcd  hv 
the  fact  that  he  lias  several  times  been  chosen 
as  ailininistratiir  tn  settle  estates.  His  life  is  in 
haniiiHiy  with  his  (.'hristian  faith  and  i»n>fcssi<)ns. 
Itotli  he  and  his  wife  wen  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
church  and  are  imw  CDniniunicants  thereof.  In 
retrospect  one  can  see  Mr.  Schaunihurfj  a  |)oor 
Ixiy,  dependent  \\\nn\  his  own  resources  for  a 
livinj.,'.  He  had  to  start  out  early  to  ti<,'ht  the 
battles  of  life  but  has  come  olT  victor  in  the 
strife.  Today  he  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable  and 
desirable  farm  property  and  a  s.;ood  home  in 
Milford  and  moreover  he  possesses  an  un- 
tarnished name,  for  in  all  of  his  business  dcaliiiiis 
he  has  been  slraiijbtforward  and  reliable.  His 
e.xample  is  indeed  well  worthy  of  emulation  by  all 
who  have  true  re.irard  for  character  and  who  wish 
to  win  prosperity  throuiih  straijihtforwanl 
methods. 


.VLIIKKT   II.    TAl.l'.l'.k' 


.\lbert  H.  Talbert,  who  carries  on  gereral  at;ri- 
cultural  pursuits  on  section  6.  ( )nars:a  townshi]). 
is  one  of  Iroquois  county's  native  sons.  In  fact 
the  farm  which  is  now  his  place  pf  residence  was 
his  birthplace,  his  natal  <lay  beinij  .\pril  23.  185S. 
He  is  a  son  of  (ieorj^e  W.  Talbert,  who  was  born 
in  Indiana  and  was  reared  and  married  there, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  beinji  Miss  Catherine  Deyo, 
a  native  of  that  state.  .Mr.  Talbert  was  a  farmer 
of  Indiana  and  on  removing  to  Illinois  became 
one  of  the  early  residents  of  Iroipiois  county. 
Much  of  the  land  here  was  still  in  jiossessioii  of 
the  government  and  he  entered  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres,  which  he  broke  and  cultivateil.  trans- 
forminj,'  the  raw  prairie  into  a  richly  improved 
farm.  His  work  in  the  fields  was  continuous 
save  for  the  period  of  his  service  in  the  Civil 
war.  His  i)atriotic  spirit  beiiiK  aroused  by  the 
attempt  i>f  the  south  to  overthrow  the  Union, 
he  joined  the  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry,  of  which 
he  Ixcame  sergeant,  and  wliile  at  the  front  he 
became  ill  and  died  in  the  fiebl  hospital  in  Mis- 
souri in  \^^2.  He  survived  his  wife  for  only  a 
brief  period,  her  death  having  occurred  in   i8<')i. 


In  their  family  were  three  children  who  were 
thus  left  orphans  an<l  were  reared  by  friends. 
<  liie  son,  I'.dward  I).  Talbert,  died  at  the  a^je  of 
si.xteen  years,  while  II.  N.  Talbert  is  now  liviii); 
retired  in  (  )iiarj,'a.  He  is  married  and  has  three 
children  and  is  mentioned  on  another  \yA\n:  of  this 
w  I  irk. 

Albert  II.  I  albert,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  spent  the  (ia\  s  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  this  county  and  is  indebted  tit  the  common- 
school  system  for  the  educational  privilejjes 
which  he  enjoyed  ;md  which  fitted  him  for  the 
jtractical  duties  of  life.  Haviii;,''  arrived  at  years 
of  maturity,  he  chose  a  com])anion  and  help- 
mate for  life's  journe\'  ;ind  was  married  in  Kan- 
kakee. Illinois,  May  i,  1SX4.  to  .Miss  Laura  Case, 
who  was  Ijorn  and  reared  in  Kankakee  county, 
:i  daughter  of  (  ).  .N.  Case  of  that  county.  I'ol- 
lowiui^-  their  marriage  they  located  on  the  old 
homestead  farm,  which  Mr.  Talbert  began  to  cul- 
tivate and  inii)rove.  He  erected  a  good  residence 
which  was  afterward  destro\eil  by  fire,  and  sub- 
.se(|uenl  to  that  clisastcr  he  built  a  two-story 
dwelling  which  he  now  occupies  and  which  is  one 
of  the  substantial  and  comfortable  homes  of  the 
township.  I  le  has  also  built  a  gowl  barn  and 
cribs,  has  laid  many  rods  of  tiling  and  has  divide<l 
his  place  into  fielils  of  convenient  size  by  well 
kept  fences.  He  has  altogether  a  neat  and  well 
im])roved  farm,  on  which  stock-raising  is  a  fea- 
ture. He  makes  a  specialty  (jf  hogs  of  the  York- 
shire breed  and  has  also  high  grade  cattle  and 
horses,  Ix'ing  recognized  as  a  successful  stock- 
man and  one  who  is  seldoin,  if  ever,  at  error  in 
matters  of  judgment  concerning  the  value  of 
stock.  In  addition  to  his  home  property  he  also 
owns  a  residence  in  Onarga. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talbert  are  the  parents  of  sev- 
en children :  George  D..  Lawrence  O.,  Alva  L.. 
Clyde  A.  aiul  Harold,  who  are  still  living  ami 
they  have  lost  two  chiklren :  Stella,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  years ;  and  one  son,  Frank, 
who  died  in  infancy.  The  parents  have  a  wide 
and  favorable  acquaintance  in  Onarga  township 
and  this  part  of  the  county.  Mr.  Talbert  is  a 
member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  lodge  at  Onarga  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  connected  with  the  Rcbekali 
degree.  He  votes  with  the  republican  party, 
having  proudly  cast  his  first  presidential  ballot 
for    lames    A.    (uirfield    in    1880.    while    his   last 


3/0 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


vote  was  given  in  snpport  of  Theodore  Roose- 
velt. A  stanch  friend  of  the  cause  of  education, 
he  believes  in  good  schools,  has  done  effective 
service  along  that  line  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  is  now  acting  as  president  of  the 
district  board.  Always  a  resident  of  Iroquois 
county,  he  is  classed  with  its  industrious  and 
prosperous  farmers  and  in  the  conduct  of  his 
business  affairs  he  has  displayed  a  reliabilil_\-  and 
progressiveness  that  have  gained  him  admiration 
as  well  as  success. 


GEORGE  ^\'.  ALEXANDER. 

George  W.  .Mexander,  living  on  section  14, 
Ash  Gro\-c  township,  was  born  in  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois,  June  18,  1856.  His  father,  Asa 
Alexander,  was  also  a  native  of  that  county, 
which  fact  indicates  that  the  family  was  estab- 
lished in  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  There  he  was 
reared  and  in  early  manhood  he  wedded  Mary 
Tabor,  likewise  a  native  of  this  state.  For  sev- 
eral years  thereafter  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Sangamon  count}-  and  in  1876  removed  to  Iro- 
quois county,  settling  in  Ash  Grove  township. 
His  last  days  were  spent  in  Milford,  where  he 
died  in  1895,  his  wife  passing  away  about  a 
year  later  in  1896.  Their  son,  George  W..  was 
the  eldest  of  their  three  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, all  of  whorn  are  yet  living,  the  others  be- 
ing: ^Irs.  Rose  Seward,  who  resides  in  Indi- 
ana; Mrs.  Clara  Dixon,  of  Sheldon,  Illinois ;  Mrs. 
Julia  Crink,  of  Milford  township :  Samuel  Alex- 
ander, a  resident  of  Goodwine,  Illinois;  and  Wil- 
liam, who  is  living  in  Springfield,  this  state. 

George  W.  Alexander  was  reared  in  Sangamon 
and  Ford  counties.  He  had  fair  school  advan- 
tages and  received  practical  training  in  farm 
work.  After  reaching  man's  estate  he  rented 
land  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account 
for  several  years  in  .\sh  Grove  and  Crescent 
townships  and  also  in   Milford  township. 

On  the  loth  of  October,  1888.  in  Ash  Grove 
townshi]),  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Alexander  and  Miss  .Vgnes  Hislop,  a  daughter 
of  Ninian  Hislop  and  a  native  of  inxiuois 
countv.  where  she  was  also  reared  and  educated. 
The  home  of  Mr.  an<l  Mrs.  .Alexander  has  been 


blessed  with  foiu"  children:  Glenn.  Mary,  Ruby 
and  Katie. 

Mr.  Alexander's  first  purchase  of  land  made 
him  owner  of  eighty  acres  in  Milford  township 
and  after  his  marriage  he  located  thereon  and 
engaged  in  farming  for  four  years.  C)n  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  he  sold  the  property  and 
pui"chased  where  he  now  resides,  becoming  own- 
er of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  on  section  14, 
.\sli  Grove  township.  Taking  up  his  abode 
thereon  in  1893.  he  at  once  began  its  further  de- 
velopment and  has  tiled  the  greater  part  of  the 
land.  He  broke  some  of  the  original  sod  and 
now  has  a  cultivable  farm,  the  soil  being  very 
productive.  He  has  likewise  planted  fruit  anjJ 
in  connection  with  the  raising  of  cereals  he  also 
raises  good  grades  of  stock,  so  that  his  busi- 
ness is  bringing  him  a  good  financial  return. 

Politically  Mr.  Alexander  is  a  democrat.  He 
served  on  the  school  board  for  a  number  of  years 
and  has  always  been  a  believer  in  good  schools 
and  the  employment  of  good  teachers,  so  that 
while  on  the  school  board  he  did  effective  serv- 
ice in  behalf  of  the  cause  of  education.  For  six 
vears  he  acted  as  drainage  commissioner  and  was 
instrumental  in  the  establishment  of  some  of 
the  big  ditches  of  the  county  which  have  been 
of  so  great  benefit  to  the  district,  draining  the 
wet  lands  and  reiidering  hitherto  low  and 
swampy  tracts  cultivable. 

For  thirty  vears  Mr.  Alexander  has  resided 
in  this  part  of  the  state  and  has  seen  great 
changes  as  the  wild,  wet  land  has  been  trans- 
formed into  fine  farms  equipped  with  all  modern 
conveniences,  so  that  it  is  today  one  of  the  rich 
agricultural  districts  of  this  great  state. 


SETH  W.  BOUGITTON. 

Selh  W.  Houghton,  regarded  as  one  of  the 
leading  business  men  of  Crescent  City,  where  he 
is  engaged  in  buying  and  dealing  in  grain,  coal 
and  seeds,  is  a  native  of  Iroquois  county,  his 
liirlli  having  occurred  in  Iroquois  township,  three 
miles  north  of  Crescent  City,  on  the  13th  of- 
June,  1870.  Flis  father.  Orris  Horatio  Bough- 
tun,  came  to  Will  county,  Illinois,  in  1842.  from 
tJK'  state  of  New  York,  where  his  birth  occurred 


G.  \v.  ALi':.\.\.\iJi:k. 


I 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


373 


I'cljniary  <>.  iSj;.  lie  rtsiilcil  in  Will  cminty 
until  1830.  wlu'ii.  with  tliri-c  brothers,  he  went  ti> 
California  by  way  of  the  overland  route,  niakiuj; 
tlie  long  journey  across  the  hot  plains,  tiie  sandy 
stretches  and  throujjjj  the  mountain  passes  to  ilu- 
( iolden  state.  (  )ne  of  his  brothers  died  in  Iowa, 
while  on  the  trip.  The  other  brothers  and  our 
sul)ject's  father  reinainetl  in  California  about  a 
year,  and  then  returned  to  Will  county,  Illinois. 

(  >n  the  jd  of  July.  185,^.  at  LockiM)rt.  Will 
county.  Orris  II.  Iloufjluon  was  united  in  mar- 
riaj;c  to  Miss  Caroline  E.  Passnier.  who  was 
born  at  North  .Scriba,  <  )swcjio  county.  New 
York,  January  J3.  1S3O.  and  on  the  2,vl  "f  Oc- 
tober, i8<)4.  they  removed  to  Irocjuois  county, 
locatiufj  in  Iro<|uois  township  near  the  home  of 
James  M.  Calkin,  one  of  the  old  settlers  here. 
Mr.  IJoujjhton  resolutely  undert<M)k  the  task  of 
further  developing  and  cultivating  his  farm, 
which  comprised  one  hundred  and  twentv  acres 
of  good  land  that  in  course  of  time  brought  forth 
rich  and  aliuudant  harvests,  owing  to  the  care 
aufl  labor  lie  bestowed  upon  the  fields.  Tlnis  he 
l)rosperefI  in  his  business  and  he  was,  moreover, 
regarded  as  a  go(Ml  neighbor,  well  liked  by  all 
who  knew  him.  (  )n  the  4th  »>f  March.  1SX4. 
he  removed  to  Marion  cmmty,  Illinois,  and  located 
near  Salem,  where  his  wife  died  on  the  28th  of 
the  following  .May.  being  laid  to  rest  in  Mast 
Lawn  cemetery.  Salem.  May  30.  18S4.  She  was 
an  earnest  and  consistent  memlK-r  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  at  Crescent  City.  .Mr.  Hough- 
ton still  makes  his  home  in  Salem,  being  now 
eighty-one  years  of  age.  His  family  numbered 
four  children :  Harry,  who  is  engaged  in  car- 
pentering in  Salem:  Juniata,  the  wife  of  ( i.  W. 
Leckrone.  a  resident  of  Salem:  Warren,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  grain  busine-s  at  I  larri-^ville.  Illi- 
nois :  and  Seth  W. 

The  commcpu  schools  atfonled  Setli  \\  .  Hough- 
ton the  cflucational  (irivileges  which  he  enjoyed 
and  he  began  business  life  on  his  own  account 
when  eighteen  years  of  age.  being  emi)loyed  at 
farm  labor  until  he  attained  his  majority.  He 
afterward  worked  at  the  caqHMitcr's  trade  for  a 
year  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  grain 
business  in  the  employ  of  T.  Mctiill,  of  Watseka. 
with  whom  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  was 
afterward  in  the  em|)lo\  of  Mr.  Mc(  iill  in  Mil- 
ford  for  a  \i-;ir  and  .1  li.ilf  .mil  •.iib-.i-nni nth   >.|M'nt 


si.\  and  a  half  years  in  the  .service  of  L.  T.  Hutch- 
iiis,  a  grain  dealer  of  .Milford.  ( )n  the  expira- 
tion of  that  ])eriiMl  he  came  to  Crescent  City  in 
n;oi  and  entered  into  partnership  with  Harlan 
Urothers  and  has  since  been  engagetl  in  the  grain 
trade  under  the  firm  name  of  Harlan  &  Itough- 
ton.  They  have  an  elevator  with  a  ca|)acity  of 
fifty  thou.saud  bushels,  and  in  connection  with 
grain  they  also  handle  seeds,  coal  and  other  com- 
modities and  have  a  finely  e(|uipped  office.  Mr. 
lioughton  owns  one  of  the  finest  residences  in 
Crescent  City. 

The  lady  who  presides  over  tin>  .iitraciivc 
home  was  in  her  maidcnh<MKl  Miss  .Matie  I*'. 
Roberds,  of  Milford,  to  whom  he  was  married 
June  iS.  i8</).  She  is  a  daughter  of  Sanford 
.\.  Roberds.  who  became  one  of  the  pioneer  resi- 
dents of  Iro(|uois  county  but  is  now  living  in 
Colorado.  I'oth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Houghton  hold 
membership  in  the  Metlnxlist  Episcopal  church 
and  in  its  work  take  an  active  and  hel|)ful 
interest. 

Mr.  Houghton  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge. 
No.  U,H.  .\.  v.  &  A.  .M..  at  Milford:  to  Stamlard 
IfKlge.  .No.  («7.  I.  (I.  ( ).  F.,  of  Crescent  City: 
and  to  Crescent  cam]),  .No.  1425,  .M.  W.  .\.  He 
is  in  symi)atliy  with  the  distinguished  elements 
of  these  organizations,  which  recognize  the 
brotherhood  of  luankind  and  inculcate  nuitual 
helpfulness  and  kindliness  among  the  members. 
Mr.  Houghton's  interests  e.xtend  to  those  lines 
of  life  which  affect  the  welfare  of  the  people  at 
large  ami  he  gives  hearty  endorsement  to  all 
movements  which  tend  to  advance  the  material, 
intellectual   and   moral    welfare   of  a   citv. 


W  ll.l.l AM    A.  C.\U.\I AN. 

W  illiam  A.  Carman,  a  practical  and  progres- 
sive agriculturist  living  on  section  3.  Fountain 
Ireek  township,  his  ])ossessions  embracing  two 
hundred  and  thirty-three  acres,  is  a  native  of 
ln<liana.  He  was  Ixtrn  .\[)ril  <>.  18/V),  and  the 
following  year  was  brought  to  Illinois  bv  his 
father,  .\lonzo  Carman,  who  was  likewise  born 
in  the  Hoosier  state  am!  was  there  reared,  lb- 
was  a  farmer  by  occupation,  anrl  in  Indiana 
vMiMf.l    MiT.v     \     Lunger,    who    was    likewise 


374 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


born  in  that  state.  Soon  afterward  they  came  to 
Illinois,  settling  in  Iroquois  comity,  where  Mr. 
Carman  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land.  After  living  upon  that  property  for  a 
few  years  he  bought  another  farm  a  mile  south 
of  Goodwine,  comprising  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  His  time  and  energies  were  then 
devoted  to  the  development  of  the  soil  and  the 
improvement  of  the  fields  and  he  made  there 
a  good  farm.     His  family  number  three  children. 

William  A.  Carman,  the  eldest,  was  reared 
under  the  parental  roof  and  enjoyed  good  school 
advantages.  \\'hen  he  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age  his  father  gave  him  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  has  since  cultivated,  and 
as  the  years  have  passed  he  has  won  a  place 
among  the  representative  and  successful  agri- 
culturists of  his  part  of  the  county.  He  made 
further  preparations  for  having  a  home  of  his 
own  b\-  his  marriage,  on  the  i8th  of  October, 
1893,  to  ^liss  Jennie  Kesterson,  who  was  born 
in  this  county  and  is  a  daughter  of  William 
Kesterson.  who  is  now  living  in  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship. Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Carman  have  become  the 
parents  of  three  children,  Mattie  Florence,  Rosa 
.\delaide  and  Hearsel. 

With  the  added  stimulus  of  having  a  family 
for  whom  to  provide,  William  A.  Carman  reso- 
lutely took  up  the  work  of  the  farm  and  has 
carried  it  forward  with  unfaltering  diligence  and 
perseverance.  The  buildings  upon  his  place  are 
monuments  to  his  enterprise  and  labor  and  in- 
clude a  two-story  dwelling,  two  good  barns,  cribs 
and  other  outbuildings.  There  are  also  three 
flowing  wells  n])on  the  place  and  the  fields  have 
been  drained  Ijy  tlie  judicious  use  of  tile,  while 
fences  have  divided  the  farm  into  fields  of  con- 
venient size.  TTe  has  altogether  one  thousand 
rods  of  tile  on  liis  place.  TJu-  cereals  planted 
bring  forth  rich  harvests  because  of  the  practical 
progressive  methods  he  follows  in  caring  f(jr  the 
fields,  and  lie  is  also  engaged  in  raising  thomngh- 
bred  Xorman  horses  and  is  the  owner  of  an  im- 
ported stallion  for  breeding  purposes. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carman  attend  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  cJiurch  at  Goodwine.  of  which  the  lady 
is  a  member,  while  he  holds  membership  rela- 
tions with  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  of  Good- 
wine. His  political  views  accord  with  the  ]irin- 
ciples  of  the  republican  party  and  at  local  elections 


he  casts  an  independent  ballot.  With  the  assist- 
ance received  from  his  father,  which  enabled  him 
to  gain  a  good  start  in  life,  he  has  made  steady 
advancement  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity  and 
is  now  one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  the 
communitv. 


JESSE  R.  EASTBURX. 

Jesse  R.  Eastburn  is  numbered  among  the 
native  sons  of  Concord  township,  having  been 
born  on  section  32  in  1870.  His  father.  Jesse 
R.  Eastburn,  Sr.,  was  a  riative  of  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  bom  in  1815,  and  by  wagon  he  journeyed 
across  the  conntrv  from  the  Buckeye  state  to  Illi- 
nois in  company  with  his  father,  Hezekiah  East- 
burn,  This  was  about  1830.  The  grandfather 
then  entered  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
from  the  government,  the  tract  being  situated  on 
section  t,2,  Concord  township.  He  built  a  log 
cabin  and  there  made  his  home,  living  in  pioneer 
style  and  aiding  in  laying  strong  and  deep  the 
foundation  tipon  which  has  been  builded  the 
[present  prosperity  and  progress  of  the  county. 
He  died  a  few  years  later,  at  which  time  his  son. 
Jesse  R.  Eastburn,  .Sr.,  took  the  farm,  which  he 
improved,  building  a  house,  barn  and  fences  upon 
it.  He  also  did  considerable  tiling  and  thus 
added  much  to  the  productiveness  of  the  fields. 
On  the  1 6th  of  September,  1848,  he  married 
Tobitha  Crichfield.  who  died  Xovember  9,  1854, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years.  By  that  tmion 
were  born  two  children,  Anne  and  Ellen.  He 
was  married  Mav  i.  1856,  to  ^liss  Margaret 
Howry,  of  Indiana,  and  unto  them  were  born 
four  children,  of  wlmni  three  are  living:  Jesse 
R..  Laura  J.  and  Mattie.  The  mother  of  these 
cjiijilren  was  born  Xovember  13,  1840.  and  died 
Xovember  16,  1898. 

The  surviving  son,  Jesse  R.  Eastburn.  lived 
at  home  witji  his  jiarents  during  the  period  of  his 
l)oyhood  and  youth,  and  when  twenty-four  years 
lit  age  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account, 
farming  nn  sections  31  and  ^2.  The  tract  of  land 
eom])rises  two  hundred  and  seventy  acres.  Mr. 
ICaslburn  has  purchased  his  sisters'  interest  in 
the  old  homestead  and  has  made  some  substan- 
tial im])roveiuents  thereon.  He  follows  farming 
and  stiick-raising  and  everything  about  the  place 


IROQL-OIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


.?75 


iiulii:at(.->  lii>  careful  siipcrvisioii  aiul  jiraciical 
iiicthixls.  Ml-  lias  carefully  systfinatizal  his 
wiirk  ami  he  is  always  interesteil  in  anything;  that 
tends  to  primiote  the  welfare  of  the  ai;riculturisi 
through  the  improvement  of  niachinery  or  the 
acceptance  of  scientific  knowleilj^c  which  has  di- 
rect bearinjj  ujxjii  the  best  methods  of  tillinij  the 
soil  and  pHniucinj^j  jjood  crops.  In  comiection 
with  jjcneral  farmintj  Mr.  I-^astl)uni  has  also 
enjiajjed  in  raisinj;  stock  and  finds  this  a  jirofit- 
able  source  of  income. 

<  )n  the  13th  of  Seinemher.  iStj^,  occurred  the 
marriaj.;e  of  Jesse  K.  Lasiburn  and  Miss  I'.ertha 
Clark,  who  was  born  in  Concord  townsbi])  in 
1S7J.  They  have  become  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  Hazel  L..  Marjjuerite  E..  John  L..  Jesse 
V...  Walter  Clifford.  I'reeman  1'.  and  I'.ernard 
R.  -Mr.  Kastbnrn  has  served  as  school  director 
and  he  jrives  his  jiolitical  sup])ort  to  the  democ- 
racy. Having  always  lived  in  Concord  town- 
ship, he  has  a  wide  acquaintance  within  its  bor- 
ders and  his  good  qualities  have  won  him  f.Tvor- 
able  regard  and   warm   frieiidshi])s. 


CLARK 


M  \k  l'l\. 


Among  the  residents  of  I^)da  now  living  re- 
tired is  numbered  Clark  H.  .Martin,  who  in 
former  years  was  identified  willi  agricultural  and 
commercial  interests  bin  who  is  now  enjoying 
rest  from  all  labor,  save  the  su])ervision  of  his 
invested  interests.  He  was  born  in  (  )neida  countv. 
N'ew  York.  .May  17.  iS^c;.  and  comes  of  Lnglish 
ancestry,  the  family  having  Ixen  founded  in  N'ew- 
Kngland  during  the  pioneer  ei)ocIi  in  its  history. 
The  grandfather.  Lbenezer  .Martin,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut  and  became  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  (  hieida  County,  N'ew  York,  where  oc- 
curred the  birth  of  his  son,  .\lfred  Martin,  fa- 
ther of  our  subject,  in  1800.  The  latter  was 
reared  in  that  county  ami  there  married  Rhfida 
Dennison,  a  native  of  Xew  York.  To  provide 
for  his  family  he  followed  agricultural  pursuits 
in  Oneida  county  and  spent  his  entire  life  there, 
I)assing  away  in  1850.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1S12.  entering  the  army  when  a  lad  of 
onI\  twelve  >>r  thirteen  years,  and  his  widow  was 


afterward  pensioned  by  the  government  because 
of  that  service.  For  years  he  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace,  his  decisions  being  strictly 
fair  and  impartial  and  he  was  known  throughout 
the  conununily  as   Stjuire   Martin. 

Cnlo  him  and  his  wife  were  born  fourteen  chil- 
dren, thirteen  of  whom  reached  >ears  of  ma- 
turity— five  sons  and  eight  daughters,  but  the  only 
surviving  sons  are  Clark  H.,  of  this  review,  and 
Lyman.  There  are  four  sisters  living,  three  be- 
ing residents  of  the  state  of  N'ew  York  and  one 
of  I-'Iorida.  Two  of  the  brothers  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  I'nion  army  during  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion.  Lyman  joined  the  <  )ne  Hundred  and 
Seventeenth  N'ew  York  X'olunteer  Infantry  and 
served  for  three  years.  He  was  wounded  and 
still  sulTers  from  the  effect  of  that  injury.  His 
home  is  in  Rome,  N'ew  York,  where  he  is  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a  contractor.  Charles  J. 
.Martin,  of  the  same  family,  enlisted  when  but  a 
lad  of  f(5urteen  years,  jfjining  the  army  in  the 
fall  of  1861  in  an  independent  company.  He 
was  ke])t  at  the  head(|uarters  of  tieneral  Mc- 
L'lellan  antl  his  successors  for  special  (lut\'  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  lie  ])artici- 
])ate(l  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  1).  C. 
He  beame  a  ])rominent  and  inllueiuial  resident 
of  Siloam  Spring.  Arkansas,  where  he  lived  for 
a  nimiber  of  years,  and  was  cashier  of  a  bank 
there  at   the  time  of  his  death   in   the  spring  of 

Clark  H.  Martin  s])ent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  countv  i>f  his  nativity,  was 
reared  to  farm  life  and  was  educated  in  the 
|)nblic  schools.  He.  too.  was  a  soldier  of  the 
Civil  war.  enlisting  on  the  1st  of  .Ma\.  1861.  in 
response  to  the  president's  call  for  troojis.  He 
had  watched  with  interest  the  trend  of  events 
in  the  south  and  had  resolved  that  if  a  blow  was 
struck  to  overthrow  the  I'nion  he  would  stand 
loyally  in  its  defense,  .\ccordingly  he  joined 
Company  C.  of  the  Fourteenth  N'ew  York  N'ol- 
imteer  Infantry,  which  was  assigned  to  the  .\rmy 
of  the  Potomac  under  (ieneral  (Jeorge  B.  Mc- 
(.'lellan.  He  partici|)ated  in  the  following  battles: 
r.idl  Run.  July  24.  iWti  :  I'.ig  Hetliel :  Yorktown, 
April  4,  18^12:  Williamsburg.  May  5;  Hanover 
Courthouse.  May  27:  .Mechanicsville.  June  27; 
Ciaines  Mills.  June  28:  Fair  ( )aks.  June  30; 
Malvern  Hill.  July  18-20:  Bull  Run,  August  30: 


3/-6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Antietani,  September  17 ;  Shepherdstown.  Sep- 
tember 20 ;  Fredericksburg,  December  1 3  ;  and 
Chancellorsville,  i\Iay  4.  1863.  While  at  the  last 
named  place  his  term  of  service  ex|)ired  and  he 
was  mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged  at 
Utica.  New  York,  ^lay  24,  with  the  rank  of  cor- 
poral. Although  he  was  never  wounded  he  was 
ill  with  txphoid  fever  during  the  early  part  of 
his  service  and  saw  much  arduous  military  duty, 
experiencing  the  usual  hardships  of  the  soldier 
who  engages  in  actual  warfare. 

After  recuperating  for  a  time  Mr.  }klartin 
entered  the  railroad  station  at  McConnellsville, 
New  York,  where  he  remained  for  four  years  as 
agent.  About  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  war 
he  was  married  there,  on  the  9th  of  October. 
18O4,  to  Aliss  Harriet  Hicks,  a  native  of  Xew 
York  state,  who,  for  several  years  prior  to  her 
marriage,  had  engaged  in  teaching.  In  1867 
they  removed  to  Illinois,  and  Mr.  .Martin  pur- 
chased land  in  what  is  now  Pigeon  tirove  town- 
ship, becoming  owner  of  three  hundred  and  twen- 
ty acres  of  raw  land,  which  he  broke  and  fenced 
developing  a  new  farm.  He  also  put  up  good 
buildings,  including  a  house,  barn,  cribs  and 
sheds,  and  he  carried  on  the  active  work  of  the 
farm  until  1889,  when  he  sold  that  property  and 
removed  to  Loda,  where  he  erected  a  dwelling. 
For  three  or  four  years  he  conducted  a  meat  mar- 
ket in  the  town  and  then  sold  out.  since  which 
time  he  has  lived  retired.  In  the  meantime,  how- 
ever, he  purchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  improved  land  in  IJarton  county, 
Missouri,  and  from  this  he  deri\es  a  gratifving 
income. 

Unto  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Martin  have  been  born 
two  children.  ( iertrude.  a  music  teacher  :  and  \\'il- 
liam  C,  a  farmer.  Ixith  at  home.  Mr.  Martin 
exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in  sui)]iort  of  the 
republican  party,  having  been  one  of  its  stalwart 
champions  since  casting  his  first  presidential  bal- 
lot for  .Vbraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  When  living 
on  the  farm  he  served  as  township  treasurer  for 
fourteen  years,  being  the  first  to  be  elected  after 
the  organization  of  the  townshi]),  and  continuing 
in  that  office  until  he  removed  to  Loda.  He  was 
also  township  clerk  for  three  terms.  His  wife 
is  a  member  of  the  fhrislian  church  and  he  1k- 
l(jngs  to  the  (irand  .Army  jjosl  at  Loda.  in  which 
he  is  a  past  commander.     During  the  thirty-nine 


years  of  his  residence  in  Iroquois  county  he  has 
so  lived  as  to  win  the  esteem  and  friendship  of 
those  with  whom  he  has  come  in  contact  and  he 
deserves  mention  in  this  volume  as  a  representa- 
tive citizen  and  as  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war. 


A.  T.  CARTER. 


A.  J.  Carter  is  a  retired  farmer  living  in 
Ashkum.  He  still  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  finelv  improved  land  on  section  22, 
Ashkum  township,  together  with  a  modern  home 
in  the  village  where  he  resides.  He  represents 
one  of  the  old  pioneer  families  of  this  part  of  the 
state.  His  parents,  S.  O.  and  Lorena  (Thorn- 
ton )  Carter,  removed  to  La  Salle,  Illinois, 
from  Alorristown,  St.  Lawrence  county.  Xew 
York,  in  183C).  In  1849  S-  ^'-  Carter  went 
to  California,  attracted  by  the  discovery  of 
gold  on  the  Pacific  slope,  and  turned  the  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  over  to  his  son,  A.  J.  Carter, 
then  a  boy  of  fifteen  years.  He  remained  in  the 
far  west  until  1855,  ■^^li^n  't?  rejoined  his  family 
in  Illinois.  There  were  three  sons,  of  whom  .A, 
J.  is  the  eldest.  The  others  are  H.  H.  Carter,  a 
retired  farmer  now  living  in  Earlville,  Illinois ; 
and  foel  Carter,  who  has  likewise  retired  from 
the  work  of  the  farm  and  makes  his  home  in 
Earlville. 

A.  J.  Carter  was  born  in  M<_>rristown.  St. 
Lawrence  county.  Xew  A'ork,  August  9,  1833, 
and  was  therefore  but  three  years  old  when 
brought  tbv  his  parents  to  this  state.  His  early 
education  was  somewhat  neglected  on  account  of 
the  ])oor  school  privileges  in  Illinois  at  that  early 
period.  His  training  at  farm  labor,  however, 
was  not  meager,  for  he  early  began  to  assist 
in  the  work  of  the  fields,  taking  his  place  be- 
hind the  plow  almost  as  soon  as  large  enough  to 
reach  the  |iIo\\  liaiidles.  L'or  many  ye.'irs  there- 
after he  was  closeh-  associated  with  .igricidtiu'al 
interests  and,  as  stated,  assmned  the  management 
of  the  home  farm  when  a  xouth  of  fifteen  years, 
.\s  time  passed  by  he  saved  his  earnings  and  at 
lent;th  purchased  a  farm  of  his  own.  Coming 
to  lro(|uois  count\  in  iSdS,  he  invested  in  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  22. 
Ashkum    townshii).      This    is    now    a    splendidly 


•y. 


■/. 


7: 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUXTY.  ILLINOIS. 


37" 


improvi-il  propcrt}  fmin  wliicli  lie  'Icrivcs  a  guixl 
income,  ami  lie  continued  to  carr\  nij  tlie  work 
of  the  farm  until  iS(i«).  wlien  lie  took  uj)  liis 
alxxic  ill  the  village. 

Mr.  Carter  was  married  in  l-larlville  Decem- 
lier  17.  iSd-.  to  Miss  Mary  .\nn  Jactihs.  of  that 
l>lace.  Tliex  hecanie  parents  of  a  son  and  dauf^h- 
ler  Itut  the  forn-.er,  .\rtluir  Wells,  ilied  at  the 
ape  of  nineteen  years.  The  daughter,  Jennie  11., 
after  attemlinjj  the  public  .schools  of  .\shkinii, 
entered  the  Ciraiid  I'rairie  Seminary  at  <~)iiarKa, 
from  which  she  \<  as  jiraduateil.  She  has 
taupht  school  in  .\shkum  townshiji  f<ir  the  past 
six  vcars  an<l  in  connection  therewith  slu'  now 
manages  her  father's  home  since  the  death  of 
the  wife  and  mother,  which  occurred  on  the 
_Vl   of  Xovemher,    i()Oi. 

.Mr.  Carter  has  supported  the  <lemocrac\ 
throughout  his  life,  although  he  has  hecome 
somewhat  nKle])endeiit  in  jiolitics  in  later  years. 
He  cpves  to  the  support  of  local  churches,  al- 
though he  docs  not  hold  memliership  with  .-my 
denomination.  His  life  has  been  honorable  ami 
uprisjht  and  the  success  which  he  enjoys  ha- 
come  as  the  leiritimate  result  of  earnest  I.ilii>r 
and  close  application. 


THOMAS    T.  WESSELS. 

Thomas  T.  Wessels,  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  also  operating  a  threshing  machine  and 
corn  sheller,  resides  on  section  33,  Iroquois  town- 
ship, where  he  has  one  of  the  finest  and  best 
improved  farms  in  the  county.  With  unfalter- 
ing determination  and  laudable  ambition  he  has 
worked  with  this  end  in  view  and  his  prominence 
and  pros|)erity  as  an  agriculturist  are  well 
merited. 

Mr.  Wessels  was  l)orn  in  the  town  of  Middles, 
in  the  county  of  .\uricli,  Hanover,  (jermany.  in 
i8'>4.  a  .son  of  l-Vederick  Wessels,  also  a  native 
of  that  locality.  The  father,  who  was  a  me- 
chanic, worked  in  a  brickyard  and  also  followed 
farming.  He  married  (lesche  Reinholz.  likewise 
a  native  of  Hanover,  ar.d  in  iSfx)  they  came  with 
their  family  to  .\nierica.  making  a  location  in 
Washington.  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  Wessels  engaged  in  farming  for  a  few  years. 


He  then  removed  to  this  county,  settling  in  .\sh- 
kum  townshi]!,  where  lie  resided  for  two  years 
and  then  removed  to  Crescent  township.  His 
last  years  were  spent  in  Crescent  Lity,  where 
he  lived  retired  until  I'.is  death,  which  occurred 
in  H)oi.  His  wife  has  also  passed  away.  The 
tamily  of  this  worthx  couple  numbered  four 
children,  three  of  whom  are  \et  living:  Thomas 
r. :  (ierd.  a  successful  farmer  of  Crescent  town- 
ship: and  lieike,  living  in  .\rkansas. 

The  father  wisely  decided  to  bring  his  family 
to  .\merica  and  thus  Thomas  T.  Wessels  has  had 
tlie  bmader  opportunities  of  the  new  world.  Ik- 
was  only  live  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  emigra- 
tion and  in  the  common  schools  of  this  state 
he  ac(|uired  his  education,  assisting  in  the  work 
of  the  farm  when  not  busy  with  his  text-books. 
He  has  always  followed  farming.  Having  been 
ie:ired  to  that  occupation  he  has  never  desired 
to  change  and  has  found  ample  opportunitv  in 
this  deiartnieiit  of  labor  for  the  exercise  of  close 
application,  keen  discernment  and  capable  man- 
agement. These  (|ualities  have  shown  forth  in 
the  results  that  he  has  achieved.  He  first  bought 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  Crescent  town- 
ship, which  he  later  .sold  and  bought  three  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  acres  of  fine  land  on  section  33. 
Inxpiois  township  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  the  countv,  in  the 
midst  of  which  stands  a  large  commodious  resi- 
dence, built  in  modern  style  of  architecture.  In 
the  rear  of  this  is  a  large  barn,  which  he  has 
recently  built,  and  the  fences  and  all  of  the  build- 
ings upon  the  jilace  present  a  well  kept  appear- 
ance. .Modern  methods  of  farming  are  utilize<l 
and  he  is  sy.stematic  in  all  that  he  docs.  Drain- 
age, rotation  of  cro|)s,  the  u.se  of  the  latest  ini- 
I)roved  machinery,  all  contribute  to  the  success 
of  the  business  which  he  is  making  his  life 
work,  and  stock-raising  is  no  unimportant  branch 
of  his  interests.  In  i8<;<;  he  began  threshing 
and  corn  shelling  and  he  now  owns  two  fine 
threshing  outfits  and  two  corn  shellers  and  does 
nnich  work  with  these,  ojierating  extensively  in 
the  county. 

.Mr.  Wessels  married  Miss  Jennie  Renken,  of 
lro(|uois  county,  a  daughter  of  Renke  .\.  Renken. 
a  very  early  .settler  of  the  county  who  came  from 
Ciermany  and  died  in  M/yT,.  VnXo  .Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wessels    have    been    born    five   children:     Fred- 


38o 


PAST  AM)  rRKSRXT  OF 


erick,  Herman.  Leia.  Waller  and  Kditli.  all  yet 
at  home,  the  family  circle  remaininj;  unbroken 
by  the  hand  of  death.  The  parents  arc  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church.  Mr.  We.ssels  i.s 
independent  in  political  thought  and  action.  He 
has  spent  much  of  his  life  in  this  county,  which 
has  been  the  scene  of  his  business  activity. 
Early  in  life  he  became  imbued  with  a  strong  de- 
sire to  attain  affluence  and  acquire  good  farming 
property  and  bent  his  energies  toward  securing 
this  result.  He  has  made  good  use  of  his  op- 
portunities, turning  every  advantage  to  the  best 
accoiml,  in  accordance  with  honorable  business 
principles,  and  his  life  is  an  illustration  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  persistent  etTort  and  tin' 
practical  use  of  one"s  native  talents. 


I r LI  rs   K1I".TZAL\XX. 


Julius  Kietziiianu.  Hving  on  section  5,  (  )narga 
township,  is  one  of  the  active  and  prosperous 
farmers  of  Troc[uois  county,  his  place  embracing 
two  hundred  acres  of  Illinois'  rich  soil.  He  has 
been  a  resident  of  this  state  since  1866  and  ot 
the  count)-  since  1872.  He  was  born  in  Prussia, 
April  12,  1846,  and  was  reared  to  manhood  there 
upon  a  farm.  He  had  varied  eonininn-schodl  ad- 
vantages in  the  (Jerman  language  but  is  self-edu- 
cated in  English,  having  mastered  the  latter 
tongue  since  coming  to  the  new  wurld.  The 
year  of  his  emigration  was  1866,  at  whieli  time 
he  took  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  1  lamburg 
which  was  eight  weeks  and  three  da\s  on  the 
broad  ,\tlantic  ere  the  voyage  was  coni])leted  by 
drojjping  anchor  in  Xew  "N'ork  harbor  on  the  1  ith 
of  June.  .Mr.  Kietzniaini  wurked  at  Albany  for 
two  months,  earning  seventeen  dollars,  after 
which  he  made  his  way  westward  to  Lhicago. 
His  cajjital  at  the  time  he  arrived  in  .\ew  Vnvk 
was  but  twenty-five  cents  and  he  also  had  only 
a  quarter  when  he  reached  the  western  metro])o- 
lis.  Going  to  Will  county,  Fllinois,  he  there 
worked  for  three  years  as  a  farm  han<l  in  the 
employ  of  one  man  antl  thus  made  a  start  in  busi- 
ness life  in   this   state. 

Mr.  Kietzmann  was  married  in  Will  county. 
October  9,  1870,  to  Miss  .\mclia  I-uckow,  a  na- 
tive of  Germanv.     Tie  then  rented  land  in  \\\\\ 


county,  which  he  operated  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  and  again 
carried  on  farming  on  rented  land  for  two  years. 
With  the  capital  he  had  managed  to  save  from 
his  earnings  he  afterward  purchased  eighty  acres 
on  which  he  took  up  his  abode,  there  carrying 
on  general  farming  for  six  or  seven  years. 
When  he  had  disposed  of  that  property  he  bought 
another  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres, 
which  he  cultivated  for  several  years,  and  as  his 
financial  resources  permitted  he  added  to  his 
holdings  from  time  to  time  until  he  owned  four' 
hundred  acres  in  that  tract.  There  he  carried 
on  farming  until  1899,  when  he  sold  his  property 
there  and  bought  two  hundred  acres  where  he 
now  resides  on  section  5,  Onarga  township. 
This  has  since  been  his  place  of  residence  and 
in  the  meantiine  he  has  purchased  another  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  about  two  miles 
to  the  east,  so  that  he  now  owns  altogether  three 
hundred  and  sixty  acres.  Here  he  has  put  up  a 
good  residence  and  also  substantial  outbuildings 
for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  Though  he 
started  out  in  life  empty-handed  he  is  now  in  very 
comfortable  financial  circumstances  and  the  se- 
cret of  his  success  is  his  good  management,  his 
enterprise  and  his  unfaltering  perseverance. 

Mr.  Kietzmann  lost  his  first  wife  about  1881. 
There  are  four  living  children  by  that  union: 
( iotlieb,  who  is  married  and  now  owns  and  op- 
erates a  farm  :  Theodore,  who  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farming  in  this  county:  Ida.  the  wife  of 
Hcnrv  l-'roehling,  an  agriculturist  of  Onarga 
township  :  and  I'jnil.  who  is  likewise  married  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  this  county.  Mr.  Kietz- 
mann was  again  married  in  February.  1883,  in 
Chicago,  his  second  union  being  with  .\nna 
W'endtland.  a  native  of  Germany.  They  now 
have  seven  children :  Charles,  .\ugust,  Martha, 
Henrv,  Minnie,  Rosa  and  Lillie. 

I'lilitiealh'  .Mr.  Kietzmann  is  a  true  blue  demo- 
crat, having  stanchly  supported  the  party  for  a 
number  of  years.  He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
faith  anil  his  wife  is  a  communicant  of  the 
Catholic  church.  His  residence  in  Illinois  covers 
a  period  of  four  decades,  during  which  time  he 
has  been  a  most  industrious  man.  He  worked 
hard  to  gain  a  start  and  as  the  years  have  gone 
by  he  has  made  judicious  investment  in  property 
luuil  he  now  owns  two  well  improved  and  valu- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


.^«' 


al>Ii'  farms.  His  ri-innl  is  an  Imiior  to  tin-  laii<I 
of  his  nativity  ami  tlic  land  of  his  aclo])lion  and 
proves  what  may  1k'  acoomplishi-d  in  a  conntrN 
wluTt-  ilTort  is  not  hampirid  hy  cast  or  class. 
hut  where  the  road  U)  snccess  is  the  hii^hway  of 
nsefulness    and    ijenernl    activitv. 


IK.WKI.IX 


ZrMW  Al.l 


l-'ranklin  i*.  /.unuvalt.  of  Sheldon,  is  nnmhereil 
among  Irotjuois  county's  native  sons  and  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families 
of  tile  state,  while  in  1S47  his  lather  hecanie  a 
resident  of  this  county,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the 
early  >ettlers  who  were  reclaiminj.;  the  wild  land 
and  iniim))roved  rtfjion  for  the  purposes  of  civili- 
zation. It  was  ui)on  the  old  farm  homestead  in 
Shrlilon  township  th:U  .Mr.  Zumwalt  of  this  re- 
view was  horn,  j-'ehruarv  3.  i.S<iS.  Mis  ])arints 
Wire  Christian  and  .Salimla  ( l  )der )  /luuwah. 
The  father  was  horn  in  Lexint;ton.  Harrison 
County.  Kentucky.  .Sei)lenil)cr  S.  1SJ4,  and  was 
the  younj,'csl  in  the  family  of  cin'u  children  l):irn 
nnto  I'hili])  and  Leah  (I'owell)  Zumwalt.  who 
wire  likewise  native  of  the  iilue  (irass  state.  In 
183,^  when  their  son  Christian  was  a  lad  of 
nine  ^ars  they  removed  with  their  familx  to 
Indiana.  seUlinti  in  l"ountain  county,  where  I'liilij) 
Zumwalt  c  nducted  a  grist  and  saw  mill  but  he 
was  not  long  permitted  to  enjoy  his  new  h<inie.  his 
death  occurring  in   i^j^J. 

Christian  Zmnwalt  jjursued  his  education  i.i 
the  common  schools  and  remained  at  hoiue  until 
he  attained  his  majority.  In  1842.  with  his 
widowed  mother,  he  removed  to  Illinois,  settling 
first  in  \'ermilion  county,  where  he  carried  on 
general  farming.  His  mother  died  while  on  a 
visit  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in  1840.  In 
the  meantime,  in  1847,  Christian  Zumwalt  had 
removed  to  Iro(|uois  comity  hut  after  his  mothers 
death  returned  to  Vermilion  ciHinty.  Later  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  Iowa  and  subscf|uently  es- 
tablished his  home  in  Tazewell  county.  Illinois, 
but  lived  at  each  (dace  for  only  a  brief  iicrioil. 
He  came  again  to  Iroquois  county  in  1855  and 
l)igan  farming  here.  Prosperity  attended  his  well 
directed   elTorls   and    he   made   judicious   invest- 


ments in  property  until  his  farm  land  embraced 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres.  This  he  brought 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  improve- 
ment and  in  the  course  of  years  the  fields  returned 
him  a  gratifying  income  in  bounteous  harvests. 
Mr.  Zumwalt  secured  a  jiortion  of  his  land  from 
the  government.  Not  a  furrow  had  been  turned 
iior  an  improvement  made  u|)on  that  tract  but 
he  resolutelv  set  to  work  to  convert  it  into  pro- 
ductive fielils  and  bis  labors  in  course  of  time 
wrought  the  desired  transformation.  He  also 
erected  goo<l  buildings  and  added  the  various 
e(|uipuients  which  are  elements  of  a  model  farm. 
Without  desire  for  oftice  Mr.  Zumwalt  gave  a 
st.alwart  sii])])ort  to  the  republican  i)arty  and  its 
principles.  The  only  offices  he  would  ever  con- 
sent to  holil  were  in  connection  with  the  schools 
ami  the  roads  and  he  did  this,  realizing  their 
value  as  factors  in  the  liest  develo])ment  of  the 
county.  He  and  his  wife  were  consistert  mem- 
bers and  active  workers  in  the  C"liristian  church 
and   were  highly   rispected  in   the  communilv. 

I  )n  the  i8tli  of  I'ebruary.  184(1.  Christian 
Zumwalt  was  married  to  Miss  .Salinda  (  )dir.  a 
native  of  Illinois  aiicl  a  daughter  of  Joseiib  <  )ili.r. 
h'ight  children  blessed  this  union,  .seven  of  wb.'m 
are  now  living.  The  father  died  in  W'atseka  in 
i8</i.  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years,  while  his 
wife  survived  until  H)02  and  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four. 

l-ranklin  I'.  Zumwalt  at  the  usual  age  became 
;i  student  in  the  district  schools  and  mastered  the 
various  branches  of  learning  tlierein  taught. 
\\  hen  not  occupied  with  the  duties  of  the  scliool- 
r:  oni  or  t!ie  pleasures  of  the  ])layground  his  at- 
tention was  claimed  by  the  farm  work  and  thus 
be  became  familiar  with  all  of  the  tasks  neces- 
sary to  the  successful  cultivation  of  the  fields. 
When  twenty-one  years  of  age  lie  started  out  in 
life  on  his  own  account,  and  whatever  success 
he  has  achieved  is  due  entirely  to  his  own  labors. 
He  has  made  farming  his  life  work  and  is  today 
the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  acres  of 
land  in  Shelilon  township,  whereon  he  raises  both 
grain  and  stock.  I  le  has  made  a  specialty  of 
I'ercheron  horses  and  high  grade  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  he  employs  men  to  assist  him  in  carrying  on 
the  work  of  the  farm.  In  KjOj  he  retired  and  re- 
moved to  .Sheldon,  where  he  purchased  a  beauti- 
ful residence  that  be  now  occupies.     He  has  ten 


382 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


lots  in  town  and  his  home  is  one  of  the  most  at- 
tractive residences  in  Sheldon. 

Mr.  Zumwalt  was  married  in  1891  to  Miss 
Delia  Waity,  a  daughter  of  Xelson  II.  \\'aii>. 
who  was  one  of  the  pioneer  residents  here  but  is 
now  deceased.  He  was  born  in  Norway,  in  Au- 
gust, 1824,  and  there  spent  the  first  twelve  years 
of  his  life,  after  which  he  accompanied  his  par- 
ents on  their  emigration  to  the  new  world,  the 
family  home  being  established  at  Beaver  Creek. 
Illinois,  where  his  parents  dietl.  He  li\ed  there 
but  few  months,  when  he  went  to  Monticello, 
Illinois,  where  he  spent  one  year.  He  afterwartl 
returned  to  Pieaver  Creek  and  for  six  years  was 
employed  by  the  month  at  farm  labor.  He  then 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account,  and  in 
1854  he  bought  a  farm,  to  which  he  added  until 
he  owned  four  hundred  and  thirteen  acres  in 
Iroquois  county,  all  of  which  property  was  pur- 
chased w'ith  the  money  he  himself  earned  and 
is  the  visible  evidence  of  his  life  of  thrift  and 
industry.  On  the  13th  of  September.  1849.  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Enslen.  who  was  born 
in  Indiana  and  died  August  3.  1868.  Having 
lust  his  first  wife  Nelson  H.  Waity  was  married 
February  13,  1870,  to  Miss  Rosanna  Coughe- 
nour,  who  was  born  in  this  county.  They  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children,  three  of  whom 
are  yet  living:  Delia  E..  now  Mrs.  Zumwalt: 
Charles  X.;  and  Frank.  Both  Mr.  and  ^Nlrs. 
W^aity  have  now  passed  away. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zumwalt  have  four  children. 
Mabel.  Hirschel.  Kenneth  and  Freda.  Mr. 
Zumwalt  is  unfaltering  in  his  support  of  the  re- 
publican party,  his  study  of  the  questions  and  is- 
sues of  the  day  leading  him  to  the  opinion  that 
the  platform  of  that  party  contains  the  best  ele- 
ments of  good  government.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  lodge,  at  Sheldon,  and  also  of  the 
Woodmen  camp  there. 


ELWTN  TICLl.. 


It  has  been  said  thai  the  history  (if  a  country 
is  best  told  in  the  Hves  of  its  pcoi)le.  and  it  is  tlie 
enterprise  and  jniblic  spirit  of  the  citizens  who 
enrich  and  ennoble  a  commonwealth  through 
their  enterprise,  their  high  standards  of  conduct 


and  their  public  spirit.  As  one  of  the  represen- 
tative iren  of  Artesia  township  Elwin  Hull  cer- 
tainly deserves  mention  in  this  volume,  for  he  is 
the  oldest  settler  of  the  township  and  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  from  the  age  of  ten  years. 
For  almost  two  decades  he  has  resided  upon  the 
farm  which  is  now  his  home  and  his  agricultural 
interests  are  extensive  and  imjiortant.  for  he 
owns  and  cultivates  four  hundred  and  fifty-three 
acres  of  land.  His  home  is  situated  on  section 
13.  Artesia  townshijj.  and  stands  in  the  midst  of 
a  highly  developed  farm. 

Mr.  Hull  was  born  in  Delaware  countx',  Ohio, 
on  the  27th  of  March.  1843.  ^"<^1  ^^'i*  one  of  a 
family  of  five  children  born  imto  Japheth  and 
Betsy  ( Lusk )  Hull.  The  father  was  born  in 
Crawford  county,  r)hio,  ^larch  3,  1821.  and  was 
there  married  on  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of 
his  birth  to  Miss  Lusk,  a  native  of  Genesee 
county.  New  York,  born  Xoveiuber  i.  1822.  and 
a  daughter  of  Seth  Lusk.  The  young  people 
began  their  domestic  life  in  Delaware  county, 
Ohio,  where  they  resided  until  1853.  when  they 
came  to  Iroquois  county,  settling  in  what  is  now 
Onarga  township,  although  the  township  organi- 
zation had  not  then  been  effected.  A  year  later 
they  removed  to  what  is  now  Artesia  township 
and  took  up  their  abode  on  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  near  Buckley,  where  they 
resided  for  twenty-one  years.  Throughout  his 
active  life  ]Mr.  Hull  carried  on  farming  and  the 
secret  of  his  success  was  found  in  his  close  appli- 
cation and  unfaltering  diligence.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  owned  six  hundred  and  thirteen 
acres  of  well  ini[)r()ved  land,  and  he  passed  away 
on  the  25th  of  October,  187^,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
five  years. 

He  exerted  a  widefelt  influence  in  political 
circles  and  in  early  days  his  opposition  to  slavery 
led  him  to  become  a  stanch  abolitionist,  while  he 
was  known  as  a  conductor  on  the  famous  undcr- 
,ground  railroad  and  in  this  wav  assisted  many  a 
poor  negro  on  his  way  to  freedom  in  the  north, 
lie  joineil  the  freesoil  party  on  its  organization 
and  when  the  republican  party  was  formed  to 
l^revent  the  further  extension  of  slaverv  he  be- 
came one  of  its  advocates  and  remained  one  of 
its  faithful  followers  until  his  demise.  At  difi'er- 
ent  times  he  was  honored  with  positions  of  pub- 
lic trust.    He  acted  for  several  terms  as  a  mem- 


'ui  irit 
UNtVEWLil^  Of  ILLINOIS 


22 


MR.   AND  -MRS.   ELWIN'  HULL. 


lAI'HICTH    HILL. 


Ur  irtt 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQL'DIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


387 


her  of  the  hd.inl  <>i  supervisors  and  fur  sixteen 
\cars  was  justice  of  the  peace,  remlering  dcci- 
si<iiis  which  were  strictly  fair  and  impartial.  Fra- 
ternalK  he  was  a  Master  Mason  and  in  his  life 
exemplified  the  heneficcut  spirit  of  the  craft.  Mc 
was  also  amonj;  the  California  arjjonauts,  for  in 
1850,  attracted  In  the  discovery  of  gfold  on  the 
coast,  he  went  to  the  far  west,  where  he  worked 
hy  the  niontli  and  mined.  He  met  with  <;ood  suc- 
cess, hut  lost  ei!.;hl  thousand  dollars  hy  loaniiiij 
it  to  a  man  in  whom  he  had  such  confidence  that 
he  took  his  individual  note,  .\ftcr  spentlini:  al)ont 
three  years  on  the  coast  Mr.  Hull  returned  by 
way  of  Cape  Horn  and  New  \'ork  city  and  the 
same  _\ear  came  on  horseback  to  lro(|Uois  ci unity. 
liK-.itinij  on  the  farm  which  he  owned  at  the  time 
oi  his  death.  He  then  returned  to  Ohio  and 
bronjjbt  his  f;imily  by  team  t<i  Illinois,  castinjj  in 
bis  lot  with  the  pioneer  settlers.  All  was  wild 
and  unim])riived  in  tlii-  part  uf  the  state.  His 
nearest  nei,!,dibor  l<>  the  north  was  four  miles 
away,  mi  the  east  live  miles,  on  the  west  ei.nbteeii 
and  on  the  .south  thirty-live  miles,  all  of  wiiicb 
indicates  bis  isulaled  iiosition.  but  he  bravely  took 
up  the  work  of  pioneer  life  and  in  course  of  time 
developed  a  good  farm.  The  postoffice  was  at 
Middlei)ort.  a  distance  of  tweiit\-five  miles.  Piotli 
parents  have  now  passed  away.  In  their  famil) 
were  two  sons  and  three  tlaufjbters,  of  whom 
four  are  yet  liviiij;.  F.Iwin,  l-".lmer.  Alice  and  Al- 
wilda,  while  Alma,  the  third  in  onUr  <'\  birtli, 
died  March  3.  1872. 

Llwin  Hull  spent  the  first  ten  years  of  lii>  lile 
in  the  i)lace  of  his  nativity  an<l  then  came  with 
his  parents  to  Irocpiois  county,  where  he  has  since 
maile  his  home.  I*"ew  settlers  have  more  intimate 
knowle<ljje  of  the  changes  that  have  occurred 
and  the  transformation  that  has  been  wrought 
fluring  this  peri<xl.  His  home  was  a  frontier  set- 
tlement anrl  the  schools  of  the  district  were 
very  primitive.  .Ml  around  stretched  the  un- 
broken |)rairie,  over  which  one  might  ride  for 
miles  without  coming  to  a  fence  or  habitation  to 
im|)ede  his  progress.  Mr.  Hull  early  became  iii- 
niired  to  the  hardships  of  frontier  life  and  was 
trained  to  the  work  of  the  fields,  a.ssisting  in  the 
arduous  task  fif  developing  a  new  farm.  He  re- 
niainecl  with  his  father  until  his  thirty-fir.-t  \ear 
and  is  now  the  owner  of  the  old  family  home- 
stead. 


On  the  iJth  of  N'ovenibcr,  1873,  Mr.  Hull  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sadie  R.  Kerns,  a 
native  of  I'ennsylvania,  born  in  Giester  county, 
Septeml>er  7,  185J.  She  is  one  of  eight  children 
born  unto  Jacob  and  Hannah  (  Lntrekin  )  Kerns. 
The  father  was  born  in  the  same  county,  Feb- 
ruarx  12,  1JS15,  and  was  of  German  parentage, 
while  his  wife  was  likewise  a  native  of  Chester 
county,  I'ennsylvania,  born  January  7.  1819.  In 
an  early  day  they  removetl  to  La  Salle  county, 
Illinois,  and  in  |8<)S  liecame  residents  of  IriKjUois 
county,  where  Mrs.  Kerns  died  December  21, 
iSStj.  while  the  death  of  .Mr.  Kerns  occurred  De- 
cember 1,  i8nj2.  He  i)rospered  in  his  undertak- 
ings and  Ixcime  one  of  the  large  landowners  of 
the  lo(-;i!nv.  Hoth  be  and  his  ife  were  active 
mem!  le  Metliodist  church,  doing  all  in 

tlieir  pr wtr  to  advance  its  growth  and  extend 
its  irtUieiice. 

]"or  .1  miniber  of  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hull  located  upon  ;i  part  of  the  old  home  farm 
and  upon  his  father's  death  came  into  possession 
of  a  portion  of  it.  lie  continued  to  reside  there- 
on until  the  spring  of  188S,  when  be  removed  to 
his  present  place  of  residence  on  section  13,  .\r- 
tesia  township.  He  owns  four  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  acres  of  land,  which  be  li.is  brought  under 
a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  now  lives  retired, 
his  sons  operating  the  farm.  He  has  -always  been 
a  breeder  of  sliorthoni  cittle  and  Norman  horses 
and  tb'"^  lir.infb  of  his  biisiiR-s  b.i~  Dfoxcd  prof- 
itabb 

I'nlo  .\|r.  ami  .\!r>.  Hull  have  liceu  born  dvc 
children:  (ieorge.  who  lives  on  his  father's 
farm,  married  Rosa  F.  Conard.  a  daughter  of  Jo- 
seph Conrad,  and  they  have  three  children: 
b'erii,  llernice  :nid  Flwin.  I'rank,  who  is  also 
married  and  resides  on  the  home  farm,  wedded 
.\I.  I'.lanche  Hollingswortb.  and  they  have  one 
child.  \  erna  L.  Cora  1'..  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  A. 
Singleton,  a  tile  manufacturer  of  I'ucklcy.  Leo 
U.  is  a  Miuiig  man  and  operates  a  part  of  the 
home  |)lace.  Jay  L.  is  also  assisting  in  carrying 
on  the  home  farm.  The  mother  jjassed  away  in 
i^ji),  at  the  age  oi  forty-six  years,  after  having 
been  an  invalid  for  seven  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Hull  is  a  stalwart  republican, 
having  given  unfaltering  support  to  the  princi- 
ples of  the  party  at  each  presidential  election 
since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  .\l)rab;im  Lincoln. 


388 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


He  has  held  the  office  of  highway  commissioner 
for  eighteen  years,  has  been  treasurer  of  the 
board  for  a  number  of  years  and  has  been  school 
treasurer  for  sixteen  years.  He  was  also  town- 
ship assessor  for  nine  years  in  succession  and 
has  been  a  delegate  to  various  conventions  of  his 
party.  A  Master  Mason,  he  belongs  to  Buckley 
lodge,  No.  634,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  arid  to  Mount 
Olivet  commandery.  No.  38,  K.  T.,  of  Paxton. 

Mr.  Hull  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  foremost 
agriculturists  of  Iroquois  county,  having  under 
his  personal  supervision  fifteen  hundred  acres  of 
land.  In  addition  to  his  own  property  he  leases 
and  operates  the  Ann  C.  Searls  farm  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  acres.  The  occupation  to 
which  he  was  reared  he  has  always  made  his 
life  work,  nor  has  he  desired  to  change  in  this 
particular.  He  has  found  therein  ample  oppor- 
tunity for  the  exercise  of  his  industry  and  perse- 
verance— his  dominant  qualities — and  as  the 
\ears  have  gone  by  he  has  labored  so  effectively 
and  discerningly  in  well  directed  channels  of  ac- 
tivity that  his  success  has  long  been  assured  and 
he  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosperous  residents 
of  Artesia  townshi]i. 


JOHN  C.  GILES. 


Nature  has  been  lavish  of  lier  gifts  in  almost 
all  sections  of  this  great  country  but  particularly 
in  Illinois,  which  constitutes  a  part  of  the  richest 
farming  belt  of  America.  It  remained  to  the 
residents  of  this  locality  to  claim  and  improve 
the  opportunities  offered,  bringing  practical  and 
scientific  knowledge  to  meet  the  conditions  that 
would  transform  Iroquois  county  from  a  wilder- 
ness and  swamp  into  most  productive  farms. 
Among  those  who  have  labored  earnestly,  ener- 
getically and  successfully  along  that  line  is  num- 
bered John  C.  Giles,  who  today  owns  valuable 
farming  property  on  section  2,  Douglas  town- 
ship. His  life  record  began  in  North  Peoria, 
Illinois,  December  29.  1844,  and  he  comes  of 
English  ancestry.  His  grandfather,  Thomas 
Giles,  was  an  English  soldier  wlm  acted  as  one- 
of  the  British  guards  during  the  trip  nf  the 
banished  Napoleon  to  the  Island  of  St.  Helena. 
Plis  wife.  .\nn  Giles,  was  also  of  English  birth. 


and  on  leaving  the  military  service  of  his  coun- 
try he  also  left  his  native  land,  becoming  a  resi- 
lient of  America  in  1827.  After  four  years 
passed  in  Utica,  New  York,  he  removed  to  Rich- 
land, that  state,  and  in  1836,  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  family,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of  land 
now  included  in  North  Peoria.  In  order  to  fence 
his  land  he  placed  a  broad  sack  on  his  pony's 
back,  on  which  he  balanced  rails,  thus  transport- 
ing them  to  the  desired  place.  With  a  mattock 
he  dug  up  three  acres  for  his  first  crop,  and  as 
the  years  passed  he  continued  the  further  work 
of  developing  and  improving  the  farm,  which  he 
at  length  brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, making  his  home  thereon  until  his  death. 

His  son,  William  Giles,  was  born  in  1818,  on 
an  English  ship  then  in  American  waters.  He 
accompanied  his  parents  to  Peoria  in  1836,  and, 
having  arrived  at  years  of  maturing,  wedded 
Louisa  .Anna  Kiser.  who  was  a  native  of  Louis- 
iana, and  of  German  extraction.  She  was  left 
an  orphan  in  early  girlhood  and  had  gone  to 
Peoria  with  friends.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giles  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  general  agricultural  pursuits  he  engaged 
in  brick  manufacturing,  being  the  first  brick- 
maker  at  Peoria.  Many  of  the  substantial  struc- 
tures of  that  city  were  erected  from  brick  from 
his  kilns  and  he  continued  in  business  with  con- 
stantly increasing  success  for  many  years,  while 
the  industry  that  he  established  is  still  carried 
on.  He  voted  with  the  republican  party  and 
filled  the  oftice  of  collector  of  Peoria,  serving 
also  as  school  trustee.  His  wife  died  when  but 
thirty-three  years  of  age,  while  Mr,  Giles  long 
surviving,  passed  away  in  1903,  at  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-five  years.  In  their  family  were 
four  sons  and  two  daughters,  three  of  whom 
yet  survive,  namely  :  John  C. :  Thomas,  a  mer- 
eliant  of  Nortji  I'coria:  and  Nathan,  a  retired 
farmer  of  Peoria,  Illinois.  After  losing  his  first 
wife  the  father  wedded  .Ann  I'phoff,  a  native  of 
Germany  and  tuilo  them  were  born  five  sons 
and  three  daughters. 

John  C.  Giles  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  his  ])arents'  home  and  when  not 
busy  with  his  text-books  in  the  acquirement  of 
a  common-school  education.  Iiis  time  and  ener- 
gies were  devoted  to  work  ui)on  tlie  farm,  or 
in  his  fatlier"s  brickvard.     (")n  attainin"'  his  ma- 


lUiKjUUlS  COUNTY.  ll.l.lN'  '\' 


38<> 


jority  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  accomil 
as  an  agriculturist  and  lias  made  steady  progress 
in  tlic  business  world,  .\lter  renting  land  for 
.,  time  he  operated  his  fathers  farm  for  three 
years  and  then  nuide  purchase  of  eighty  acres 
in  Princeville  township,  I'eoria  county,  where 
lie  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until 
18S7.  In  that  year  he  made  investment  in  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  section  2.  Douglas 
township.  Ir<x|Uois  county,  aiiil  hcgan  the  devel- 
opment of  what  is  toilay  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  has  placed  <n'er 
fiftv  thousand  tile  on  the  farm  and  has  thus  re- 
claimed the  land  from  a  swamii.  converting  it 
into  fields  of  richest  fertility,  from  which  he 
annually  harvests  large  crops.  .\one  of  the  ac- 
cessories and  e<|uipments  of  a  model  farm  are 
lacking  and  the  latest  imi)roved  machinery  is 
used  to  facilitate  the  work  of  the  fields. 

On  the  17th  of  December.  iSoS.  Mr.  (iile>  wa> 
united  in  marriage  to  .Miss  .\lm\ra  Russell, 
who  was  born  in  IVoria  county.  Illinois. 
Her  father.  I'benezer  Rus>eli.  was  a  native 
of  Lawrence  comity.  1  Vnnsylvania.  born  Xo- 
vcmber  15.  iSii.  and  when  a  youth  of  eighteen 
years  he  left  his  parents'  home  and  removed  to 
Fredericksburg.  (  )hio.  He  was  married  in  1834 
to  Edith  Emery,  alscj  a  native  of  the  Keystone 
state,  and  they  resided  upon  an  ( )hio  farm  until 
their  removal  to  Illinois,  becoming  residents  of 
Peoria  county,  where  Mr.  Russell  passed  away  in 
October.  i8</>.  while  his  wife  died  in  11^17. 
They  had  a  family  of  thirteen  children. 

Unto  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Giles  have  been  born  four 
children:  Emery  W..  who  was  born  September 
25,  i86<),  and  is  a  carjjenter  of  I'eoria.  married 
Florence  McTier.  of  Oilman,  in  1895.  and  they 
have  two  children.  Gladys  I!,  and  Htnvard.  Hat- 
tic  May.  born  July  10.  1874.  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  Scott,  a  farmer  near  Gilman  and  they 
have  two  children.  Phillip  (iiles  and  ( ilenn 
.\rthur.  .\rthur  Ebenezer,  born  .\ugust  27,  1877. 
assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm,  and 
John  Ernest,  who  was  born  July  30.  1882.  is  en- 
gaged in  breeding  registered  collie  dogs,  sending 
them  throughout  the  United  States. 

Since  1S87  Mr.  (iiles  has  resided  continuously 
in  Iroquois  county  and  his  eflforts  have  been  a 
potent  element  in  promoting  the  agricultural 
progress  and  political  and   fraternal  interests  of 


the  county.  He  lia»  been  a  stalwart  supporter  of 
the  republican  party  for  many  years  and  has  been 
commissioner  of  the  D.  D.  and  .\.  ditch  for  the 
past  eleven  years.  He  has  ever  been  active  in 
party  work  yet  not  as  a  politician  in  search  of 
olttce  and  has  fret|uently  been  a  ilelegate  to  the 
county  and  state  conventions.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at 
Gilman  and  he  is  identified  with  the  Modem 
Wixximen  of  .\merica.  IJy  i)er.<everance.  deter- 
mination and  honorable  effort  he  has  overthrown 
the  obstacle  which  barred  his  path  to  success  and 
reached  the  goal  of  prosperity,  while  his  genuine 
worth,  broad  mind  and  public  spirit  have  largely 
made  him  a  leader  of  public  thought  and  action 
in  his  connnunity.  In  everything  he  has  been 
eminently  practical  and  this  has  been  manifest 
not  only  in  his  business  undertakings  but  also 
in  social  and  jirivate  life. 


JACOP.  SCHI'R1.\(.A. 

Jacob  Scluiringa  is  a  farmer  located  on  section 
5.  Dan  forth  township,  where  he  owns  and  culti- 
vates a  finely  improved  tract  of  land  of  eighty 
acres.  He  was  born  in  the  Netherlands.  January 
I.  1840.  and  is  a  son  of  John  and  .\ngia  (Hesse- 
ma*  .^churinga.  who  came  to  .\mcrica  in  1868, 
bringing  with  them  their  son  Jacob  and  their 
two  daughters,  .\rriviiig  on  the  western  shore 
of  the  .\tlantic.  they  made  their  way  at  once  to 
Iro(|uois  county,  where  they  took  up  their  abode 
in  the  month  of  May.  establishing  their  home 
on  section  6.  Danforth  township,  where  the  fa- 
ther purchased  eighty  acres  of  land.  With  char- 
acteristic energy  he  began  its  development  and 
improvement  and  subse(pientiy  he  bought  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  5  of 
the  same  township.  He  was  among  the  first  of 
the  Holland  setters  in  Iroquois  county  and  he 
brought  to  the  new  world  the  thrift  and  perse- 
verance so  characteristic  of  people  of  his  national- 
ity. He  continued  actively  in  farming  until  his 
life's  labors  were  ended  in  death  in  1876  and  he 
is  still  survived  by  his  wife,  who  is  now  living  in 
Grand  Rapids.  Michigan,  at  the  age  of  more  than 
eighty  years.  The  daughters  of  the  family  are 
Trinkia  and   Dena.     The  former  is  the  wife  of 


39° 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Geridge  Hessema,  a  gardener  residing  at  Dauphin 
Park  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  and  Dena  is  now 
the  widow  of  Albert  Cooper,  a  resident  of 
Chicago. 

Jacob  Schuringa  spent  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth  in  his  native  country  and  when 
a  young  man  of  about  nineteen  years  came  to 
America  with  his  parents,  reaching  Iroquois 
county,  as  stated,  in  ;\Iay,  1868.  A  part  of  the 
old  home  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
which  his  father  purchased  and  improved,  is 
now  in  his  possession.  He  resided  upon  the 
old  homestead  for  thirteen  years  and  afterward 
spent  twelve  years  in  Cook  county,  being  en- 
gaged in  gardening  near  Chicago.  When  his 
father  died  in  1876  he  returned  to  the  old  home 
farm  and  in  1880  he  removed  to  North  Caro- 
lina, where  he  spent  two  years.  It  was  after- 
ward that  he  passed  twelve  }-ears  in  Cook 
county  but  since  1892  he  has  resided  continu- 
ouslv  at  his  present  place  of  residence  and  has 
operated  the  farm  with  good  success.  All  of  the 
improvements  here  have  been  made  by  him 
and  are  in  keeping  with  ideas  of  modern  agri- 
cultural progress.  T'Te  broke  the  first  land  upon 
the  place  and  he  has  tiled  ihe  fields,  which  ow- 
ing to  the  drainage  and  the  cultivation  he  has 
bestowed  upon  them  arc  in  e.xcellent  shape.  Here 
he  carries  on  general  farming  and  his  labors 
are  meeting  with  gratifying  success. 

Air.  Schuringa  was  married  in  1874  to  Aliss 
Cornelia  P)aker.  who  was  born  in  tlie  Neth- 
erlands and  is  a  daughter  of  William  Liaker, 
who  never  came  to  this  country  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  now  deceased.  I'nto 
Air.  and  Airs.  Schuringa  have  been  born 
three  children  who  are  yet  living,  and  they  have 
lost  five.  Those  who  yet  survive  are  as  follows : 
John,  a  farmer  residing  at  Lansing,  Cook  county. 
Illinois,  married  Philopena  Keescn  and  has  two 
children.  William,  who  resides  al  llluc  Island. 
Cook  county,  wedded  Emma  Kraa  and  has  two 
children.  Jacob,  fourteen  years  of  age,  is  at 
home.  The  parents  are  members  of  the  Holland 
Reformed  church  of  Dan  forth  and  are  interested 
in  the  intellectual  and  moral  as  well  as  mate- 
rial development  of  the  comnnuiity.  In  ])olitics 
Air.  .Schuringa  lias  always  been  a  republican, 
giving  unfaltering  su])])ort  to  the  ]:arty  since 
becoming    a    naturalized    .\merican    citizen,    vet 


never  seeking  or  desiring  office  for  himself,  as 
he  has  preferred  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon 
his  business  interests,  in  which  he  is  now  meet- 
ing with  gratifying  success. 


I.  ^\■.   WILSON. 


The  productive  and  well  developed  farm  is  the 
rule  in  Illinois,  for  all  but  ten  per  cent,  of  the  land 
in  this  great  state  is  cultivable  and  the  soil  is 
])articularly  rich  in  those  qualities  which  produce 
the  cereals  which  constitute  the  basis  of  our 
food  supply  and  the  greatest  source  of  wealth 
to  the  country.  Nevertheless  it  is  individual 
labor  and  merit  that  wins  success.  Indolence 
and  idleness  would  result  in  farming  circles  in 
Illinois  as  they  do  in  other  sections  of  the  coun- 
try, while  diligence  and  enterprise  bring  most 
desirable  results.  The  latter  traits  are  manifested 
in  the  life  of  Air.  Wilson,  who  lives  on  section  22. 
Ridgeland  township.  He  owns  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  pleasantly  situated  a 
mile  from  the  village  of  Ridgeland  and  within 
two  miles  of  Onarga.  Aloreover  he  is  entitled 
to  distinction  not  only  as  a  successful  agricul- 
turist but  also  as  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
cotmt\'.  his  residence  here  covering  a  period  of 
more  than  a  half  century,  for  he  took  'up  his 
abode  in  this  locality  in  April.  1856. 

He  was  born  in  \\'arren  county.  New  Jersey, 
April  27,,  1824.  and  was  there  reared  to  farm 
life  with  common  school  advantages  such  as  were 
afforded  to  most  youths  of  the  period.  His  fa- 
ther, William  Wilson,  was  likewise  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  where  he  was  reared  and  married, 
the  l:ulv  of  his  choice  being  Aliss  Alary  I'robasco, 
a  native  of  New  York.  Air.  Wilson  died  in  1824 
and  thus  upon  his  widow  devolved  the  task  of 
rearing  their  family  of  ten  children.  The  sons, 
[ohn.  William,  Thomiison,  (Seorgc  and  I.  \\'..  all 
reached  manhood,  while  the  daughters,  Eliza- 
beth, Sarah  and  Catherine,  also  attained  to  adult 
years.  The  mother  performed  her  full  duty  by 
the  little  ones  left  to  her  care  and  I.  W.  Wilson 
remained  with  her  and  assisted  lier  to  the  best 
of  his  ability  until  he  had  attained  his  majority. 
He  and  his  brother,  George  \\ilson.  are  now  the 
nnl\-  surviving:  members  of  the  faniilv.      lie  left 


I.   W.   WII.SOX. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROOIOIS  CUUXTV.  ILlJVi  'I 


yj3 


New  Jersey  in  1845  •"'*^  went  to  Aiiltiirn,  New 
York,  wlierc  lie  learned  the  inouKlers  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  ten  years  in  different  places 
in   the   Mmpire   state. 

On  the  I  St  of  Uecemlxr,  1S47.  in  Syracuse. 
New  York,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
Wilson  and  Miss  Sarah  <  iaylord,  a  native  of 
Xcw  York.  They  resided  in  Syracu.sc  for  a 
year  and  afterward  spent  five  years  in  Seneca 
I'alls.  Mr.  Wilson  working  at  his  trade  in  both 
I»laces.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  with  his 
family  to  the  middle  west.  He  had  made  a  trip 
to  California  in  1S53  by  way  of  the  isthmns 
route  and  was  absint  from  home  f<ir  nine  months. 
While  on  the  coast  he  devoted  his  time  to  min- 
ing the  yclliiw  metal  and  the  return  trip  was 
made  by  the  Nicaragua  route.  He  then  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Xew  York  until  coming  to  the 
west  in  1S56.  He  had  previously  visited  this 
locality  and  had  purchased  eighty  acres  of  raw 
land,  on  which  not  a  furrow  had  Ix-en  turned  or 
an  improvement  made,  .\fter  building  a  house 
here  he  returned  for  his  wife  and  their  house- 
hold effects  and  removed  to  the  new  home  which 
he  had  prepared.  Witli  characteristic  energy 
.he  began  breaking  the  i)rairie  and  in  the  course 
of  years  oiiened  up  a  farm.  Later  he  bought 
more  land  and  he  now  has  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  one  tract.  The  farm  buildings  are 
in  keejjing  with  nindern  ideas  of  progress.  Til- 
ing has  added  to  the  productiveness  of  the  fields 
and  fences  have  divided  the  land  into  fields  of 
convenient  size  or  into  pastures  as  the  need  has 
been.  He  has  likewise  planted  iruii  upon  the 
|)Iace  and  made  the  farm  a  valuable  pro])erty. 
living  a  life  of  industry  aiid  close  a|)|)lic;ition  for 
many  \ears. 

In  1883  Mr.  Wilson  was  called  upon  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  his  first  wife.  The  following  year 
he  was  married  again  to  Mrs.  Julia  .Munson.  a 
native  of  Franklin.  Xew  York.  She  had  two 
children  by  a  former  marriage.  She  was  reared 
in  the  Kmpire  state,  came  west  to  Illinois  and 
married  Ransoiu  Munson.  They  settled  at  Wat- 
seka.  where  Mr.  Munson.  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
worked  at  his  trade  until  his  death  in  1871.  The 
children  of  that  marriage  arc  John  F.  Munson. 
a  resident  of  Denver,  t'olorado.  who  is  married 
and  has  three  children :  and  Mary,  who  is  with 
her  mother. 


Mr.  Wilson  voles  wiiii  the  democracy  and  was 
elected  and  served  for  two  terms  as  supervisor. 
He  acted  on  some  of  the  important  committees 
on  the  Ixiard.  including  the  roads  and  bridges 
and  finance  committee.  He  also  served  as  com- 
missioner of  highways  for  some  years  and  was 
apiK)inted  by  the  county  commissioners  as  bridge 
commissioner.  I-'raternally  he  is  coiuiectetl  with 
the  Masonic  lodge  at  (  >narga.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  activity  and  industry  and  his  excellent 
farm  is  priHif  thereof,  for  it  was  a  tract  of  wild 
land  when  it  came  into  his  possession.  He  is 
one  of  the  few  remaining  early  settlers  and  can 
relate  from  memory  incidents  which  occurred 
here  a  half  century  ago  and  events  which  consti- 
tuted the  early  history  of  the  county.  He  is  well 
known  in  ( )narga  and  throughout  this  part  of  the 
stale  and  is  one  of  the  venerable  citizens,  having 
now  passed  the  eighty-second  milestone  on  life's 
journey. 


Tlli:(  )!)(  iRI'.  CII.C 


1ST. 


Theodore  tiilchrist.  supervisor  of  Crescent 
township  and  a  resident  of  Crescent  City,  was 
born  in  Iroquois  township  on  the  2 1st  of  July. 
1859.  his  parents  being  Daniel  and  Sarah  Jane 
(Lawhead)  Gilchrist.  The  father,  a  native  of 
Xew  York,  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day  and 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  residents  of  Iro- 
rpiois  township.  He  became  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  acres  of  land  there  and  was  very  pros- 
l>erou>  in  the  conduct  of  his  farming  interests, 
lie  died  I'ehruary  2.  187J.  leaving  three  chil<lren: 
Theodore.  .Mice  an<l  Ivva.  The  elder  daughter  is 
the  wife  of  Jo.se|>li  Sturdevant  and  Eva  is  the 
widow  of  .\ndrew  Long  and  a  resident  of  Wat- 
seka.  .\fter  losing  her  first  husbancl  the  mother, 
Mrs.  Ciilchrist.  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  Waters 
anil  is  living  in  Watseka  at  about  the  age  of  sev- 
entv  years.  There  was  one  child  by  that  mar- 
riage. Rachel  Waters,  also  in  Watseka. 

The  public  schcmls  afl'ordcd  to  Theodore  tiil- 
christ the  etlucalional  [)rivileges  which  he  enjoyed 
in  his  youth.  He  was  trained  to  farm  work  and 
has  always  given  his  attention  to  that  calling 
since  attaining  his  majority.  In  1882  he  made 
his  first  purchase  of  land.  l>ecoming  owner  of 
eighty  acres,  and  in  June.   i8</>,  he  bought   an- 


394 


FAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


other  eisjIUy-acre  tract,  ^o  tliat  lie  now  owns  a 
quarter  section  in  Crescent  townshi]).  In  igoi 
he  removed  to  Crescent  City,  where  he  bonght 
a  fine  home  antl  thirty  acres  of  land  one  mile 
south  of  the  town,  and  upon  this  place  he  has 
since  lived.  He  gives  personal  supervision  to 
the  care  and  management  of  his  farming  inter- 
ests and  from  this  source  derives  a  good  income. 

On  the  22d  of  Xovember,  1882,  Mr.  Gilchrist 
was  joined  in  wedlock  to  Miss  Nettie  V.  Cast, 
of  Crescent  City,  a  daughter  of  .\quilla  C.  Cast, 
of  that  place,  and  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
the  county,  whose  sketch  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Unto  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Gilchrist  have 
been  born  three  children :  Grace.  \"ernice  and 
Theodore.  The  mother  and  two  daughters  are 
members  of  the   Methodist   Episcopal  church. 

Mr.  Gilchrist  is  connected  with  the  ]\Iodern 
Woodmen  camp  at  Crescent  City  and  in  politics 
is  a  democrat.  He  was  elected  mayor  of  Cres- 
cent City  in  1905  to  serve  for  two  years,  and 
was  elected  supervisor  of  Crescent  township  in 
1895,  i"  which  office  he  has  served  continuously 
for  eleven  years.  Fie  was  also  collector  for 
four  years  and  assessor  two  years  and  has  been  a 
most  capable  official,  over  whose  public  record 
there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong  or  suspicion  of 
evil.  On  the  contrary  he  has  been  loyal  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  community  and  does  every- 
thing in  his  power  to  advance  the  welfare  of  town 
and  count}'.  In  everything  that  he  does  he  has 
been  eminently  practical,  which  trait  is  manifest 
in  his  public  as  well  as  his  private  life. 


\\ILLIAM    M.    DAWSON. 

William  'SI.  Dawson  is  now  living  retired  at 
Dawson  Park  but  for  many  years  was  closelv 
associated  with  agricultural  interests  in  this 
coimty.  and  is  still  the  owner  of  four  Inmdred 
and  eleven  acres  of  valuable  land  on  section  iq. 
Stockland  township,  and  two  hundred  acres  on 
sections  7  and  8.  These  farms  class  him  with 
the  large  landowners  of  the  county  and  with 
the  men  of  ariluence.  Tlis  business  record  well 
entitles  him  to  representation  in  this  volume  and 
he  moreover  deserves  mention  by  reason  of  the 
fact  that  lie  is  one  of  the  veterans  of  the  Civil 


war.  and  in  citizenship  in  days  of  peace  has  been 
equally  loyal  to  the  best  interests  of  the  com- 
munity. .\  resident  of  the  cotinty  since  185 1 
he  has  watched  its  development  as  it  has 
emerged  from  pioneer  conditions  and  taken  on 
all  of  the  advantages  and  improvements  known 
to  the  older  east.  Born  in  Warren  county.  Indi- 
ana, on  the  i8th  of  March.  1842,  he  is  a  son  of 
Elisha  D.  and  Folly  R.  (Davis)  Dawson.  The 
father  was  born  at  Lawrenceburg,  Indiana,  not 
far  from  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  was  there 
reared  and  subsequently  removed  to  Warren 
countN-  with  his  parents  when  a  young  man. 
There  he  followed  farming  and  was  married  in 
that  locality  to  Miss  Folly  Davis,  a  native  of 
Warren  county.  They  began  their  domestic  life 
there  and  remained  residents  of  that  countv  un- 
til 185 1,  when  they  came  to  Iroquois  county 
with  their  family,  settling  on  Sugar  creek.  .\s 
yet  comparatively  few  settlements  had  been 
made  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  Mr.  Dawson 
entered  land  from  the  government,  securing  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  which  he  developed 
and  improved,  converting  it  into  a  good  farm. 
As  the  years  passed  he  continually  carried  on  the 
farm  work  until  his  place  greatly  increased  in 
value.  There  he  resided  until  1879.  when  he 
was  called  to  his  final  rest,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two  years.  His  widow  still  survives  him  and 
has  now  reached  the  very  advanced  age  of 
ninety-si.x  years,  making  her  home  with  a  niece 
in   the  old   homestead. 

William  M.  Dawson,  who  was  one  of  a  fam- 
ily of  twelve  children,  was  but  nine  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  with  his  ]iar- 
ents.  Fie  was  reared  u])on  the  home  farm  and 
in  the  winter  months  attended  the  public  schools 
for  a  few  weeks,  wliile  in  the  summer  seasons 
he  aided  in  the  work  of  the  fields.  Watching 
with  interest  the  j^rogress  of  events  that  marked 
the  opening  year  of  the  Civil  war.  his  ])atriotic 
spirit  was  aroused  by  the  contiiuied  attempt  of 
the  south  to  overthrow  the  L'nion.  and  in  the 
l;ill  of  ]S()2.  win  11  twenty  years  of  age.  he  be- 
came a  member  of  Compaiu-  E.  Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  X'ohinteer  Infantry,  j\)ining  the  anuy  at 
Kankakee,  llis  regiment  went  south  to  .Missis- 
sipi)i.  and  participated  in  the  engagements  at 
Yazoo  C'iiy.  N'icksburg  and  Jackson  Cro.ss 
Roads.      At    the  last   naiued   place   .Mr.    Dawson 


IKOOLulS  COUNTY.  II.I.IXoIS. 


395 


was  wduiulfd  and  left  on  tlu-  ticlil  fur  <lca(l  but 
it  was  fiiniul  that  life  was  not  i-xliiK-t.  Ik-  was 
tlu-n  in  tlic  hospital  for  thirty  tla\s.  and  he  still 
carries  the  scar  of  a  rebel  bullet  that  ti>re  away 
a  part  of  the  skull.  Subse(|ucntly  he  was  in  the 
battle  of  Mobile,  .\labania.  lie  served  for  the 
full  term  of  three  years,  beiii};  honorahlv  dis- 
charfjed  and  mustered  out  at  (."hicaijo,  Illinois. 
He  participated  in  a  number  of  imi)ortant  en- 
yajfements  and  was  always  most  faithful  to  the 
olil  llaj;  and  the  cause  it  represented.  \\  hen  the 
war  was  ended  he  returned  to  his  home  and  be- 
^nn  farmin.tj.  at  first  purchasiuji;  forty  acres  of 
land  and  subsequently  an  additional  tract  of 
forty  acres. 

( )n  the  I  si  of  March.  1807.  .Mr.  Dawson  was 
united  in  marria.uce  to  .Miss  l-".liza  J.  L'olTelt,  a 
rative  of  Warren  county.  Indiana,  and  a 
daiijjliter  of  Michael  C'offelt,  a  native  of 
( )hio.  who  settled  at  Kentland.  Indiana.  l"ol- 
lowinjj  his  marriage  he  purchased  land  on 
section  i<).  Stocklaiid  township,  which  he  im- 
proved. makinjLT  it  a  valuable  ])ropcrty.  It  is 
now  called  Dawson  I'ark.  and  is  situated  on  the 
Chicago  &  Mastern  Illinois  Railroad,  .\fter  car- 
rying on  farm  work  for  some  time  .Mr.  Dawson 
rented  his  land  and  went  to  Missouri,  whore  he 
remained  for  two  years,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Illinois.  He  has  improved  three  farms  and 
has  thus  contributed  in  substantial  measure  to 
the  agricultural  develo])ment  and  ui)l)uilding  of 
this  section  of  the  C(nmty.  With  his  farmini; 
he  has  been  a  breeder  of  and  dealer  in  draft 
horses  and  at  one  time  was  the  largest  breeder 
in  the  county,  his  business  reaching  mammoth 
|)roi)<irtions.  lie  also  made  a  s])ecialty  of  Poland 
China  hogs.  He  still  hol<ls  extensive  and  val- 
uable farming  interests,  having  four  hundred 
and  eleven  acres  of  land  on  section  19.  Stock- 
land  township,  and  two  hundred  acres  on  sec- 
tions 7  and  8.  Having  put  aside  the  more  active 
Work  connected  with  farming  and  stock-raising, 
he  makes  his  home  in  Dawson  I'ark.  which  was 
nametl  in  his  honor.  Here  he  has  lived  for  two 
years  in  comfort  and  case,  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  a   well  sjient  and  active  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dawson  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  three  children:  Flora  I'.elle.  the  wife  of 
.'Stephen  .\.  Webster,  who  is  operating  one  of 
Mr.  Dawson's  farms;    Charles  R..  who  married 


Jennie  Jaggcrs  and  is  living  on  the  home  place: 
and  Jennie,  the  wife  of  James  .S.  Wright,  who  is 
also  living  on  one  of  her  father's  fanus.  .Mr. 
Dawson  and  his  estimable  wife  have  a  fine  home 
in  Dawson  I'ark.  and  are  most  couifortablv  sit- 
uated with  their  children  around  them.  They 
are  members  of  the  L'nited  llrethren  church,  in 
which  Mr.  Dawson  is  serving  as  a  trustee.  He 
is  independent  in  politics  nor  has  he  ever  sought 
or  held  office.  .\  witness  of  niucb  of  the  growth 
of  the  county  he  remembers  the  time  when 
wolves  were  almost  as  mnncrous  in  this  ]):irt 
of  the  state  as  farm  animals.  It  was  the  day  of 
the  swamj)  and  the  wild  i)rairie  and  uncut  tim- 
ber. Many  hardships  and  jirivations  fell  to  the 
lot  of  the  early  settlers  but  as  the  work  of  recla- 
mation was  carried  forward  all  this  was  changed 
and  the  jjresent  high  state  of  devlopment  ami 
|)rosperity  has  been  secured  thr(»iigh  the  efforts 
of  such  men  as  William  .M.  Daw.son.  In  his 
business  life  he  has  manifested  the  spirit  of  en- 
terprise that  has  brooked  no  obstacles  which 
ct)uld  be  overcome  by  resolute,  determined  and 
honorable  effort,  and  in  the  control  of  his  busi- 
ness he  has  disiilayed  an  aptitude  for  successful 
management  that  has  resulted  in  winning  for 
him  a  place  among  the  men  of  aOluence  in  the 
comit\. 


1 1  i:\KV    l-.I.Ml-.k    K(  )(  ).\, 

N'inet\  |)er  cent  of  the  land  in  Illinois  is  arable 
and  there  is  no  finer  agricultural  state  in  all  the 
I'nion.  for  climatic  conditions  are  such  that  we 
seldom  have  late  frosts  in  the  s|)ring  or  early 
frosts  in  the  autunni  and  thus  the  cereals  which 
are  most  essential  for  food  are  easily  produced. 
Mr.  K(x>n  is  one  of  the  active  and  enterprising 
farmers  of  ( )narga  townshi|),  living  on  section 
5.  where  he  owns  and  cultivates  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land.  He  is  one  of  the  native* 
sons  of  Illinois  and  has  had  no  reason  to  change 
his  |)Iacc  of  residence,  for  the  excellent  o|)])or- 
tunities  offered  by  this  state  have  been  sufficient 
inducement  for  him  to  continue  his  labors  here 
and  gain  through  his  industry  and  enterpri.se  a 
creditable   measure  of    success. 

Mr.  Koon  was  Ixirn  in  Kankakee  county.  Illi- 
nois. June  22.  1862,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of 


396 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


O.  W.  Kooii.  a  well  kiujwii  sltjck  dealer  and 
shipper  of  (Jnarga.  The  family  is  a  remarkable 
one  in  that  although  the  parents  have  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  there  has  never  been  a 
death  among  its  members.  The  father  was  born 
July  31,  1832,  and  the  mother  August  8,  1835. 
Their  four  children  are:  James  Harvey,  born 
November  11,  1854:  Nettie.  May  2,  1857; 
Emma  J.,  April  11,  1859;  and  Henry  Elmer, 
June  22,  1862.  Besides  these  there  are  sixteen 
grandchildren   and   two   great-grandchildren. 

When  but  six  months  old  Henry  E.  Koon  was 
brought  to  Iroquois  county  by  his  parents  and 
was  here  reared  and  educated,  continuing  his 
studies  in  the  Onarga  high  school  and  in  Onarga 
Commercial  College.  Through  the  period  of 
his  boyhood  and  youth  he  remained  with  his 
father,  who  was  dealing  in  and  shipping  stock, 
and  after  he  had  attained  his  majority  he  located 
on  a  farm  seven  miles  east  of  Onarga,  begin- 
ning there  with  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
rented  land.  After  residing  for  a  year  upon 
that  place  he  removed  to  the  farm  which  is  now 
his  home,  commencing  here  with  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land,  in  the  midst  of  which 
stood  a  small  house.  Later  he  replaced  the  little 
dwelling  by  a  more  commodious  and  substantial 
residence  and  he  now  has  an  excellent  farm  prop- 
erty. The  drainage  system  which  he  has  insti- 
tuted has  made  his  land  tillable,  for  he  has  laid 
many  rods  of  tiling  on  the  farm.  He  has  like- 
wise fenced  the  place  and  set  out  fruit  and  now 
has  a  well  improved  property. 

Mr.  Koon  was  married  in  Onarga.  April  3, 
1882,  to  Mary  Robinson,  a  native  of  this  county, 
who  was  reared  and  educated  in  the  city  of 
Onarga.  Her  father  was  Thomas  Robinson, 
formerly  of  Belfast,  Ireland.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Koon  now  have  four  sons  and  a  daughter.  Ar- 
thur W.,  who  is  married,  is  engaged  in  breed- 
ing and  dealing  in  high  grade  saddle  horses  in 
Kankakee.  George  H.  is  associated  with  his 
brother  Arthur  in  business.  Robert  !•".  is  now 
living  in  Chicago.  Thomas  William  and  ( ier- 
trude  B..  the  younger  members  of  the  familv, 
are  at  home. 

Mr.  Koon  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  repub- 
lican jjarty,  of  which  he  is  a  stanch  advocate. 
He  believes  in  good  schools  and  has  done  effec- 


tive service  in  behalf  of  education  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board.  He  was  district  clerk  for 
several  years  and  whether  in  office  or  out  of  it 
does  everything  in  his  power  for  the  welfare 
and  improvement  of  the  community.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Onarga  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  he  belongs  to  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  while  both  are 
connected  with  the  Rebekah  degree.  During  the 
vears  of  his  residence  here  he  has  seen  the  coimty 
change  from  a  wilderness  and  swamp,  the  work 
of  reclamation  being  carried  forward  until  it 
is  one  of  the  rich  and  great  agricultural  districts 
of  the  state.  His  own  farm  was  at  one  time  a 
swamp  and  frog  pond.  He  has  seen  the  best 
farms  made  through  the  drainage  of  land  and 
the  cultivation  of  the  soil  according  to  modern 
methods,  and  he  has  long  been  recognized  as  a 
leader  in  agricultural  progress.  A  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  worth,  he  has  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  community  and  well  deserves  men- 
tion in  this  volume. 


CHARLES  VOGEL. 


Charles  \ogel  is  a  prosperous  agriculturist  of 
Loda  township,  making  his  home  on  section  35. 
In  connection  with  his  sons,  William  Herman 
and  Carl  H.,  he  farms  the  tract  of  land  of  three 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  and  he  also  owns  an- 
other farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  34  of  the 
same  township.  His  residence  in  the  county 
covers  a  half  century,  for  he  took  up  his  abode 
within  its  borders  in  1857,  and  through  the  in- 
tervening years  he  has  watched  with  interest  the 
changes  that  have  been  wrought  and  the  trans- 
formation that  has  brought  the  county  forth 
fnim  a  wilderness  and  swamp  and  made  it  a 
rich    agricultural    district, 

Mr.  Vogel  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  Sep- 
tember 27,  1838.  His  father,  John  Vogel,  was 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Germany,  and  in 
1852  emigrated  with  his  family  to  the  new  world, 
settling  in  Hartford  county,  Connecticut,  where 
he  spent  four  subsequent  years.  In  1857  he 
came  westward  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  made  a  location  and  purchased  land.  It  was 
wild  and  unimproved  Init  his  energv  and  activity 


.MR.  AM)  MRS.  (,  I1.\RI.I-:S  VOCEL. 


OF  I  HE 
UNIVERSITY  0^  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  IMJNt  )IS. 


3W 


scKin  cliaiiRi-d  this  and  coiivi-rtctl  the  tirritory 
intu  priHiiictive  fields.  TIktc  lie  made  a  nood 
liiimo  and  in  it  s]>fnl  his  last  years,  passinj:  away 
in  i.*«>o.  His  wife  survived  him  fur  alxnit  fiflten 
\ears  and  died  in  1S75.  Their  family  niimhered 
three  sons  and  four  davifjliters.  of  whont  Charles 
is  the  eldest,  the  others  hein^  liuj.jo,  who  was 
fonnerly  a  farmer  and  supervisor  of  Liwla  town- 
ship, and  is  now  a  resident  of  l-'ullerlon.  Ne- 
braska; Julius,  who  tilled  the  office  of  supervis<jr 
here  for  three  years  and  is  now  livinjj  in  Mams- 
ton.  Nebraska:  Matilda,  who  departed  this  life 
September  24.  H;o5  ;  .Mrs.  .\u;iusia  i-utz.  of  Terre 
Haute.  Indiana:  Mrs.  Mary  Kosenbaum.  also  of 
Terre  HatUe :  and  luifjene  Cunnintjliam.  who 
lives  in   I'a.xton.  Illinois. 

Charles  \'ojjel  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads.  Ik- 
was  educated  in  the  ( ierman  schools  and  was  a 
youth  of  fourteen  when,  in  company  with  his 
parents,  he  emij^rated  to  the  new  world.  He  ha<l 
no  knowltdf^e  of  Mnj,'lish  when  he  arrived  in  liii> 
country  but  masteretl  the  tonijue  ihrou>;li  contact 
with  friends  and  neij^hbors  and  tiirouj.jli  rea<lin.i; 
the  i>apers  and  periodicals  published  in  that 
lanjruane.  In  1S71  he  married  .\mia  Wanner,  a 
native  of  Switzerland,  and  brou^jht  his  bride  to 
his  farm  on  section  34.  Loda  townslii]).  which  he 
had  ])reviously  [)urchased.  The  work  of  |)low- 
in>;  and  plantiu).;  was  bejjmi  and  carried  steadily 
forwanl.  and  in  due  cour.se  of  time  the  summer 
sun  ripened  the  tjrain  and  tjood  crops  were 
gathered.  Thus  the  work  of  improvement  was 
carried  on  year  after  year  and  };ood  buildint^s 
were  added  to  the  place.  Mr.  X'ogel  carried  on 
farming  on  that  tract  of  land  until  iS<;S.  when 
lie  rented  that  and  removed  to  his  present  place 
of  residence  on  section  35.  I  le  has  since  farmed 
an  excellent  tract  of  land  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  with  the  assistance  of  his  sons,  and 
is  an  enterprising  agriculturist,  whose  business 
ability  is  manifest  in  the  excellent  results  which 
have  attended   his  etTorts. 

.Mr.  X'ogel  lost  his  wife  when  they  were  livin^; 
on  the  old  homestead.  May  17,  1SX5.  Seven 
children  had  Ix-en  Ixirn  unto  them:  lunma.  who 
is  acting  as  her  father's  housckeeficr ;  William, 
at  home:  Herman:  I'ertha.  who  was  formerly  a 
teacher  but  is  at  home:  larl  H.,  who  is  connected 
with  his  father  in  farming  operations :  and  .\ima 
2.^ 


autl  Mar>.  Ix'th  of  whom  are  engageil  in  teach- 
ing. The  father  and  sons  are  all  advocates  of 
the  republican  party,  never  failing  to  vote  that 
ticket.  I'or  several  years  Mr.  N'ogil  lias  servitl 
on  the  school  l)oard  and  has  jnit  forth  effective 
etTort  in  behalf  of  the  system  of  i)ublic  instruc- 
tion here.  In  the  forty-nine  years  which  have 
come  and  gone  since  he  arriveil  in  the  county 
great  changes  have  occurred  and  the  county  to- 
da\  Ixars  little  resemblance  to  the  district  into 
which  he  made  his  way  as  a  (ierman  emigrant. 
He  has  borne  his  share  in  the  work  of  agricul- 
tural development  an<l  has  seen  the  wild  land 
reclaimed  and  converted  into  rich  fanns,  while 
his  own  place  is  evidence  of  the  fertility  of  the 
soil  when  cultivated  according  to  modern 
methods. 


W  ll.l.l AM    11.   (■AM-ll-.l.l). 

William  II.  (jaffield.  living  in  Concord  town- 
ship, is  a  native  of  Sheldon  tiwnship.  Ir(M|uois 
countv,  born  Se])leml)er  29,  1867.  His  father, 
John  (iaffield,  was  a  native  of  Clark  county, 
(  )hio.  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father,  .\sa 
(iaffield.  the  journey  being  made  by  wagon 
across  the  country.  They  settled  on  section  27, 
Concord  township,  about  iSl'xj.  and  the  grand- 
falluT  entered  land  from  the  government  which 
he  purchased  for  a  dollar  and  a  tpiarter  [)er 
acre.  He  had  three  hundred  and  nine  acres  in 
all  and  was  one  of  the  leadin;.:  farmers  at  an 
early  day. 

John  (iaffield.  the  father  of  our  subject,  bought 
two  Innnlreil  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  .^^heldmi 
township,  investing  capital  which  he  saved  from 
his  own  earnings.  He  built  a  house  of  walnut 
lumber,  si.xteeii  In  twenty-four  feet,  and  con- 
taining two  rooms,  and  in  this  ])rimitive  little 
home  all  of  his  eleven  children  were  born.  Five 
of  that  number  are  still  living.  Mr.  (iaffield 
was  a  man  of  energy  and  determination  and  of 
unfaltering  industry.  He  tiled  and  fence<l  his 
land  and  in  every  way  im])roved  his  place,  mak- 
ing it  a  valuable  fann  property,  from  wliich  he 
g.ithered  rich  anmial  harvests.  The  only  inter- 
ruption to  his  active  business  life  was  his  service 
in  the  Civil  war.  for  he  was  in  hearty  sympathy 


400 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


with  the  Union  cause  and  in  i80i  he  responded 
to  the  country's  call  for  aid.  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany C.  Fifty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  with  which 
he  remained  until  1865.  He  then  returned  to 
his  farming  pursuits  and  died  upon  the  old  home 
place  in  1897 — one  of  the  respected  and  hon- 
ored pioneer  farmers  of  the  community.  His 
wife,  Mrs.  Charity  Montgomery  Gaffield,  was 
born  in  \\'arren  county,  Indiana,  and  became 
one  of  the  early  pioneer  women  nf  Iroquois 
county. 

William  TI.  (iafficld  lived  at  home  until  he 
attained  his  majority  and  the  work  of  the  farm 
earlv  became  familiar  to  him.  He  then  started 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account  and  was  employed 
at  farm  labor  by  the  month  until  1890,  when  his 
uncle  gave  him  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  thir- 
teen acres  on  section  37,  Concord  township.  It 
was  mostly  improved  but  he  has  since  continued 
the  work  of  tiling  and  has  added  many  other 
modern  equipments.  He  has  also  further  ex- 
tended the  boundaries  of  his  property  by  the 
additional  purchase  of  fifty  acres  and  has  a  good 
and  well  developed  farm  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Gafiield  was  married  in  Belmont  township, 
on  Christmas  day  of  1894,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
being  Miss  Josephine  .\.  La  Page,  who  was 
born  near  St.  Anne,  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
Februarv  14,  1870.  Both  our  subject  and  his 
wife  are  highly  esteemed  by  many  friends  and 
their  hospitality  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  those  who 
know  them.  Mr.  Gaffield  affiliates  with  the 
Masonic  fraternity  and  he  exercises  his  right 
of  franchise  in  support  of  the  men  and  meas- 
ures of  the  republican  party. 


AIAA  T;.  THOMAS. 


-Mva  B.  Thomas,  living  on  section  22.  Ridge- 
land  township,  where  he  t)wns  and  controls  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  is  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  the  locality,  for  his  birth  occurred  in  this 
township,  June  19,  1862.  His  father.  Edwin 
Thomas,  was  a  native  of  New  York,  and,  coming 
to  Illinois  in  1861,  settled  in  Ir(i(|U(iis  county. 
where  he  purchased  land.  ITerc  he  carried  on 
farming,  improving  a  good  property  and  rearing 
his  familv.     Going  to  Indiana,  however,  he  there 


became  ill  and  died  in  that  state  about  1867.  He 
had  been  married  in  Indiana  to  Xancy  (  Wear ) 
Dinwiddle,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  in  which  state 
her   girlhood   was  passed. 

.\lva  1!.  Thomas  of  this  review,  reared  on  the 
old  homestead,  has  engaged  in  farm  work  from 
the  age  of  fourteen  years,  depending  entirely 
ui)on  his  own  resources  for  a  living.  At  that 
time  he  started  out  for  himself,  but  has  made  a 
hand  in  the  field  since  the  age  of  ten  years. 
Thus  his  vouth  was  a  period  of  earnest  and  un- 
remitting toil  and  his  life  has  been  a  strenuous 
one.  Few  men  have  displayed  greater  energy  or 
aclivitv,  and  as  a  result  of  this  he  is  now  one  of 
the  prosperous  and  prominent  farmers  of  his 
native  township.  Following  the  acquirement  of 
a  good  common-school  education  he  pursued  a 
commercial  course  in  the  Onarga  normal.  For 
nianv  \-ears  he  was  associated  with  his  mother 
in  the  management  and  conduct  of  the  home 
farm  and  lived  with  her  until  her  death,  which 
occurred  in  June,  1903.  He  was  one  of  five 
children  who  reached  mature  years.  His  broth- 
er, James  Thomas,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Civil 
war,  becoming  a  veteran  of  that  strife.  He  is 
now  an  invalid  and  lives  with  his  brother,  Alva 

B.  Thomas,  .\nother  brother,  John  Thomas,  is 
a  lawyer  at  Bourbon,  Indiana,  and  is  regarded 
as  a  ])rominent  representative  of  the  bar. 

In  1891;,  in  Onarga,  .\lva  B.  Thomas  was  mar- 
ried til  Miss  Carrie  D,  Page,  of  Washington,  D. 

C,  in  which  city  she  spent  her  girlhood  and  ac- 
quired her  education.  Her  father  was  a  real- 
estate  dealer  and  manufacturer  of  flour  there. 
I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  have  been  born  three 
children :     Adele  L..  A.  Harve\'  and  George  F. 

In  addition  to  his  farming  interests  Mr. 
Thomas  has  extended  his  efforts  into  various 
lines  of  activity.  He  built  a  store  at  Ridgeville 
and  carried  on  business  there  for  seven  years 
as  a  dealer  in  dry  goods,  lumber,  groceries  and 
li;u"<lwaro.  His  trade  was  verv  extensive  and  the 
enterprise  provetl  profitable.  His  was  the  first 
business  house  built  in  the  village  and  he  now 
owns  three  good  business  blocks  there.  He  still 
deals  in  pianos  and  organs.  He  built  a  large. 
neat  residence,  two  stories  in  height  with  basc- 
nuiit.  ;ind  thoroughly  modern  in  its  equii^ments, 
being  heated  with  furnace  and  supplied  with  hot 
and   cold   water  on   every    floor.     The   house   is 


IROQIOIS  (OINTV.   II.I.1\()IS. 


4ui 


linhli-il  by  j^as  thronnliont  and  iIktc  In  :i  j^is 
fiipinc  for  laiin<lry  work,  clnirninn  and  inini])- 
iiiR.  There  arc  also  iX"<<<\  <intl>uil<liiii;s  ni)ciii  ilu- 
place  and  i-vcry  fciiiipinint  of  a  niudil  farm 
is  Ihtc  to  be  ftnnid.  Mr.  'I'bnnias  likewise  owns 
a  farm  of  one  bundred  and  forty  acres  at  .Mount 
N'ernon.  Illinois.  .Ml  that  lie  iH)Ssesse.s  ha.s  been 
ac(|uire<l  throu)j;b  his  own  labors  and  his  exten- 
sive business  has  btvn  develo|)ed  thrnu^h  his 
perseverance,  energy  and  keen  foresight. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  arc  active  members  of 
the  I'rcsbyterian  church,  in  which  he  served  as 
>te\vard  for  fifteen  years.  I'oliticnlly  a  ])rohibi- 
tionist,  he  has  long  Ik-cu  a  stalwart  advocate  of 
the  temperance  cause.  In  i8<)i  he  was  elected 
justice  of  the  peace  and  by  re-election  has  been 
continued  in  the  office  for  fifteen  years.  His  de- 
cisions are  strictly  fair  and  im|)artial  as  indicated 
by  his  retention  in  the  position.  Me  has  also 
served  on  the  school  board  and  as  president  of  the 
district  board.  Whatever  he  imdertakes  he  car- 
ries forward  to  successful  comjiletion  and  he 
readily  recognizes  and  imjjroves  opportunities,  is 
quick  to  plan  and  perform  and  manifests  a  spirit 
of  detennination  and  keen  executive  force  that 
never  fail  to  accomplish  the  ilesired  result.  I  Ic 
certainly  deserves  much  credit  for  what  he  has 
done  and  bis  is  a  record  which  might  well  serve 
as  a  source  of  emulation  and  encouragement  to 
others,  showing  what  may  1k'  accomplished  when 
one  has  the  will  to  dare  and  to  do  and  |)niviiig 
that  success  is  ambition's  answer. 


(;.\S.\\V.\V  l!R(  nilKRS. 

History  is  no  longer  a  record  of  wars  atul 
con(|uc.sts,  of  the  attack  of  a  clan  or  of  a  countr\ 
upon  other  peoples,  but  is  the  account  of  busi- 
ness activity  and  of  ])rogress  in  the  field  of  art 
and  letters.  It  is  pre-eminently  a  utilitarian  age 
anfl  the  real  founders  and  promoters  of  a  town 
or  city  arc  the  active  business  men  who  estab- 
lish and  successfully  control  business  interests 
which  prrjinnte  the  industrial  and  commercial 
life  and  add  to  the  general  ])ros|H-rity.  In  this 
connection  the  firm  of  Gasaway  I'irothers  well 
deserve  mention.  They  arc  cngagifl  in  the  farm 
im|>lement    and    harness    business    at     Milford, 


where  they  are  conducting  a  well  ai)pointed  es- 
tablishment and  they  also  handle  hardware, 
waguns  and  carriages.  ISoth  are  natives  of  Iro- 
i|Ui>i>  ciiunty.  Mdwaril  I.  ( iasaway  was  Ixirn 
at  (  Hd  Town.  Sei)tember  lo.  i86<j,  and  his 
briither's  birth  occurred  there  1  )eceinl>er  3,  i><y\. 
They  are  sons  of  Dr.  \.  II.  t iasaway,  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  a  son  of  David  Gasaway,  who 
on  leaving  the  Mine  (jrass  state  removed  with 
bis  family  to  Indiana  and  settled  at  Old  N'ernon. 
He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade  and  carried  on 
that  business  in  Indiana.  Dr.  (iasaway  was 
reared  at  X'ernon,  was  educated  there  and  at 
the  time  of  the  Civil  war  enlisted  as  assistant 
surgeon  in  the  L'nion  army,  being  assigned  to 
l.'om])any  K  of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  \'oIuntcer 
Infantry,  for  one  year.  He  .served  out  his  term 
and  then  resigned  after  which,  in  i8<>2.  he  came 
to  Illinois,  establishing  his  home  at  Old  Town. 
Ir<H|u<iis  county,  where  be  entered  actively  upon 
the  practice  of  medicine,  in  which  he  continud 
for  a  number  of  years.  He  afterward  removed 
to  (  )klahoma,  where  he  engaged  in  practice  for 
three  years.  He  then  returned  to  Milford  and 
spent  his  last  years  on  the  farm,  his  death  oc- 
curring in  October.  H)04.  when  he  had  reached 
the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  His 
widow  is  still  living  and  her  home  is  now  in 
Chicago. 

Rdward  (jasaway  and  his  brother  Walter  were 
reared  in  Iroquois  county  and  at  the  usual  age 
entered  the  common  schools,  [)assing  through 
successive  grades,  while  later  they  pursued  a 
course  of  study  in  I^igansprot  (Indiana)  Com- 
mercial College.  They  were,  however,  reared 
upon  the  home  farm,  carried  on  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  and  from  youth  became  famil- 
iar with  all  the  work  connected  with  the  tilling 
of  the  soil.  They  also  raised  and  dealt  in  horses 
and  cattle  but,  thinking  to  find  a  still  more  profit- 
able field  of  labor  in  commercial  life,  they  en- 
gaged in  business  in  Milford  about  1893  and 
have  since  been  factors  in  business  here.  They 
first  estal>lished  a  restaurant,  wliich  they  con- 
ducted for  several  years,  after  which  they  turned 
their  attention  to  the  harness  and  implement 
business.  They  deal  largely  in  farm  implements 
and  they  also  carry  an  extensive  line  of  buggies, 
carriages  and  wagons.  .\t  the  same  time  they 
conduct  a  harness  shop  and  make  o\ti.iisivc  .ui- 


402 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


nual  sales  in  all  the  deparlinents  of  their  busi- 
ness. They  have  built  up  an  excellent  trade  and 
are  among  ^lilford's  most  progressive  and 
prosperous   business   men. 

Edward  Gasavvay  was  married  in  Milford  in 
March,  1903,  to  Miss  Estella  Morris,  who  was 
born  in  Blanchester,  Ohio,  a  daughter  of  Georgo 
W.  Morris,  who  about  1901  came  to  Iroquois 
county.  Walter  Gasaway  was  united  in  mar- 
riage in  Milford  in  1901  to  ^liss  Mary  Jane 
^lorris.  a  sister  of  his  brother's  wife,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Clyde  E.  and  Armilda. 

The  brothers  are  prominent  in  local  political 
circles,  stanchly  advocate  the  principles  of  the 
republican  party  and  their  opinions  have  fre- 
quently been  decisive  factors  in  settling  ques- 
tions of  local  importance.  Edward  Gasaway 
was  elected  and  served  for  three  years  on  the 
town  board  and  he  is  a  member  of  Milford  lodge, 
I.  O.  O.  F.  They  and  their  families  are  promi- 
nent socially  being  highly  esteemed  in  the  com- 
munity where  they  reside.  Their  entire  lives 
have  been  passed  in  Iroquois  county  and  they 
have  seen  the  growth  of  Milford  from  an  insig- 
nificant village  to  a  thriving  little  city,  domi- 
nated by  a  spirit  of  enterprise  and  progress. 
They  give  their  support  to  every  worthy  enter- 
prise calculated  to  prove  of  public  benefit  and 
are  men  of  unblemished  character  and  sterling 
worth.  Investigation  into  their  life  record  but 
serves  to  heighten  their  good  qualities  and  win 
for  them  still  higher  regard  among  the  many 
who  already  give  to  them  warm   friendship. 


H.  S.  COMPTOX. 


Scientific  investigation  and  tests  have  slidwii 
that  there  is  no  richer  farm  land  in  all  America 
than  is  found  in  Illinois,  where  soil  and  climate 
are  most  conducive  to  the  raising  of  good  crops. 
Many  fortunes  have  been  made  by  those  who 
have  taken  up  agricultural  work,  for  rich  returns 
are  secured  for  the  care  and  labor  which  are 
bestowed  u]3on  field  and  meadow.  Mr.  Comp- 
ton  is  among  the  number  who  in  Iroquois  county 
has  met  with  a  gratifying  measure  of  prosper- 
ity through  his  farming  operations  and  he  now 
owns  and  conducts  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 


twenty-four  acres  on  section  20.  Onarga  town- 
ship. He  is  numbered  among  the  early  settlers, 
for  he  dates  his  residence  in  the  county  since 
1869  and  has  lived  in  Illinois  since  1855. 

A  native  of  Ohio,  he  was  born  in  Union 
county.  April  i,  1851.  and  came  to  this  state 
with  his  parents  in  1855,  locating  first  in  Mar- 
shall county  near  Big  Shanty,  where  the  family 
resided  for  a  few  years,  subsequently  removing 
to  Livingston  county.  .\t  a  later  date  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  La  Salle.  The  subject  of  this 
review  largely  spent  his  boyhood  days  near 
W'enona.  where  he  enjo\'ed  common-school  ad- 
vantages. He  is  to  some  extent,  however,  a  self- 
educated  man  and  reading,  observation  and  ex- 
perience have  greatly  broadened  his  knowledge. 
He  worked  by  the  month  at  farm  labor  for 
about  fifteen  years,  dependent  entirely  upon  his 
own  resources  from  the  age  of  eighteen  years. 
He  bought  his  first  land  in  ^IcLean  county,  Illi- 
nois, commencing  with  eighty  acres,  and  farmed 
that  property  for  six  years,  when  he  sold  out 
and  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  just 
east  of  his  present  place.  This  he  tilled  for 
some  time  and  on  selling  out  came  to  Iroquois 
county  in  1895,  making  investment  in  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
he  now  resides.  He  at  once  began  the  further 
development  and  improvement  of  this  property 
and  has  since  added  to  and  remodeled  his  resi- 
dence, built  a  large  granary  and  corn  crib  with 
elevator,  and  has  now  all  of  the  modern  equip- 
ments and  accessories  of  a  model  farm  upon  his 
property.  He  has  since  bought  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  near  Onarga  known  as  the 
Matthews  farm  and  it  too  is  under  a  high  state 
of  cultivation.  He  produces  splendid  crops  of 
the  cereals  for  which  the  .soil  is  best  adapted  and 
he  also  raises  and  feeds  stock,  keeping  high 
grade  cattle  and  hogs  and  also  high  grade  Per- 
cheron  horses. 

(  )n  the  29th  of  December,  1882,  Mr.  Comp- 
tou  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Wick,  who  was 
I)orn  and  reared  in  McLean  county,  Illinois. 
They  now  have  five  children :  Clara  Belle,  the 
wife  of  Pearl  Mcintosh,  a  farmer  of  this  county; 
George  W..  u\ion  the  home  farm:  Edward  M., 
Maud,  and  Major  McKinley.  The  family  are 
wi(lel\  and  favorably  known  and  the  hospitality 
of   tile  best  homes   of  the  localitv   is   freelv  ac- 


II.  S.  COMI'TOX. 


v.  ;HE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IR(0QUOIS  COUNTY.  ILIJNOIS. 


405 


corded  thoin.  Mr.  Conipton  has  been  an  earnest 
republican  since  his  first  presidential  ballot  wa.-; 
cast  for  L'.  S.  Grant  and  he  has  since  stanchl) 
supported  the  men  and  measures  of  the  i)arty. 
He  has  j^erved  on  the  school  board  and  as  road 
commissioner  but  has  never  sought  or  desired 
public  office.  He  starti-d  out  in  life  on  his  own 
acannit  eini)ty-handed.  but  diliRence  and  reso- 
lute purpose  have  iK-en  the  stronj.;  elements  in 
his  successful  career,  raisinjj  him  from  a  humble 
financial   position    to   one  of  affiuence. 


EUGEXK   H.   I'KKRV. 

liugene  H.  I'errv.  a  representative  of  the 
farniinj;  interests  of  Iroquois  cmmty  and  a  res- 
ident of  Crescent  City,  was  horn  in  Niagara 
county.  Xew  York.  I'ebruary  12,  1866.  His 
father,  Rolxrl  Hoy  I'crry.  was  born  in  the  Em- 
pire state  February  17.  1830.  and  came  with  his 
family  to  Grundy  county.  Illinois,  in  1877.  In 
1882  he  removed  to  IrtKpiois  county,  settlinfi  on 
a  farm  in  Crescent  township,  which  is  now  tlie 
property  of  his  s<jn.  F..  H.  Perry.  The  father  has 
departed  this  life  but  the  mother  is  still  living 
in  Watseka  and  further  mention  of  them  is  made 
on  another  pape  of  this  w<jrk-. 

In  the  common  scho<jls  Mr.  l'err\  ac(|uired 
his  early  education  and  later  attended  Grand 
Prairie  Seminary  at  (  )narga,  Illinois.  He  was 
early  trained  to  the  work  of  the  farm,  becoming 
familiar  with  all  the  duties  and  labors  that  fall 
to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist.  He  did  not  seek 
to  change  his  occupation  when  he  entered  busi- 
ness life  but  has  always  been  identified  with 
fanning  interests  and  is  today  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  goo<l  farm  land  a 
mile  and  a  quarter  from  Crescent  City.  He  does 
general  farming,  hiring  a  man  to  take  charge 
of  the  farm  but  giving  personal  supervision  to 
its  management  and  further  <levelopment.  In 
1901  he  removed  to  Crescent  City,  where  he  pur- 
chased  property  and  has  since  made  his  home. 

Mrs.  Perry,  who  presides  over  their  pleasant 
home,  was  in  her  maidenhood  .Miss  Emma  Plow- 
man, a  native  of  Carroll  county,  Maryland,  born 
June  6,  i8r»5.  When  only  four  years  of  age  she 
was  bnnight  to  Iro<iuois  coimty  by  her  ])arents. 


She  is  a  daughter  of  George  \V.  Plowman  and  a 
sister  of  .\mon  Plowman,  deputy  circuit  clerk. 
Iloth  are  now  deceased.  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry 
have  four  children:  .\da.  who  at  the  age  of 
eighttx-n  years  is  teaching  school :  ( ieorgia,  si.\- 
teen  years  of  age.  a  graduate  of  the  scIkhiIs  of 
Crescent  City;  Koln-rt  and  Homer,  aged  re- 
spectively eleven  and  five  years. 

Politically  Mr.  Perry  casts  an  independent 
ballot.  He.  however,  keeps  well  informed  on 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day  and  votes  as  he 
thinks  the  best  interests  of  the  city,  county  ami 
state  demand.  He  served  as  collector  for  one 
year  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sen.se 
of  oflice  seeking.  His  memlxr.^hip  relations  arc 
with  the  .Mixlern  Woodmen  camp  at  Crescnt 
Cit\'  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Cogrega- 
ti(jnal  church.  There  has  been  no  esoteric  phase 
in  his  life  record.  On  the  contrary  he  has 
worked  persistently  and  energetically  in  the  con- 
trol of  his  business  and  his  capable  management 
and  cIo.se  application  have  made  him  prosperous. 


I'.  H.  LUEBCHOW. 


I".  H.  Luebchow  is  a  general  merchant  carry- 
ing on  a  large  and  growing  business  in  the  vil- 
lage of  Martinton.  He  was  born  in  Germany, 
February  28.  1868.  and  was  brought  to  .\merica 
when  three  years  of  age  by  his  parents.  His 
father,  .\ugust  Luebchow.  was  also  born  in  Ger- 
many and  came  to  the  new  world  in  1871.  For 
a  year  he  resided  in  Will  county.  Illinois,  and 
then  settled  in  .\sh  (irove  township.  Iro(|uois 
county.  Later  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  in  .\rtesia  township,  which 
he  broke  and  cultivated,  making  his  home  there- 
on continuously  since  and  carrying  forward  his 
farm  work  along  progressive  and  substantial 
lines.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Louisa  Luebchow.  is  also 
a  native  of  Germany. 

In  the  common  schools  F.  H.  Luebchow  ac- 
(|uired  his  education  and  livcrl  at  home  until  sev- 
enteen years  of  age,  during  which  time  he  be- 
came familiar  with  all  the  work  of  the  farm. 
He  then  started  out  upon  an  independent  busi- 
ness career  by  securing  a  clerkship  in  the  employ 
of  Mr.  Frechette  in  Martinton.     In  March.  J8<^^. 


4o6 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


he  purcliased  the  store  of  Mr.  Kauti'inaii.  who 
had  been  engaged  in  merchandising  in  this  town 
for  about  twelve  years.  The  store  biiikhng  was 
thirty  by  sixty  feet  and  lie  has  increased  the 
length  sixteen  feet  by  the  building  of  an  addi- 
tion. Hf  carries  a  full  line  of  general  merchan- 
dise, including  groceries,  boots,  shoes,  furnish- 
ings and  dry  goods.  The  business  has  greatly 
increased  since  he  assumed  the  management  and 
he  now  carries  a  stock  valued  at  about  seven 
thousand  dollars.  The  wise  system  of  indus- 
trial economics  which  he  has  followed  and  his 
enterprising  spirit  challenge  the  admiration  of 
all,  and  he  is  thus  making  substantial  progress 
as  a  factor  in  the  business  life  of  Martinton. 

^Ir.  Luebchow  was  married  in  Martinton  to 
^liss  Ida  Laughlin,  who  was  born  in  Parke 
county.  Indiana,  in  1868,  and  they  have  become 
the  parents  of  two  children,  Kenneth  and  Evelo. 
aged  respectively  six  and  four  years.  The  par- 
ents are  highly  esteemed,  occupying  an  enviable 
position  in  social  circles.  Mr.  Luebchow  is  a 
valued  representative  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  ^Modern  Woodmen 
camp,  while  his  political  allegiance  is  given  to 
the  republican  party. 


IIFXRV  P.  WEBBER. 


Henry  P.  Webber,  whose  time  and  energies 
are  given  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and 
stock-raising  interests,  makes  his  home  on  sec- 
tion 27,  Lovejoy  township,  his  farm  embracing 
eighty  acres  of  land  there.  He  also  operates  an 
adjoining  tract  of  eighty  acres  belonging  to  his 
ijiother.  He  has  resided  continuously  in  this 
county  for  thirty  years,  arriving  in  1877.  al- 
though the  father  purchased  the   farm  in   1875. 

Mr.  Webber  is  a  native  of  Illinois,  having  been 
born  in  .^tark  county.  Decenibcr  11,  i86f).  He 
was  one  of  four  children  born  unto  Philii)  and 
Caroline  (DeGroft)  Webber.  The  father,  a  na- 
tive of  Kentucky,  was  born  in  1817  and  when 
a  young  man  removed  to  Indiana.  He  was  mar- 
ried that  state  and  lost  his  first  wife  there. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Stark  county.  Illi- 
nois, and  opened  up  a  farm  near  Wyoming. 
There   he   carried   on    general   agricultural    pur- 


suits for  several  years,  after  which  he  disposed 
of  the  property  and  in  1877  removed  to  Iroquois 
county,  having  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  1876.  There  were  only  slight 
improvements  upon  the  farm  at  that  time  but 
he  at  once  began  the  further  development  and 
cultivation  of  the  property  and  added  to  it  a  good 
set  of  farm  buildings,  including  a  comfortable 
residence  and  barns  and  sheds  entirely  adequate 
for  tlie  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  He  drained 
the  land  by  placing  many  rods  of  tile  on  the  farm 
and  he  also  fenced  the  fields.  Following  his  re- 
moval to  Stark  county  he  was  married  here  to 
Mrs.  Caroline  (DeGroft)  Ames,  a  widow,  who 
was  a  native  of  ( )hio  and  tliere  spent  her  girl- 
hood days  to  the  age  of  twelve  years,  when  she 
came  to  Illinois  with  her  father.  James  De  Groft. 
who  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Peoria  ci  mn- 
t\'.  -\fter  removing  to  Iroquois  county,  Mr. 
Webber  continued  to  reside  within  its  borders 
until  called  to  his  final  rest  on  the  21st  of  Jan- 
uary. i8()6.  He  was  a  resident  of  the  state  for 
more  than  a  half  century,  helped  to  improve  it, 
drain  the  swamps  and  make  the  country  a  rich 
and  fertile  tract.  He  was  well  known  as  a  law- 
abiding  citizen  and  a  man  of  genuine  integrity 
and  sterling  worth  who  deserves  prominent  men- 
tion among  the  pioneers,  for  he  assisted  in  lay- 
ing broad  and  deep  the  foundation  upon  which 
has  been  erected  the  superstructure  of  the  coun- 
ty's present  pros])erity  and  progress.  His  widow 
survives  him  and  is  now  living  on  the  old  home- 
stead at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

Three  children  are  living  of  the  father's  second 
marriage  but  Henry  Webber  is  the  only  son. 
(  )ne  son,  James  E.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
eight  years.  He  was  reared  to  manhood  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  and  pursued  a  ])ublic-school 
education.  Through  the  period  of  his  youth 
he  remained  with  liis  father  and  aided  as  his  age 
and  strength  jiermitted  in  the  care  and  develop- 
ment of  the  fields,  .\fter  he  had  .-ittained  his  ma- 
jurily  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  from  his 
father  and  the  house,  barn  and  granarv  upon  this 
l)lace  ha\'c  all  been  erected  1)\-  him.  lie  has  also 
put  up  a  windi)ump,  has  tiled  the  land  and  en- 
closed the  fields  with  a  neat  woven  wire  fence. 
The  farm  ])resents  an  attractive  and  well  kept 
appearance  and  owing  to  his  systematic  labors 
and  jirogressive  methods  he  has  become  a  valu- 


IRooroiS  OU'XTV.  ILLINOIS. 


407 


al>lc  pruiKTty.  Hf  annually  harvests  jjcmhI  crops 
ami  he  is  also  raisiiij;  hi>;h  fjradc  i'oland  China 
hofjs,  shorthorn  cattle  and  good  horses.  Lvery 
year  he  fattens  hogs  for  the  market.  shii)pin(i 
(piite  a  large  nnniher. 

( )n  the  nth  of  January,  i8i;3.  in  \  ennilion 
county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Wehher  was  married  to  .Miss 
Ida  l".  Hunt,  who  was  born  and  reared  near 
I^ifayette.  Indiana,  hut  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  age  of  three  years  and  was  reared  hy  an  aunt 
in  Indiana.  I'nt.i  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  W'lhlier  have 
l>een  born  six  children:  Arthur  II..  Ral])h  .S., 
Waiter  II.,  F.mma  ().,  Mert   1'..  and   Harry  i:. 

.Mr.  Webber  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  sui)port  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  rc- 
public:in  party,  lie  is  a  believer  in  good  schools 
and  the  employment  of  com])etent  teachers  and 
has  done  effective  service  in  behalf  of  education 
while  a  member  (jf  the  .school  board  through  a 
number  of  years.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Hoopestoti  I'niversalist  church  an<l  he  belongs 
to  the  ( )dd  I-'ellows  society  at  Wellington.  A 
resident  of  the  state  throughout  his  entire  life, 
he  has  hel])ed  to  turn  the  sod.  to  drain  and  ditch 
the  land  and  to  carry  forward  the  work  of  im- 
provement, the  county  being  benefited  thereby, 
while  his  individual  resources  have  been  in- 
creased. He  has  recently  improved  his  own  resi- 
dence and  is  comfortably  situated  in  life  as  the 
result  of  his  unfaltering  diligence  and  his  keen 
discernment  as  manifested  in  the  management 
of  bis   business   interests. 


FKKDKRKK  W.  ( iULiCNiaRc  i. 

I'Veilerick  W'.  (ireenl)urg.  living  on  section  24, 
Prairie  (ireeii  townshij),  is  one  of  the  progressive 
fanners  of  Irof|uois  county,  and  his  holdings  of 
.seven  hundrerl  and  twenty  acres  include  five 
well  imi^roved  farms  with  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  in  the  home  place.  Upon  this  farm 
arc  many  modern  e<|ui])ments  and  accessories, 
and  in  all  its  departments  the  farm  indicates  the 
spirit  of  progress^  which  has  dominated  the 
owner  in  his  business  career.  liorn  in  Prussia, 
January  24.  1833,  he  was  there  reared,  and  in 
that   country    followed   sheei)-raising  as   a  shep- 


herd and  tender  of  sheep.  In  1855.  when  a 
young  man  of  twenty-two  years,  he  came  to  the 
new  world,  taking  jjassage  on  a  sailing  vessel 
at  Hamburg,  which,  after  encountering  heavy 
seas  and  severe  weather,  reached  .\'ew  ^'ork  har- 
bor after  a  voyage  of  five  weeks. 

Mr.  (ireenburg  at  once  made  his  way  to  Mil- 
waukee, Wisconsin,  where  he  sjjcnt  one  summer 
on  a  farm  and  in  the  winter  worked  in  the  lum- 
ber woods.  He  then  went  to  Racine  coinity. 
Wisconsin,  and  for  two  seasons  was  eniployed 
at  farm  labor  there,  .\bout  i8«jo  he  removed  to 
ripi)ecanoe  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  em- 
ployed at  farm  work  until  18(17,  when  he  came 
to  Iro(|uois  county.  Illinois,  and  traded  a  horse 
worth  two  lunulred  dollars  for  eighty  acres  of 
raw  land,  u]wn  which  he  resides.  The  jjlace  was 
almost  entirely  destitute  of  improvements  save 
that  there  was  an  old  shell  of  a  house.  He  at 
once  began  the  development  and  cultivation  of 
the  land  and  with  the  assistance  of  his  sister  and 
his  father's  family  continueil  the  farm  work.  He 
bought  more  land  from  time  to  time,  broke  the 
pritirie.  fenced  the  fields,  erected  necessary 
buililings  and  made  the  farm  a  good  ])roperty. 
Toilay  he  is  the  owner  of  more  than  .seven  hun- 
ilred  acres  an<l  the  honie  farm  comprises  a  tract 
of  rich  and  arable  land  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres,  in  the  midst  c)f  which  stands  a  comfort- 
able and  Commodious  two-story  residence.  He 
has  also  built  a  go<id  barn,  put  out  an  orchard 
and  tiled  ;Mid  fenced  the  ])lace  and  altogether 
the   farm  |>resents  a  most  attractive  appearance. 

( )n  the  JDtli  of  .March.  i8'k».  in  lihKimington, 
Illinois,  by  his  m.irriage  to  .Miss  .Maggie  Smilii, 
.Mr.  (Ireenburg  .secured  a  heli);nate  and  compan- 
ion for  life's  journey.  She  was  born  and  rearetl 
in  llavaria.  ( iermany.  and  has  indi'cd  been  of 
much  assistance  to  him  as  the  years  have  passed 
by  through  the  capable  management  of  the 
household  and  in  other  ways.  Six  sotis  and  a 
(laughter  have  been  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
(ireenburg:  John,  who  is  now  married  and  has 
two  children.  Reed  and  Bessie,  their  home  being 
in  .\ml)ia.  Indiana ;  I'red,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  I  Ioo])eston  ;  Louis,  who  is  married  and 
has  two  children,  Cora  and  Ina,  their  home  be- 
ing upon  a  good  farm  in  this  county ;  Fannie, 
the  wife  of  Charles  Fields,  who  is  operating  one 
of  her  father's  farms;    James,  who  lives  on  one 


4o8 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


of  his  father's  farms ;  Wilham,  who  is  married 
and  carries  on  the  farm ;  and  Lester,  at  home. 
In  politics  Mr.  (jreenbiirg  and  his  sons  are  all 
stanch  republicans.  He  has  served  as  road  com- 
missioner and  has  been  a  member  of  the  school 
board  for  a  number  of  years,  believing  in  good 
schools  and  the  employment  of  competent  teach- 
ers. He  was  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith  and 
his  wife  in  the  Catholic  church.  He  is  one  of 
the  well  known  and  substantial  fanners  of  Prai- 
rie Green  township,  and  his  labors  have  been 
an  element  in  the  substantial  development  and 
improvement  of  his  section  of  the  county.  He 
started  out  in  life  empty-handed  and  in  fact 
when  he  came  to  this  country  he  borrowed  the 
money  with  which  to  get  him  from  Xew  York 
to  Wisconsin.  He  soon  displayed  a  spirit  of 
willingness  and  industry,  however,  that  secured 
him  good  employment  and  as  the  years  passed 
he  carefully  saved  his  earnings  until  he  was  at 
length  enabled  to  purchase  land.  Adding  to  this 
as  opportunity  has  offered  he  is  today  the  owner 
of  five  well  improved  farms  and  his  record  is 
alike  honorable  to  the  land  of  his  birth  and  .the 
land  of  his  adoption. 


FREDERICK  LOCKWOOD. 

At  the  present  date,  iqoj.  Mr.  Lockwood  may 
be  found  at  his  home  in  Onarga  enjoying  in  a 
well  earned  rest  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil.  At 
an  earlier  period  he  was  clos^'  associated  with 
agricultural  interests  in  Onarga  township  and 
was  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-six  and  a  half  acres  within  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  Onarga.  For  fifty  years  he 
has  lived  in  this  county,  so  that  his  fellow  towns- 
men are  familiar  with  his  history,  which  in  its  es- 
sential features  has  won  for  him  the  respect  and 
good  will  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  asso- 
ciated. 

He  has  now  passed  the  eighty-second  mile- 
stone on  life's  journey,  having  been  born  in  Wa- 
sisco  county  in  Lower  Canada.  August  14,  1824. 
He  was  there  reared  tn  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
when  he  went  to  Franklin  county,  Xew  York,  in 
company  with  his  father,  Walter  Lockwood,  and 
the    faniiU.     A    residence  of   eiq;ht    vears   there 


was  followed  by  a  reinoval  in  1844  to  L^nion 
county,  Ohio.  His  educational  privileges  were 
those  aflorded  by  the  common  schools  and  un- 
der the  parental  roof  he  was  trained  to  habits 
of  industry,  economy  and  integrity — habits  which 
have  characterized  his  entire  life  and  have  been 
strong  features  in  his  success. 

He  was  first  married  while  living  in  L'nion 
county,  Ohio,  Miss  Emily  Avery  becoming  his 
wife  in  X'ovember,  1848.  She  was  a  native  of 
Saratoga  countv,  X"ew  York,  and  was  there 
reared,  her  father  being  Lewis  Avery,  who  be- 
came one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  In  1856 
the  voung  couple  removed  from  the  Buckeye 
.state  to  Illinois,  ]\Ir.  Lockwood  having  purchased 
land  here  in  1854.  Upon  his  arrival  in  April, 
1856,  he  located  upon  the  farm  that  he  had  pre- 
viouslv  secured  but  which  at  that  time  was  a 
tract  of  unbroken  prairie  land.  He  at  once  be- 
gan to  turn  the  sod  and  he  built  upon  and  opened 
up  his  farm,  commencing  with  one  hundred  and 
twent\-  acres  of  land.  His  first  house  was  a  log 
cabin,  in  which  he  lived  for  five  years.  As  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  extended  the 
boundaries  of  his  farm  from  time  to  time  until 
it  embraced  two  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres, 
in  the  midst  of  which  he  erected  good,  sul^stantial 
farm  buildings.  He  also  placed  over  three  miles 
of  tiling  on  his  land,  thus  draining  it  and  making 
it  very  productive.  He  likewise  planted  an  or- 
chard and  shade  and  ornamental  trees  and  thus 
added  much  to  the  attractive  appearance  as  well 
as  to  the  value  of  his  place.  The  years  consti- 
tuted a  period  of  earnest  and  persistent  toil  but 
his  labors  at  length  brought  him  success  and  en- 
abled him  in  1887  to  retire  from  active  farm  life 
and  take  up  his  abode  in  the  city  of  Onarga, 
where  he  is  enjoying  a  peaceful  and  prosperous 
existence. 

\\"hile  living  upon  the  farm  Mr.  Lockwood  lost 
his  first  wife,  who  died  March  2^.  1863.  There 
were  four  children  by  that  union  :  Eugene,  who 
is  married  and  resides  in  the  state  of  Washin.g- 
ton,  where  he  owns  a  section  of  land,  his  home 
being  in  Spokane :  \\'illiam  L.,  who  now  owns 
the  old  home  farm  and  is  married  and  has  two 
daughters,  Junie  and  Gertrude ;  and  Emily,  the 
wife  of  O.  L.  .Skeels.  of  Mimieapolis,  Minnesota, 
by  whom  she  has  one  son,  Charles,  now  a  young 
man.      She   also   lost   one   son.    Fred,    who   died 


Mk.  AM)  MKS.  l-kl".l)|-.KK  K  l.(  iCKWOOIl 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLlflUlS 


IKogi'olS  CUUXTV.  ILLI.\(»IS. 


4H 


June  II,  K^i').  al  lliL-  ajic  ul  iWL'iily  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  LocKwi-hkI  also  lost  a  >uii,  .Mfrcil  A., 
wlu>  was  killed  bv  lijiluiiinj;  in  iSi'S  wh.n  :iK. .m 
Iwiiity  years  nf  a).;e. 

Having  lust  liis  first  wife  .Mr.  i,i>ek\\uod  was 
married  again  in  t  >narjja  in  .\])ril.  1870.  to  Miss 
Maliala  Ilvans.  a  native  i>f  this  county  ami  a 
daughter  of  Lovead  Evans,  who  was  horn  in 
\  erniont  and  in  early  life  removed  westward  to 
()hi<>.  There  he  was  married  to  Mahala  Kirk, 
a  native  of  that  .state,  lie  became  an  early  set- 
tler of  Iro(|ui>is  co«nt\,  where  he  reared  his  fam- 
ily, and  later  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  his  last 
days  were  passed.  I'our  children  have  been 
born  of  the  second  marriage  of  Mr.  Lockwood : 
.\lnia.  now  the  wife  of  ICdward  l-'verett,  of  lien- 
ton  county,  Arkansas,  by  whom  she  has  two  chil- 
dren. I'Vederick  and  Marion;  Cirace.  who  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  llildebrand.  of  <  )narga.  by  whom 
she  has  one  son,  Harold:  and  two.  wlm  dieil  in 
infancy. 

.Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Lockwood  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  in  the  work  of  which  they 
are  .ictively  aixl  helpfully  interested.  Theirs  is 
a  pleasant  residence  which  was  erected  by  Mr. 
Lockwood  an<l  which  is  noted  for  its  warm- 
hearted and  gracious  hospitality.  I'or  many 
_\cars  Mr.  Lockwood  gave  his  political  support  to 
the  republican  party  but  now  votes  with  the  pro- 
hibition partv.  For  several  years  he  served  on 
the  school  board  ami  the  cause  of  education  has 
ever  found  in  him  a  warm  and  stalwart  friend. 
In  the  half  century  which  has  been  added  to  the 
cycle  of  time  since  he  took  up  his  .-ihode  in  Iro- 
quois county  he  has  witnes.sed  many  changes 
here  and  a  marvelous  transformation.  He  has 
in  fact  helped  to  imi)rovc  and  make  the  county 
what  it  is  today  and  an  old  barn  which  he  built 
in  iWxD  with  hard  wood  heavy  sills  and  a  dwell- 
ing which  he  erected  in  iSTii  are  still  standing. 
Since  1868  Mr.  Lockwood  has  kept  a  diary  of 
all  the  important  local  events  and  throughout  the 
years  he  has  also  kept  a  cash  bo<:>k,  showing  his 
receipts  and  expenditures  of  money.  In  his  busi- 
ness interests  he  has  been  systematic  and  method- 
ical which,  combined  with  his  energy  and  perse- 
verance, have  made  him  prosperous.  He  is  now 
a  well  preserved  man  for  one  of  his  years  and 
though  well  advanced  in  age  in  spirit  and  interest 
seems  yet  in  his  prime.    He  keeps  in  touch  with 


the  general  advancement  and  progress  antl  with 
the  trend  of  modern  thought,  conversing  cnter- 
t;iiningly  ujion  the  (|Uestions  of  the  day  and  cur- 
rent events  as  well  as  relating  many  interesting 
reminiscences  of  the  past. 


MLL.NT  K     MI"I".\TS. 


The  specific  and  distinctive  oftice  of  biography 
is  not  to  give  voice  to  a  man's  modest  estimate  of 
himself  and  his  accomplishments  but  rather  to 
leave  a  perpetual  record,  establishing  his  charac- 
ter by  the  consensus  of  opinion  on  the  part  of 
his  fellownien.  That  .Meint  R.  Meents  occupies 
a  notable  position  in  business  circles  in  IriNjuois 
county  is  a  uniformly  accepted  fact,  and  that 
his  labors  have  been  of  a  character  that  have 
contributed  to  general  progress  and  prosperity  as 
well  as  to  individual  success  is  also  known.  He 
is  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of  M.  K.  Meents 
&  Sons,  bankers,  and  tlealers  in  grain,  lumber. 
Coal  and  seeds  at  .\shkum  and  Clifton.  The  firm 
has  also  extended  its  activities  to  other  localities. 
and  the  business  interests  of  the  house  are  of 
direct  benefit  to  the  community. 

Mr.  -Meents  was  born  in  t  )stfriesland,  (ier- 
many.  June  15.  1S51.  the  family  home  being  on 
the  shore  of  the  .\orth  sea.  His  jiarents  wore 
Remmer  H.  and  ( )cke  M.  (I'lfers)  Mtrnts.  both 
of  whom  died  in  ( iermany  about  twenty  or  twen- 
ty-five years  ago.  The  father  was  a  farmer  there 
and  was  also  an  c)verseer  on  the  dykes — an  hon- 
orary position.  -Mr.  .Meents  of  this  review  has 
two  brothers  in  IriMpiois  county.  I'rank  I{.  and 
( ieorge  1!..  while  one  brother,  R.  II.  Meents.  is 
living  in  .Nebraska,  and  another  brother,  Corne- 
lius Meents,  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in 
( iermanv.  Two  sisters,  however,  have  |)assed 
away. 

Meent  R.  .Meents  was  reareil  ini<ler  the  paren- 
tal roof  to  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  and  in  .\la\ , 
iWk).  he  crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  the  new  world. 
He  attended  school  in  both  his  native  land  and 
in  this  Country.  He  may  well  be  termed  a  self- 
made  man,  for  his  success  is  the  direct  outcome 
of  his  own  labors.  His  residence  in  Iroquois 
county  dates  from  the  winter  of  iSfx;.  ami  in 
1S71    he   came   to   .\shkum.    where    for   thirteen 


412 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


vears  he  was  connected  with  .Mr.  Comstock  in 
the  grain  business.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  ac- 
count. The  present  tirni.  which  includes  his  sons. 
Richard  R.  and  Frank  W.  .Meents,  was  organized 
in  August.  i8</j.  They  are  carrying  on  a  bank- 
ing business  and  are  also  well  known  as  grain, 
lumber  and  coal  merchants.  The  son.  Richard, 
manages  the  bank,  which  is  a  private  institution. 
while  Frank  Meents  is  the  manager  of  the  branch 
bank  and  of  the  grain  trade  at  Clifton,  where  the 
lirm  are  successors  of  S.  B.  \\'aklen.  He 
formerly  acted  as  manager  of  the  grain  trade 
at  -\shkum  and  his  ])lace  is  now  ably  filled  b\- 
Arthur  T-  Aleents.  The  father  has  been  dealing 
in  grain,  coal  and  lumber  in  Ashkum  since  1884 
but  the  bank  was  not  organized  until  1896.  when 
the  present  firm  was  formed.  The  institution 
was  capitalized  for  twenty-five  thousand  dollars, 
and  the  working  capital  of  the  combined  institu- 
tion owned  by  the  firm  is  not  less  than  seventy- 
five  thousand  dollars.  They  are  enjoying  an  ex- 
tensive trade  as  dealers  in  the  commodities  which 
thev  handle  and  the  banks  which  they  control  are 
a  most  important  element  in  the  financial  life  of 
the  comnumity.  Mr.  Meents  is  also  the  owner 
of  the  famous  Rossland  Park  farm,  comprising 
about  eight  hundred  acres.  This  farm  is  stocked 
with  blooded  animals,  including  English  shire 
horses,  polled  Durham  cattle  and  Shropshire 
sheep.  He  owns  two  English  mares,  Ringsand 
Lass  and  Ringsand  Lady,  that  took  ribbons  at 
the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis 
and  also  at  the  various  state  and  county  fairs. 
likewise  at  the  Iowa  State  Fair  and  the  Chicago 
International  .Stock  Show,  where  they  won  first 
and  second  ribbons,  competing  against  each  other. 
In  all  his  business  life  Air.  Meents  shows  keen 
discernment  and  has  managed  his  varictl  inter- 
ests with  an  ability  that  has  brought  him  a  goodlx' 
measure  of  success. 

Mr.  Meents  was  married  in  Iroquois  county 
to  Miss  Philadelphia  Cloke.  a  daughter  of  Rich- 
ard and  Mary  (Stoppcls)  Cloke,  who  were  na- 
tives of  Kent,  England.  The  daughter  was  born 
in  New  Jersey  and  accomijanied  her  parents  to 
Cham])aign  county.  Illinois,  where  they  remained 
but  a  short  time,  removing  to  Ashkum  in  the  late 
'50s.  The  mother  died  here,  and  the  father 
passed  away  in    England   l)nt   his   remains   were 


brought  back  to  .\shkuni  for  interment. 
Through  many  years  he  was  actively  and  suc- 
cessfully connected  with  farming  interests  but  in 
the  later  vears  of  his  life  he  lived  retired,  and 
during  that  period  made  several  trips  to  his  na- 
tive country.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meents  have 
been  born  five  sons  and  five  daughters,  who 
are  vet  living  and  they  also  lost  two  children  in 
infancv.  Those  who  still  survive  are  as  follows: 
Richard  R.,  who  married  Miss  Hulda  Carpenter, 
of  Piper  City.  Illinois,  and  has  five  children,  is 
a  member  of  the  firm  and  manager  of  the  bank 
at  Ashkum.  He  is  also  prominent  and  infiuen- 
lial  in  jKilitical  circles,  is  chairman  of  the  repub- 
lican central  committee  and  was  a  candidate  for 
the  state  legislature.  Frank,  now  managing  the 
interests  of  the  firm  at  Clifton,  married  Aliss 
Frieda  Muehlenpfordt,  of  Ashkum.  Annie  is  the 
wife  of  John  J.  Ruckrigel.  a  merchant  at  Ash- 
kum, and  they  have  two  sons.  Grace  Olive,  who 
has  taken  advanced  work  in  elocution  and  music 
at  the  Xorthwestern  L^niversity  at  Evanston,  Illi- 
nois, is  now  at  home.  Walter  H..  a  graduate  of 
the  CJnarga  Seminary  and  of  the  literary  depart- 
ment of  the  X'orthwestern  University,  is  now  a 
student  in  the  R.ush  Medical  College  at  Chicago, 
from  which  he  will  graduate  in  the  spring  of 
1907.  and  he  has  already  won  the  degrees  of  .\. 
B.,  .\.  M.  and  AI.  D.  Arthur  J.,  a  graduate  of 
Onarga  Seminary  and  afterward  a  student  in 
Leland  Stanford  I'niversity  of  California,  is  now 
manager  of  the  grain  department  of  the  business 
at  -\shkum.  Delphia  C.  who  was  graduated 
from  Onarga  Seminary  in  the  spring  of  1906. 
is  continuing  her  nmsical  education  in  that  in- 
stitution. Mildred  R.  will  graduate  from  Onar- 
,ga  Seminary  in  the  spring  of  1907.  -Mta  is  a 
student  in  the  high  school  at  Ashkum,  and  W'il- 
lard  is  attending  school  in  this  village. 

Politically  the  family  are  all  republicans  and 
the  father  has  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
review  for  the  past  four  years.  He  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  local  politics  and  has 
ever  kept  well  informed  on  the  cpiestions  and  is- 
sues of  the  day.  For  the  past  twelve  years  he 
has  served  as  chool  treasurer,  as  township  clerk 
for  seven  years,  and  has  held  various  other  offices 
in  the  township  and  village.  Socially  he  is  con- 
nected with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America 
as  is  his  son  Richard,  who  also  belongs  to  the 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


41.^ 


Masonic  frattriiitv .  in  wliidi  lu-  has  attainul  tin 
Royal  .\rcli  ilcjircc.  wliilc  l-'rank  Mccnts  is  a 
nu-nilKT  III  the  Knif^lits  i>i  I'xthias  fr.ittriiily. 
The  I'aniilv  arc  niiinlKTs  <<i  thi-  Mi-ih"i(li>i  cluirch 
at  Ashkinn.  i>i  which  Mr.  Miints  has  hci-n  a 
lihcral  and   faithful   >ni>ix>rt(.r. 

Ainunj;  those  \vlii>  have  conio  from  forcij;n 
lands  to  hi'conie  iinmunent  in  hnsincss  circles 
in  Illinois  he  is  ininihered.  His  success  in  all 
his  underiakiiij^s  has  Ix-en  so  marked  thai  his 
methods  are  of  interest  to  the  commercial  \v<irld. 
and  investijiation  iiuo  his  history  shows  thai  he 
has  based  his  business  principles  and  actions 
upon  .strict  adherence  to  the  rules  which  j^overn 
industry,  economy  and  imswervinj.;  intet;rity. 
His  enterprise  and  ])ro!j;ressive  spirit  have  made 
him  a  typical  American  in  every  sense  of  the 
word.  liy  conslanl  exertion  associated  with 
jjood  jntlirment  he  has  raised  himself  to  the 
prominent  position  which  he  now  holds,  havinsj 
the  friendship  of  nianv  :uid  tlie  rcs])(.ct  of  all  who 
know  him. 


HL.XRV  C\.  \\  I    \SL. 

Henry  L'lay  Case,  livinjj;  on  section  <•.  <  )narija 
township,  is  one  of  ihe  few  remaining:  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Illinois  and  also  one  of  the  few 
survivors  amonji  the  veterans  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  has  lived  in  this  state  since  1834.  ( )nly  two 
years  before  the  I'lack  Hawk  war  had  been 
fouj^ht  and  the  Indians  still  linf;ered  in  various 
sections,  althoujjh  their  rei!4;n  on  the  bro^id 
prairies  of  Illinois  was  a  waning:  '^"e.  The  land 
was  lar>;ely  covered  with  the  native  |)rairie 
prasses  anfl  here  an<l  there  alonj^  the  hanks  of 
the  streams  would  be  tracts  of  timber  land,  while 
the  rich  soil  invited  the  efforts  of  the  agricul- 
turist, the  fields  rcspondinp  readily  to  the  care 
and  labor  bestowed  ui>on  them  in  rich  crops.  In 
the  marvelous  transformation  which  has  been 
wroupht  Mr.  Case  has  borne  his  part  as  a  pro- 
moter of  aj^ricultural  development  and  has  ever 
been  an  interested  witness  of  the  t^rowth  and  im- 
provement  alou),'  other   lines. 

.\  native  of  Chautan<|ua  county.  New  York. 
he  was  lx)m  June  29,  1829,  his  father  being 
Cicorgc  W.  Ca.se.  who  was  familiarly  called 
Wash   Case   bv   his   manv    friends.     He   became 


a  resident  of  Will  county.  Illinois,  in  1854  ami 
thence  removed  to  IriKpiois  county  in  i83<i.  Lo- 
cating in  what  is  now  Kankakee  comity,  he 
opened  nj)  a  farm  there.  i>urchased  land  ami 
reared  his  family.  The  place  is  still  owtuil  li\ 
his  descendants. 

Upon  that  farm  Henry  (."lay  Case  was  reared, 
early  assistinjj  in  the  arduous  toil  incident  to  the 
developnient  and  im])roveinenl  of  a  new  farm. 
In  1S53  he  made  the  journey  overland  to  Cali- 
fornia, drivinjj  an  o.\  team.  He  spent  one  winter 
in  the  gold  mines  and  remaine<l  on  the  Pacific 
sloj)e  until  185(1.  farming;  ami  herding  cattle  for 
two  years.  In  185^1  he  returned  to  Illinois,  mak- 
ing the  entire  journey  across  the  jjlains  on  the 
back  of  a  nnile.  He  was  married  in  Kankakee 
county.  Inly  3.  1838.  to  .Miss  Sarah  I'latt.  who 
was  born  and  reririd  in  (  )hio.  Tbi-y  began  their 
ilomestic  life  in  Kankakee  county,  where  Mr. 
Case  carried  on  farniinjj  until  .\ujjnsl.  1862, 
when  his  spirit  of  jiatriotism  was  aroused  and  he 
enlisted  as  a  member  of  Company  I',  .'^eventy- 
si.xth  Illinois  Infantry,  in  defense  tif  the  CniMii. 
He  went  to  the  south,  where  he  <litl  active  d'.Uy 
with  the  army  of  .Mississipi)i.  iiarticipatinj^  in  the 
battle  of  X'icksbur}^,  of  I'ort  I'lakely  and  Cham- 
pion Hills.  He  was  on  detached  duty  and  drove 
a  team  a  considerable  |K)rtion  of  the  time  and  for 
a  ])eriod  was  ill  in  the  hospital  at  Natchez,  for 
a  few  weeks.  I  le  jiarticipated  in  a  number  of 
skirmishes  in  addition  to  the  rejjular  pitched  bat- 
tles and  he  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  being 
mustered  oiu  in  (ialveston.  Texas,  and  honorably 
discharg'ed  in  Chicago. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  aid 
.Mr.  Case  at  once  returned  to  his  home  in  Illinois. 
In  i8f)7  he  removed  to  t  )narya  townshij)  and 
purchased  an  interest  in  the  old  I'rceman  farm. 
He  broke  and  fenced  the  land  and  has  ma<le  the 
farm  what  it  is  today.  He  now  has  a  good  resi- 
dence property  and  other  substaiuial  buildings 
uijon  the  place  and  in  connection  with  the  tilling 
of  the  soil  he  raises  stock,  making  a  s|)ecialty  of 
hogs.  1  le  likewise  raises  small  fruit  in  abund- 
ance and  produces  .some  of  the  finest  berries  in 
this  part  of  the  state. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case  have  been  lK>rn  two 
sons.  fJeorge  IL.  who  resides  in  Kankakee,  has 
been  married  twice  and  by  the  first  imion  had  a 
son  and  daughter,  Ernest  and  (iertie  Ellen.  Ixnh 


414 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


of  whom  were  reared  by  their  paternal  grandpar- 
ents. The  latter  is  now  a  young  lady  and  has 
been  a  member  of  her  grandfather's  household 
since  a  little  child.  Eli  H.  Case,  the  younger 
son,  resides  with  his  father  and  assists  in  carry- 
ing on  the  home  farm. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Case  is  a  republican 
but  his  first  presidential  vote  was  cast  for  General 
Winfield  Scott  in  1852.  In  i860  he  voted  the 
rei)ul)lican  lickel  and  has  ever  since  deposited 
his  ballot  in  favor  of  the  candidates  of  that  party. 
He  has  been  without  aspiration  for  office  for 
himself  and  has  never  served  in  positions  of.  pub- 
lic trust  save  as  school  director  for  some  years. 
His  son,  Eli,  who  is  a  graduate  of  the  commer- 
cial college  at  Onarga,  is  of  much  assistance  to 
him  in  the  farm  work.  He  belongs  to  the  ila- 
sonic  fraternity,  being  a  Pilaster  ^Mason  of  the 
blue  lodge  at  Onarga.  For  seventy -two  years 
Henry  C.  Case  has  resided  in  Illinois,  coming  to 
the  state  when  Indians  still  lived  within  its  bor- 
ders and  when  there  were  many  wild  deer  and 
other  kinds  of  wild  game.  He  has  watched  tlie 
reclamation  of  the  county  from  a  swampy  dis- 
trict and  unbroken  prairit  and  timber  land  into 
a  great  agricultural  state  with  splendidly  de- 
veloped farms  and  extensive  stock-raising  inter- 
ests. His  memory  compasses  the  period  when 
many  of  the  homes  were  log  cabins  and  when 
the  greater  part  of  the  farm  work  was  done  b\ 
hand.  The  plow  was  guided  in  the  furrow  b\ 
the  man  who  tramped  behind  it  driving  a  single 
horse.  The  grain  was  cut  with  scythe  and  the 
corn  was  shocked  by  hand.  All  this  meant  ar- 
duous and  continuous  labor  for  the  farmer,  who 
now  has  in  his  fields  fine  machinery,  relieving 
him  of  much  of  the  hard  work.  Mr.  Case  has 
kept  in  touch  with  the  trend  of  general  progress 
and  im])r(jvement  and  has  long  been  numbered 
among  the  representative  agriculturists  of  the 
communilv. 


ROBERT  ROBERTS. 


An  excellent  farm  pr(j|)eity  of  nearl\-  four  hun- 
dred acres  on  section  6,  Onarga  township,  is  in 
I)ossession  of  Robert  Roberts,  who  in  its  care  and 
improvement  indicates  a  spirit  of  jirogress  and 
enterprise  and  who,  moreover,  is  practical  in  all 


that  he  undertakes.  There  are  two  sets  of  good 
farm  buildings  upon  the  place  and  this  farm  con- 
stitutes one  of  the  attractive  features  in  the  land- 
scape. The  owner,  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  was 
born  near  the  present  town  of  Crandall  in  Taze- 
well county,  March  3.  1846.  His  father,  Robert 
Roberts.  Sr.,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey  l)ut  was 
reared  in  Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  where  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Charlotte  Jones,  a  native  of  that 
state  and  a  daughter  of  John  Jones,  who  was  a 
farmer  bv  occupation  and  for  a  number  of  years 
had  cliarge  of  the  farm  of  General  William 
Henry  Harrison,  About  1S35  Robert  Roljerts, 
Sr..  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  in  Tazewell 
count  V  among  its  earliest  residents.  He  entered 
land  from  the  government,  broke  the  prairie  and 
opened  up  a  farm,  spending  his  life  thereon.  He 
lived  to  a  ripe  old  age  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  on  the  homestead  property.  Their  family 
numbered  five  sons  who  reached  adult  age  and 
three  daughters.  Of  this  number  three  sons  and 
tw<i  daughters  are  yet  living. 

Rcjbert  Roberts  of  this  review  w'as  reared  upon 
the  old  homestead  farm  in  Tazewell  county  and 
acquired  a  common-school  education.  He  was 
trained  to  the  work  of  field  and  meadow,  assist- 
ing in  the  task  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvest- 
ing. Until  twenty -one  years  of  age  he  remained 
witli  his  father  and  then  he  and  his  brother  Wil- 
liam went  to  Livingston  county,  where  they  broke 
a  half  section  of  land,  each  having  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres.  Robert  Roberts  improved  and 
built  upon  his  farm  and  made  a  good  property 
there,  continuing  its  cultivation  for  eighteen 
years,  when  he  sold  the  property  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on  section  6, 
Onarga  township.  He  has  since  added  to  and 
remodeled  the  house,  has  Iniilt  two  corn  cri1)s  and 
has  tiled  and  fenced  the  place.  The  drainage 
adds  nnich  to  the  fertilitv  of  the  fields  and  the 
rotation  of  the  crops  also  insures  good  harvests. 
Sometime  after  coming  to  this  county  Mr.  Rob- 
erts purchased  an  adjoining  place  of  two  hundred 
acres  and  has  further  continued  its  development 
and  improvement.  He  now  has  eighty  acres  of 
that  farm  rented.  FIc  has  been  raising,  buying 
and  feeding  stock  and  is  widely  recognized  as  a 
successful  farmer  and  business  man. 

In  1872  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of  Rob- 
ert Rol)erts  and  ]\Iiss  ^'irginia  \\'atts,  ;i  native  of 


•  .u    1 

WW 

'*-  ntup^pp^ 

^ 

R0I5F-:RT  ROliHRTS  AND  l-A.MH.Y 


2A 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COL'XTV.  ILLINOIS. 


4'; 


Tazewell  county,  ihe  wetliliufi:.  luiwcver.  takiiiij 
place  in  McLean  county,  Illinois.  I  lor  fatlier. 
RolKTt  Watts,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of 
Tazewell  county.  Seven  children  iiave  Ixen  born 
of  this  union  and  the  family  circle  yet  remains 
unbroken  by  the  hand  of  death.  In  order  of  birth 
thcv  are  as  follows:  Chester,  who  is  now  in  Can- 
ada, wliere  he  has  homcstcaded  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land:  Liitlier,  a  merchant  of  Del- 
rev:  Joseph,  who  assists  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm;  Cora,  at  home;  Archie,  who  is  farming  in 
Indiana:  and  lulna  and  .\lma,  who  are  under  the 
parental  roof. 

Mr.  Rol)crts  hoUls  membership  in  the  Delrey 
.Methixlist  Kpiscopal  church  and  gives  his  politi- 
cal allegiance  to  the  rei)ul)lican  ]iarty,  which  he 
lias  continuously  supported  since  casting  his  first 
presidential  ballot  for  L'.  S.  Grant  in  iS'iS.  He 
seized  as  township  trustee  in  Livingston  county, 
was  a  member  of  the  school  board  for  over 
twenty  years  and  is  now  highway  commissioner 
of  Onarga  township.  His  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  this  portion  of  Illinois  and,  starting  out 
in  life  for  himself  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
he  has  made  steady  progress  in  the  business 
world,  being  recognized  as  a  man  of  strict  integ- 
rity and  worth  and  one  whose  success  in  life  has 
iK'en  honorablv  gained. 


GEORGE  SPIES. 


The  name  of  George  Spies  was  an  honored  one 
in  Chebanse  and  lrt«|uois  county,  for  at  all  times 
the  principles  which  guided  his  life  were  those 
which  command  uniform  confidence,  respect  and 
admiration.  Never  neglectful  of  the  duties  of 
citizenship  and  manifesting  toward  his  associates 
a  most  kindly  and  considerate  spirit,  his  death 
therefore  came  as  a  source  of  deep  and  lasting 
regret  to  all  who  knew  him. 

Mr.  .Spies  was  born  in  Geimbshein.  Darmstadt. 
Germany.  May  2,  1843.  ^nd  in  1848  he  was 
brought  by  his  parents  to  .\merica,  the  family 
home  being  established  in  Syracuse.  New  V<irk. 
where  they  lived  for  three  years,  removing  thence 
to  Troy,  Xew  Vcjrk.  where  two  years  were 
passed.     In  1853.  with  his  parents,  he  removed  to 


Hudson,  •  Hiio,  and  there  resided  until  1856.  when 
the  family  went  to  Chicago.  In  that  city  George 
Spies  was  in  the  employ  of  his  father,  who  was 
foreman  of  a  coalyard  for  three  years,  and  at 
the  conclusion  of  this  time  they  removed  to  Clif- 
ton in  October,  1859,  where  they  occu|)ie(I  a  farm 
adjoining  the  town  on  the  north.  In  these  va- 
rious localities  George  S|)ies  lived  a  busy  life, 
assisting  his   father  in   various   ways. 

.\fter  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he  desired 
to  join  the  army  but  was  rejected  on  account  of 
a  lameness  causc<I  by  falling  from  the  rtKtf  of  a 
house.  On  the  6ih  of  Eebruary.  i8<^5,  however, 
he  was  accepted  and  remained  with  the  army 
imtil  lanuary  ifi.  ii<fii>.  at  which  time  he  received 
an  honorable  discharge  from  Company  D,  One 
Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Illinois  X'olunteer  Infantry. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Si)ies  spent  a 
short  time  at  home  and  then  began  to  work  on  the 
Lake  Erie  &  N\'estcrn  Railroad.  .\t  a  later  date 
he  went  to  I'iqua.  Ohio,  where  he  was  again  in 
railroad  service,  but  he  thought  the  ]iay  inade- 
quate to  the  amount  of  hard  work  demanded 
and  returned  home,  remaining  upon  the  farm 
until  i8fx;.  In  that  year  he  again  went  to  Chi- 
cago, where  for  a  year  he  was  employed  at  the 
painter's  trade,  after  which  he  again  took  up  his 
abode  on  the  old  homestead  three  miles  south 
of  Chebanse,  where  he  remainetl  until  1875.  In 
that  year  he  hx-ated  in  the  town  of  Chebanse  and 
in  partnership  with  Louis  Falter  purchased  the 
business  of  Moses  Eyerley.  In  1878  he  assumed 
control  of  the  entire  business,  which  he  continued 
to  manage  until  1900.  when  he  retired  from  com- 
mercial pursuits  in  order  to  give  his  undivided 
attention  to  his  farming  interests.  As  a  mer- 
chant he  was  alert  and  enterprising,  watchful  of 
all  the  opportunities  and  indications  pointing  to 
success,  and  as  the  years  passed  by  he  enjoyed 
a  large  and  profitable  trade,  which  he  well 
merited  by  reason  of  his  honorable  methods  and 
his  earnest  efforts  to  please  his  patrons.  In  the 
meantime  he  had  made  judicious  investments  in 
farm  property,  from  which  he  derived  an  ex- 
cellent income  and  in  later  years  of  his  life  his 
attention  was  given  solely  to  the  supervision  of 
his  farming  interests.  His  financial  position  in 
his  later  years  was  in  marked  contrast  to  his 
moncved  resources  at  the  outset  of  his  business 


4i8 


PAST  Axi)  i'Ri-:si':x  r  of 


life,  for  he  started  out  empty-handed,  dependent 
entirely  upon  his  own  labors  for  all  that  he 
achieved. 

In  1879  Mr.  Spies  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Caroline  Falter,  of  Kempton,  and  as  their 
mutual  love  and  confidence  increased  as  the  years 
went  by  theirs  was  largely  an  ideal  married  re- 
lation. They  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Lillie  M..  the  wife  of  George  Wakeman. 
of  Momence,  Illinois,  who  operates  two  hundred 
and  ninety  acres  of  land  and  by  whom  she  has 
two  children.  Earl  S.  and  Louis  ( ). :  Louis  G.. 
a  prominent  young  business  man  of  Chebanse ; 
and  Jiihn  II.,  wlnj  is  attending  high  school  in 
Chebanse. 

The  death  of  Mr.  Spies  occurred  September 
30,  1906.  wlien  he  had  reached  the  age  of  sixty- 
three  years,  four  months  and  twenty-eight  days.. 
He  was  a  man  of  generous  nature  and  of  public 
spirit,  who  contributed  liberally  ti>  many  en- 
terprises for  the  benefit  of  the  community.  He 
regarded  no  personal  sacrifice  on  his  part  as  too 
great  if  it  would  ])romote  the  ha]:)piness  or  en- 
hance the  welfare  of  his  wife  and  children,  lie 
held  membership  with  the  ( irand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  greatly  delighted  in  its  camp  fires. 
He  did  all  in  his  ])ower  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  onler  and  frequently  attended  the  state 
and  national  encampments.  The  funeral  services 
were  conducted  by  the  Grand  .Vrniy  post  to 
which  he  belonged.  His  life  was  crowned  with 
a  gratifying  measure  of  success  because  of  his 
laudable  ambition,  his  fertility  of  resource  and 
his  well  directed  labors,  and  he  left  to  his  family 
an  honorable  name  as  well  as  a  handsome  prop- 
erty. ^Trs.  Spies  still  survives  her  husband  and 
occupies  a  pleasant  home  in  Chebanse. 

The  elder  son,  Louis  G.  Spies,  who  was  made 
administrator  of  the  estate,  was  born  February 
28,  1883,  at  Chebanse,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the 
high  school.  He  pursued  a  commercial  course  in 
Dixon,  Illinois,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
firm  of  Eyerley  &  Hennesey.  bankers  of  Che- 
banse, on  the  1st  f)f  January,  1902.  He  has 
since  been  a  factor  in  the  active  business  inter- 
ests of  the  bank  and  is  regarded  as  a  representa- 
tive 3'oung  business  man.  He  was  married  to 
Sophia  Sirois,  at  St.  .\ime,  Illinois,  May  1 1 , 
1904,  and  they  have  one  child,  George  Francis. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  .Spies  is  a  stalwart 
republican,  and  in  the  local  ranks  he  takes  active 


and  helpful  interest  in  the  work  of  the  party. 
He  is  a  valued  member  and  the  secretary  of  Che- 
banse lodge,  Xo.  429.  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  also  be- 
longs to  Chebanse  lodge,  Xo.  924.  1.  (  ).  ( ).  F.. 
is  captain  of  Williams  camp,  Xo.  16.  Sons  of 
N'eterans.  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Eastern  Star  chapter  at  Chebanse.  He  is 
likewise  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  is  thus  closely  associated 
with  the  business,  political  and  moral  development 
of  the  conimunitv. 


HEXRY  X.  THEESFELD. 

Henry  X.  Theesfeld.  who  is  farming  on  >cc- 
tion  5.  Onarga  township,  was  born  in  Germany 
(in  tile  igth  nf  January,  1843.  '^"'1  '"  t'^'-'  father- 
land the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  \outh  were 
])assed.  He  had  good  common-school  advan- 
tages in  the  ( lernian  tongue  bin  his  knuwledge 
of  English  has  been  acquired  entirely  since  he 
came  to  the  United  States  and  although  his  un- 
familiaritx-  with  the  tongue  was  somewhat  nf  a 
handicap  during  the  early  years  of  his  residence 
here  he  has  long  since  largely  mastered  the 
language  and  also  become  acquainted  with  the 
manners  and  customs  of  the  people,  so  that  he 
is  not  only  a  successful  business  man  but  also  a 
rei)rcsentati\e  citizen,  unfaltering  in  his  hiyalty 
to  the  stars  and  strijies. 

llefore  leaving  his  native  land  Mr.  riieestcld 
was  married  in  Germany  to  Miss  Anna  .Siiiens. 
who  was  born  in  that  country.  In  September. 
1869,  the  young  couple  started  for  the  new  world, 
taking  passage  on  a  vessel  which  weighed  anchor 
at  llremen.  This  was  a  sailing  ship  and  nearly 
seven  weeks  had  elapsed  before  the  voyage  was 
completed  and  the  passengers  landed  at  I'.alti- 
more.  Maryland.  Mr.  Theesfeld  did  not  tarry 
liiug  on  the  .\tlantic  coast  but  came  at  once  to 
Illinois,  settling  first  in  Woodford  county,  where 
he  joined  his  brothers  who  had  previously  come 
to  the  I'nited  States.  For  three  years  he  worked 
by  the  month  at  farm  labor,  after  which  he  rented 
land  and  thus  engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  ac- 
Cdimt  for  eight  years.  Lie  came  in  Iro(|U(iis 
cinnUy  in  1880  and  in  1889  bought  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  raw  land,  upon  which  he  tmik 


IK'  It JL  '  M>   Ct  )L  .\  M  .   II.I.IM  i|>. 


410 


up  his  alwiili-.  I  111-  proinTlN  wliicti  came  iiitci 
liis  I'osscssioii  si'vciUtrn  ycar>  agn  hears  little  re- 
semhlaiice  tu  his  i)RseiU  well  (levelii|)e(l  farm. 
There  was  a  house  aiul  stahle  upmi  the  place 
anil  a  small  portion  of  the  laml  had  been  broken. 
Mr.  Tlursfelil  re.solntel)  undertook  the  work  of 
further  developinjj  and  im]irovin>r  the  farm  and 
afterward  he  luiilt  a  more  commodious  home,  ti^- 
jiether  with  Mil»tantial  oiuhuildiuus  for  the  siiel- 
tcr  of  prain  and  stock.  Ihe  land  was  low  and 
Wet  orijiinally  I)ut  the  modern  .system  of  tiling 
has  entirely  done  away  with  that  condition  and 
the  fieUls  are  now  splendidly  cultivated.  IVnces 
have  heen  built  and  all  modern  e<|uipments  added, 
and  the  capability  which  he  dis|)lays  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs  has  made  .Mr.  Theesfeld  one  of  the 
sub.stantial  ajjricidturists  of  his  commimity.  To- 
day he  has  two  sets  of  jjood  farm  buildin!.;s  u])on 
his  place  and  his  tract  of  land  of  one  hui;drecl 
and  si.Nty  acres  responds  readily  to  the  care  and 
cultivation  which  he  bestows  upon  it  and  annuall\ 
returns  to  him  rich  harvests. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Theesfeld  have  been  !). >rn 
cipht  children.  Lrick.  a  farmer  of  .Minnesota, 
is  married  and  has  four  children.  Simon,  who 
carries  on  aj^ricuhural  |)ursuits  in  Kiinkakee 
county,  is  married  and  has  three  children. 
diaries,  who  ojierates  the  home  farm,  is  marrie<l 
and  his  children  are  I'red.  .\nnie.  I.eo.  William 
and  Klsie.  .Martin  is  marrie<l  and  is  a  resident 
farmer  of  this  county.  Henry,  the  youniiest 
.son.  remains  upon  the  home  farm.  Tena.  the 
eldest  daujihter.  is  the  wife  of  Jacob  derken.  a 
carpeiUer  and  joiner  of  this  county,  by  whom  she 
has  six  children.  .Ma).j);ie  is  the  wife  of  Cor- 
nelius Hershberjj;er.  a  farmer  of  IriMpiois  oountv. 
and  they  have  three  children.  Zena  is  the  wife 
of  Carl  Keiners,  an  agriculturist  of  this  county. 
and  they  have  two  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Theesfeld  are  mcml)crs  of  the 
Lutheran  church,  in  the  faith  of  which  they  were 
reared.  Since  becoininj,'  a  naturalized  American 
citizen  he  has  jjiven  stalwart  support  to  the  re- 
publican party  and  its  principles.  The  (icrman- 
.\merican  element  in  our  citizenshiji  has  ever 
iK'en  a  valued  and  important  one  and  of  this 
Mr.  Theesfelil  is  a  representative.  The  hope 
that  led  him  to  .\merica  has  been  more  than 
realized,  for  in  this  country  where  labor  is  un- 
hampered by  ca-ite    .r  class  he  has  made  substan- 


tial advancement  in  tlie  business  world  and  al- 
thoujjh  he  came  to  the  United  .States  practically 
penniless  he  is  now  one  of  the  uiII-Im-iI,,  f.irnurs 
of  ( tnarjia  township. 


WILLI. \.M  L.  .McCLoLD. 

The  commercial  interests  of  Sheldon  find  a 
worthy  re|)resentative  in  William  L.  .McL'kiud.  a 
dealer  in  farm  im])lements  and  machinery.  He 
was  born  in  l-'ranklin  couiUy.  ( )hio,  September 
]<).  il^5<>.  and  is  a  son  f>f  James  .'^.  and  Rebecca 
(  McCutchan  I  McCloiid,  Ixith  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  (  Hiio  and  caiue  of  ancestry  strictly  .\mer- 
ican  in  its  lineal  and  collateral  lines,  .\boul 
iS<i7  James  -S.  McCloud  came  with  his  family 
to  Illinois,  settlinj;  near  Joliet  but  subse(|uently 
removed  to  IriH|Uois  county.  He  had  previously 
been  eufjagcd  in  the  oi>eration  of  a  llax  mill  in 
this  county  but  he  later  turned  his  attention  to 
coinractiuf,'  and  buildin.v;.  He  afterward  went 
upon  the  road  as  a  salesman  f<ir  a  coal  firm  and 
has  since  followed  that  jiursuit.  His  wife  died 
.^^eptember  19.  \i)Ol>.  while  on  a  visit  in  Miiuie- 
sota.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  and  was  a  woman  welt  liked  by  all  who 
knew  her.  In  manner  she  was  pleasant  and 
j.jenial  and  the  circle  of  her  friends  was  only  lim- 
ited by  the  circle  of  her  act|uaintance.  I'nlo 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  .McCloiid  were  born  eit;lit  children. 
si.\  sons  and  two  dau^'hters.  namel\- :  William 
L. :  Charles,  who  is  livinj.^  at  Matterville.  .Minne- 
sota: Robert  resides  at  .Stillwell.  Indian  Terri- 
tory: James,  livinj,'  in  St.  Paul.  Mimiesota:  I'M. 
of  Randolph.  .Minnesota;  and  Harry,  who  makes 
his  head<|uarters  in  SheUlon. 

William  L.  McCloud  was  a  youth  of  seven 
years  when  he  accomi)anied  his  |)arents  on  their 
removal  to  Illinois  and  after  completiiijLr  a  com- 
mon-school education  he  worked  to  some  extent 
on  the  railroad,  thus  enterin).j  business  life.  He 
next  enj;a),'eil  in  clerkinij  for  a  time  and  after- 
ward went  ujxm  the  road  sellin;;:  coal  for  a  Peoria 
firm  for  twelve  years.  In  ii)<x)  he  enj;a;.'ed  in  the 
implement  business  and  has  met  with  excellent 
success  in  this  undertakinjj.  He  deals  in  plows, 
harrows,  seeders,  mowers,  rakes,  tc<lilers  and  in 


420 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


fact  everything  in  the  iniplement  line,  also  han- 
dling machine  oils,  cream  separators,  Louden's 
feed  and  litter  carriers,  wagons,  buggies,  surreys, 
runabouts  and  cutters.  His  stock  is  very  exten- 
sive and  he  has  a  constantly  growing  patronage, 
his  business  already  having  reached  a  large  vol- 
ume, which  renders  it  a  profitable  enterprise. 

^Ir.  ^IcCloud  was  married  to  !Miss  Anna  D. 
Forsythe,  a  daughter  of  Rev.  James  P.  Forsythe, 
a  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
well  known  throughout  the  county,  who  died  in 
1906,  leaving  behind  an  honored  memory.  Unto 
Mr.  and  ^Irs.  McCloud  has  been  born  a  son, 
James,  now  eleven  years  of  age.  The  parents 
are  both  consistent  members  of  the  ^Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  Politically  Mr.  ilcCloud  is 
a  republican  and  has  served  as  school  director, 
while  fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Ma- 
sons and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Sheldon. 
Only  the  advantages  which  come  to  all  were  his 
in  his  boyhood  and  youth  and  that  he  has  pros- 
pered is  owing  to  his  well  directed  labors  in  later 
years.  He  possesses  a  spirit  of  determination 
that  has  allowed  him  to  brook  no  obstacles  that 
could  be  overcome  by  honorable  effort  and  as 
time  has  passed  his  close  application,  keen  busi- 
ness sagacity  and  diligence  have  made  him  a 
prosperous  merchant. 


JOSIAH  DARROUGH. 

Josiah  Darrough,  a  retired  farmer  making  his 
home  in  ^Nlilford,  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens 
that  Kentucky  has  furnished  to  Iroquois  county. 
He  was  born  in  the  Lllue  (irass  state,  August  15, 
1845,  ''  ^'^'^  "f  Samuel  V.  Darrough,  a  native  of 
\^ifginia,  who  was  reared  in  the  Old  Dominion. 
With  his  parents  he  removed  to  Kentucky  and 
was  married  in  that  state  to  Miss  Riceanna 
Quaintance,  who  was  born  near  Lexington.  They 
began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm  and  in 
1852  removed  from  Kentucky  to  Iro(|uois  county, 
Illinois,  where  Mr.  Darrough  purchased  two 
hundred  acres  of  wild  prairie  land  near  Sheldon. 
Soon  afterward  the  mother  was  left  with  the  care 
of  eleven  children  and  an  indebtedness  on  the 
farm,  which  she  at  length  paid,  being  a  woman 
of  good  business  ability  and  excellent  judgment. 
.She  carefullv  reared  and  educated  her  children. 


all  of  whom  reached  adult  age.  She  was  an 
earnest  and  consistent  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  died  in  this  county  at  the 
age  of  sevent} -two  \ears. 

Josiah  Darrough  was  reared  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  at  the  usual  age  began  his  education  in 
the  public  schools,  but  his  advantages  along  that 
line  were  limited.  He  remained  at  home  until 
twent_\-two  years  of  agei.  and  in  that  period 
gained  an  intimate  practical  knowledge  of  farm 
work  in  all  of  its  departments.  On  the  nth  of 
February,  1869,  he  chose  a  companion  and  help- 
mate for  life's  journey,  wedding  }iliss  Emeretta 
Slife,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  a  daughter  of  Dan- 
iel K.  Slife,  one  of  the  old-timers,  who  came  to 
this  countv  in  the  pioneer  days  and  died  here  in 
1902. 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Darrough  re- 
moved to  a  farm  which  he  purchased  in  1874, 
though  he  went  in  debt  for  the  same.  It  com- 
prises three  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  in  the 
midst  of  which  he  built  a  comfortable  residence, 
and  has  converted  it  into  a  good  farm.  He  now 
has  two  sets  of  farm  buildings  upon  it  and  for  his 
own  use  he  erected  a  comfortable  and  commodi- 
ous two-storv  house.  He  made  a  model  farm,  his 
place  being  ecjuipped  with  all  the  modern  con- 
veniences and  accessories,  and  there  he  lived  and 
labored  until  1885,  when  he  removed  to  Sheldon, 
where  he  resided  for  three  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  continued  until  1890,  when  he  took  up  his 
abode  in  Chicago.  There  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  real-estate  business  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  real-estate  board  for  five  years.  On 
the  expiration  of  that  period  he  returned  to  the 
farm,  which  he  improved  and  made  his  home  for 
three  years,  after  which  he  removed  to  Milford 
in  1S98.  Here  he  has  since  lived  retired  and  has 
a  comfortable  and  commodious  home  on  Jones 
street,  two  blocks  from  the  business  center  of  the 
town. 

yir.  and  Mrs.  Darrough  have  no  cliiklren  of 
their  own  but  liave  reared  three  to  maturity. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  ]\Ir.  Darrough  is  serving  as  a  trus- 
tee. In  the  work  of  the  chiuTh  they  are  deeply 
interested  and  do  all  in  their  power  to  promote 
its  growth  and  insiu-e  its  iqibuilding.  Mr.  Dar- 
rough votes  the  repulilican  ticket,  being  a  stanch 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  party.     Tie  is 


lOSlAIl    DAkROL'GH. 


mm?         iLUNOis 


IR()Ql<  US  O  )rN  I  V,  II. I. I.N.  N- 


4-'.^ 


now  ihk:»>;i<I  in  tlii^^  rcal-oslatc  busincs!;  and  at- 
IcikIn  ti>  the  iipcratioii  nf  liis  two  farms.  His  suc- 
cess in  life  has  cutiic  tn  hini  because  of  his  care- 
ful nianageiiieiit.  keen  discriniinatiim  and  the  e\ 
celieiit  use  that  he  has  made  of  his  o|)i)(irtimities. 
toj;ether  with  the  assistance  of  hi>  estimable 
wife,  who  has  in<lee<l  been  a  faithful  com|)anion 
and  heliimate  to  him.  beiiij;:  very  industrious  and 
enerj.;etic.  .Mr.  I)arroui;li  is  a  man  of  ijood  busi- 
ness ability,  saj^acious  and  far-si.i;htcd.  and  by 
his  well  directed  efforts  has  achieved  success. 
Throuijhout  the  commimity  he  is  widely  and  fa- 
vorably known  and  the  coiilidence  and  jjjood  will 
of  all  are  freely  extended  him.  so  that  he  is 
classed  with  the  representative  residents  of  Iro- 
<|Uois  County. 


(ii:()R(;r.  r.  wrilii 


•  uMryc  k.  \\  ri).;ht.  deceased,  was  throuKhoui 
bi.s  residence  in  lro(|uois  county  connected  with 
ajrricultural  interests  in  L'onconl  township,  where 
he  is  still  remembered  by  nianv  as  a  citi/en  who 
ranked  hij;h  in  the  estimation  of  his  fellownien. 
He  was  Ixirn  in  Cham|)aifjn  county.  ( )hio.  June 
2~.  1841,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated. 
He  was  a  xouny;  man  of  twenty-three  years, 
when,  in  iS(»4.  he  accom])anied  his  ])arenls.  Itcn- 
jamin  and  .Marj^arct  (Hodj;ei  W'ri.yht.  both  t>f 
whom  were  natives  of  N'irginia.  on  their  removal 
to  lr(N]U(iis  comity,  the  family  home  beinjj  estab- 
lished in  Concord  township,  where  the  father 
purchased  three  luin(lre<l  and  fifty-five  acres  of 
laiul.  This  tract  was  undevelojied  when  it  came 
into  his  pos.scssion.  but  he  laid  many  rods  of  til- 
ing, divided  the  land  into  fields  b\  building' 
fences,  and  in  <lue  course  of  time  brou;..;bt  the 
soil  mider  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  like- 
wise erected  a  house,  barn  and  other  outbuild- 
ings, and  continued  his  resi<lence  there  imtil  his 
death,  which  occurreil  in    iS7<). 

<  ioirgc  R.  Wright  was  one  of  a  family  of 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  now  dccca.scd. 
I'ollowing  his  father's  death,  the  son  iidieritcd 
the  homestead  prwpertN.  whereon  he  continued 
the  work  of  development  and  improvement  that 
hail  iK-en  l)egun  by  the  fornier.  He  was  success- 
ful  in  (lis  unrlertakings  aiul  throu-'h  his  labiirs 


and  careful  managenieiu  added  to  his  financial 
resources,  st>  that  upon  his  death  he  left  to  his 
widow  a  valuable  estate. 

.\ftcr  a  n-sidencc  of  two  years  in  lriK|uois 
comUx.  -Mr.  Wright  returned  to  his  nativi'  slate, 
where,  .\pril  17.  iS(><).  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  .\nna  .Salkckl.  who  was  likewise  a  native 
of  thampaign  county,  born  December  j'l.  1841. 
and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  .niid  I-iveline  (  West ) 
.Salkeld.  who  were  na;  iie  liuckeye  state, 

where  they  were  farmui;;  pcuplc. 

Mr.  Wright  gave  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
democratic  party  and  servetl  as  justice  of  the 
peace  and  as  road  connnissioner.  while  his  fra- 
ternal relations  connected  him  with  the  .Masonic 
order.  He  was  a  tliorough  business  man,  giving 
careful  supervision  to  his  ])rivate  interests,  and 
he  was  ever>\vherc  known  as  a  man  of  high  prin- 
ciple, conscientious  and  ujiright  in  liis  dealings 
with  others,  so  that  in  bis  death  the  county  lost 
one    of    its    valued    and    worthy    citizens. 

.Since  the  <leath  of  her  husband.  Mrs.  Wright 
has  contiimed  to  make  her  home  on  the  farm 
and  has.  with  the  assistance  of  others,  carried  on 
farming  and  sti>ck-raising  interests,  raising  polled 
.\ngns  cattle  as  well  as  horses  and  hogs.  She 
now  owns  three  hnndreil  and  fifty-five  acres  of 
land  and  is  a  very  competent  business  woman, 
managing  her  business  affairs  in  a  cai)able  man- 
ner. She  has  a  wide  acc|uaintance  in  Iroquois 
coimtx'  and  the  ho.s|)itality  of  her  ])leasant  home 
i-   gviaib    enjoved   b\    manv   warm    friends. 


WII.I.IA.M    Sll"\\  \RT 


W  illiam  .*^lewart.  eugage<l  in  market  garden- 
ing in  .Martinton  township,  his  i)lace.  however, 
being  within  the  corporation  limits  of  I'ittwood. 
was  Ixirn  in  tuyaboga  county.  ( )hio.  June  J4. 
1S40.  and  there  s]ient  the  first  twelve  years  of  his 
life,  during  which  period  he  ac<piiretl  a  public- 
schofil  education.  He  then  accompanied  his  jiar- 
enls,  David  and  Jane  .*>tewart.  on  their  removal 
to  lro<|uois  county,  the  family  home  being  es- 
tablishe<l  on  .Spring  cnvk.  at  the  present  site 
of  Crescent  t'itx.  While  living  there  he  enlisted 
in  the  arnn    and  during  his  term  of  service  his 


424 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


parents  crossed  the  Iroquois  river  and  upon  his 
return  from  tlie  front  he  found  them  living  in 
■Middleport  township. 

His  military  service  covered  almost  the  entire 
period  of  the  war  from  1861  until  1865,  although 
for  twelve  months  he  was  with  the  invalid  corps 
on  account  of  a  gunshot  wound  which  he  had 
sustained  in  battle,  and  because  Jie  was  somewhat 
incapacitated  by  his  injuries  he  is  now  granted  a 
pension  by  the  United  States  government. 
While  wearing  the  uniform  of  the  nation  he 
served  as  a  guard  at  Lincoln's  tomb  in  Spring- 
field and  at  one  time  he  had  a  picture  taken  in 
uniform,  while  he  was  on  guard  duty.  It  has 
since  been  lost  much  to  the  regret  of  Airs.  Stew- 
art, who  is  a  lady  of  strongly  marked  patriotism, 
so  much  so  that  she  chose  Independence  day  as 
the  date  of  her  marriage.  After  his  return  from 
the  war  Mr.  Stewart  rejoined  his  parents  in  Mid- 
dleport township,  where  for  many  years  he  car- 
ried on  agricultural  pursuits  with  marked  suc- 
cess, continuing  to  live  upon  the  farm  until  1904. 
when  he  removed  to  Pittwood.  He  is  still  in 
business  life,  although  for  several  years  he  has 
lived  in  semi-retirement  in  Pittwood.  He  de- 
votes his  attention,  however,  to  the  cultivation  of 
garden  products,  making  a  specialty  of  growing 
lettuce  under  glass,  and  finding  a  ready  market 
for  it  without  the  necessity  of  sending  it  to  out- 
side markets,  although  at  one  time  he  had  to  de- 
pend upon  Chicago  for  sales.  He  also  has  a 
fine  trade  in  asparagus  in  season  and  his  garden 
is  a  source  of  profit  to  liini,  as  well  as  of  pleasure, 
for,  enjoying  good  health,  he  is  not  content  to 
pass  his  time  in  idleness,  and  this  affords  him 
with  pleasant  as  well  as  a  prosperous  occupation. 

Mr.  Stewart  was  married.  July  4,  1869,  to 
Miss  Isaljella  r)randenburg,  who  was  born  in 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  January  5,  1853.  and 
tlie\-  have  become  the  parents  of  the  following 
named :  Mrs.  Ada  Ash,  who  was  born  March 
27,  1870,  and  is  now  a  resident  of  Watseka ;  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Smith,  who  was  born  September  28, 
1871  and  died  May  10,  1906;  Mrs.  Laura  Phelps, 
who  was  born  August  15,  1873,  and  lives  in 
Fountain  Creek  township ;  Mrs.  Grace  Carver, 
who  was  born  January  21.  1875,  and  lives  in 
Fort  William,  Canada ;  Maud,  who  was  born 
July  I,  1880,  and  died  when  three  years  of  age; 
ami   N'ene   l'.randenl)urg,  the  onlv  son,  who  was 


born  August  4.  1882,  and  died  when  twenty  years 
of  age.  The  three  married  daughters  were  suc- 
cessful school  teachers  and  all  of  the  family,  with 
the  exception  of  Mrs.  Carver,  who  lives  with 
her  husband  in  Canada,  are  residents  of  Iro- 
quois county. 

Air.  Stewart  is  a  charter  member  of  the 
Alodern  ^^'oodmen  camp  and  his  wife  of  the 
Royal  Neighbors,  while  in  the  United  Brethren 
church  she  also  holds  membership.  They  are 
greatly  esteemed  in  the  community  where  they 
make  their  home,  and  although  never  demanding 
public  attention  their  own  genuine  worth  has 
gained  for  them  the  favorable  regard  of  those 
with  whom  they  have  come  in  contact  and  made 
them   representative  citizens   of  the  county. 


JACOB  VAN  HO\'ELN. 

Jacob  \'an  Hoveln  is  actively  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  the  breeding  of  pure  blooded  English 
shire  horses  and  has  gained  desirable  reputation 
as  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  of  Iroquois  coun- 
ty. His  home  is  on  section  2,  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship, where  he  has  a  farm  well  equipped  for  the 
pur])ose  to  which  it  is  utilized.  Air.  \'an  Hoveln 
was  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  Alarch  i, 
1866,  and  was  only  five  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Iroquois  county  by  his  parents,  the 
family  home  being  established  in  Ash  Grove 
townshi]),  where  he  was  reared  in  the  usual  man- 
ner of  farm  lads  of  the  locality  and  period.  He 
attended  the  common  schools  and  remained  with 
his  father  until  he  had  attained  his  majority, 
during  which  time  he  gained  practical  knowledge 
of  the  best  methods  of  carrying  on  the  farm 
work. 

Starting  out  in  life  for  himself  he  purcliased 
one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  where  he  now 
resides,  and  locating  thereon  began  the  improve- 
ment of  the  propert}',  which  is  now  an  excellent 
farm,  forming  one  of  the  attractive  features  of 
the  landscape,  because  of  its  well  kept  appear- 
ance. He  has  erected  a  pleasant  home  of  two 
stories,  large  barn,  granary,  cribs  and  elevator, 
and  has  tiled  and  fenced  the  place.  He  has  also 
extended  the  boundaries  of  the  property  by  the 
purchase  of  an   additional   tract   of   forty   acres, 


IROQL'UIS  LDL.NIV,  ll.LlXtilS. 


425 


so  that  lie  now  has  a  valuable  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  which  is  unc  of  the  best 
improved  in  the  township.  In  connection  with 
the  task  of  tilling  the  soil  he  has  also  made  a 
business  of  raising  good  stock  and  in  1905  he 
purchased  a  pure  blooded  Knglish  >hire  stallion 
for  breeding  purposes.  This  is  one  of  the  best 
horses  of  the  kind  in  the  county  and  he  also 
owns  some  high  grade  mares.  He  likewise  has 
fine  cattle  and  hogs  and  is  very  successful  as  a 
sttick-raiser  and  breeder,  this  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness proving  to  him  a  prolilable  source  of  income. 

Mr.  \'an  Hoveln  was  married  in  .-Xsh  Grove 
township  in  i8<>i  to  Miss  l-alka  W'ienrank.  a 
daughter  of  John  \\  ienrank.  one  of  the  old  set- 
tlers and  prominent  farmers  of  .\sh  lirove  town- 
ship, who  is  mentioned  on  aiuither  page  of  this 
volume.  Si.x  children  have  lieen  born  of  this 
marriage:  Frank,  Anna.  Maggie.  John,  Henry 
and  Alvena.  Mrs.  \'an  Hoveln  is  a  member  of 
the  Lutheran  church,  in  the  faith  of  which  she 
was  rearetl. 

Mr.  \'an  Hoveln  gives  his  political  allegiance 
to  the  democracy  and  although  lie  has  never 
wanted  office  he  is  now  serving  on  the  school 
board  and  is  one  of  its  directors.  Throughout 
his  entire  life  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Illinois 
and  of  Iroquois  county  from  his  youth.  He  has 
seen  the  swamps  and  sloughs  drained  and  the 
best  farms  made  from  land  which  a  few  decades 
ago  was  regarded  as  almost  worthless.  In  the 
work  of  reclamation  he  has  borne  his  full  share 
and  has  helped  to  improve  and  make  Iroquois 
county  what  it  is  today,  a  thriving  center  of  the 
great  agricultural  belt'.  In  all  of  his  business  he 
has  shown  keen  discernment  and  marked  enter- 
prise, allowing  no  obstacle  to  brook  his  jiath  that 
could  be  overcome  by  determined  and  honorable 
purpose  and  effort. 


W.  S.  P.\RCEL. 


.\ctive  and  e?Krgetic  in  his  work  and  thor- 
oughly ui)-to-date  in  his  methoils  of  farming.  \V. 
S.  Parcel,  living  on  section  24.  ( )narga  town- 
ship, now  owns  and  cultivates  a  well  improved 
property,  embracing  one  hundrerl  and  twenty 
acres.     He  has  lived  in   IriX|uois  county   for  al- 


ntost  a  half  century,  having  taken  up  his  abode 
within  its  borders  in  1S57.  He  was  at  that  time 
a  youth  of  thirteen  years,  having  been  born  in 
Ohio.  September  15,  1844,  His  father,  Daniel 
Parcel,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whence 
he  removed  to  Ohio  and  was  there  married  to 
Miss  I^titia  Tharp,  who  was  likewise  born  in 
the  Keystone  state  and  had  become  a  resident  of 
<  )hio  in  her  girlhiwd  days.  They  lived  for  some 
time  in  Ohio  and  in  1851  became  residents  of 
Indiana,  while  the  year  1857  witnessed  their 
arrival  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois.  The  father 
purchased  land  upon  which  not  a  furrow  had 
been  turned  nr  an  improvement  made  and  at  once 
began  the  arduous  task  of  developing  a  new 
farm.  loiter  he  sold  his  original  pro]>erty  and 
bought  the  land  upon  which  his  son,  W.  S.  Par- 
cel, now  resides,  becoming  owner  of  cightv  acres. 
He  opened  up  this  farm,  erected  substantial 
buihlings  ujwjn  it  and  continued  the  task  of  de- 
velo])ing  and  cultivating  the  fields  until  the  land 
became  very  productive  and  good  crops  were  an- 
nually gathered.  Mr.  Parcel  continued  to  en- 
gage in  general  agricultural  pursuits  here  until 
his  life's  labors  were  ended  in  death,  September 
2,  1871.  His  wife  survived  him  for  a  number  of 
years  and  then  she  too  passed  away,  March  26, 
i8<>9.  In  their  family  were  seven  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

\o  event  of  special  importance  nccnrred  10 
vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  W.  .^.  Parcel  in 
the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  remained 
in  his  father's  home  and  acquired  his  education 
in  the  public  schools.  He  acciimpanied  the  fam- 
ily on  their  removal  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  re- 
mained on  the  old  homestead  farm  here.  ])ur- 
chasing  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  after  his 
father's  death.  He  has  since  bought  forty  acres 
of  land  adjoining  the  original  tract,  so  that  he 
now  has  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres.  It  is  well  developed  and  improved  and 
his  work  is  carried  forwartl  along  those  lines 
which  receive  the  endorsement  of  all  progressive 
agriculturists.  He  raises  good  horses  and  hogs, 
while  the  production  of  the  cereals  best  adapted 
to  soil  and  climate  constitute  for  him  an  im- 
portant source  of  revenue. 

Mr.  Parcel  was  married  in  this  county,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1873,  to  Miss  .Mary  I'.urkhalter,  who  was 
born  in  Indiana  but  was  reared  in  Iroquois  conn- 


426 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ty  from  the  age  of  five  years.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Rosa  (Miller j  Burkhalter,  who 
came  to  Onarga  township  in  1858.  Four  chil- 
dren bless  the  union  of  our  subject  and  his  wife: 
Frank,  who  is  married  and  now  resides  in  north- 
eastern Missouri ;  Grace,  Lloyd  and  Elsie,  all  at 
home.  Politically  ^Nlr.  Parcel  is  a  republican, 
his  first  presidential  vote  being  cast  for  General 
Grant  in  186S.  He  has  never  failed  to  support 
the  nominees  at  the  head  of  the  ticket  since  that 
time  and  is  in  thorough  sxmpathy  with  the  prin- 
ciples which  constitute  the  special  features  of  the 
republican  platform.  He  has  served  as  town- 
ship school  trustee  and  school  treasurer  but  has 
never  been  active  as  a  politician  in  search  of 
office,  for  his  Inisiness  cares  and  interests  have 
fully  claimed  his  time  and  attention.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Congregational  church. 
in  which  he  is  serving  as  deacon,  and  the  moral 
development  of  the  community  is  a  matter  of 
interest  and  concern  to  them.  From  his  youth 
to  the  present  time  ]vlr.  Parcel  has  made  his  own 
way  in  the  world  and  in  his  life  of  continuous 
activity  he  has  been  accorded  due  recognition  of 
labor,  winning  the  success  which  always  crowns 
consecutive  effort  when  guided  by  sound  judg- 
ment and  practical  coninion  sense. 


JOSEPH  G.  \\ITHERS. 

Jose])ii  G.  W'itlKTs.  who  is  operating  the  Dono- 
van farm  of  eight  hundred  acres  five  miles  east 
of  ^Nlilford,  having  devoted  his  time  and  ener- 
gies to  tliis  work  for  the  past  seventeen  years,  is 
one  of  the  ])ii;neers  in  Illinois  in  the  fine  stock 
business  and  has  gained  much  more  than  local 
reputation  in  this  connection.  He  has  today 
upon  the  farm  some  of  the  finest  .specimens  of 
stock  to  be  found  in  tlie  county,  the  value  there- 
of is  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  he  has  carried 
off  many  ])reminms  at  cnunty.  state  and  national 
exhibits.  He  has  made  his  hinue  in  Illinois 
since  the  .spring  of  1876  and  in  Iniqunis  cnunly 
for  the   jiast   seventeen   years. 

A  native  of  luigland.  he  was  jxirn  in  Hamp- 
shire. July  16.  i8,v>.  and  was  one  of  the  five 
children  of  .Vanm  and  Sarah  F.  (Saunders) 
\\  itlifrs.     TIk    ])arLnls   WL-re  likewise  natives  of 


Hampshire  and  there  the  father  followed  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising.  All  of  their  children 
reached  years  of  maturity  and  both  Mr.  and 
^Irs.  Withers  spent  their  entire  lives  in  the  land 
of  their  nativitx'. 

Joseph  f;.  Withers  acquired  a  good  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  country 
and  was  for  four  vears  a  college  student.  When 
a  lad  of  eighteen  years  he  went  to  work  for  an 
uncle  in  the  slock  commission  business,  remain- 
ing in  that  employ  for  five  years.  Favorable 
reports  which  he  had  heard  concerning  .Amer- 
ica and  its  opportunities  awakened  in  him  a 
desire  to  try  his  fortunes  in  the  new  world  and 
in  1862  he  started  for  the  United  States,  mak- 
ing the  voyage  on  a  sailing  vessel  wliicli  was 
twenty-one  days  in  crossing  the  .\tlantic  owing 
to  the  heavy  seas.  Landing  at  Xew  York  city. 
he  at  once  went  to  Dutchess  county.  Xew  York, 
where  he  entered  the  employ  of  an  extensive 
farmer  as  manager  of  the  live-stock  interests 
upon  that  farm.  For  two  years  he  filled  that 
position  and  subsequently  removed  to  Hartford. 
Connecticut,  where  he  took  charge  of  an  estate 
of  seven  hundred  acres,  supervising  the  raising 
of  croj)s  and  live  stock.  He  remained  there  for 
seven  \ears,  after  which  he  went  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  liecame  manager  of  the  Clay  estate  of 
six  thousand  acres,  having  charge  thereof  for 
seven  years.  He  displayed  his  ability  in  the 
successful  management  of  e.xtensive  farming 
interests,  for  under  his  care  these  different  farms 
proved  a  source  of  gratifying  profit  to  the  own- 
ers. For  two  years  he  had  charge  of  a  stock 
farm  in  Kankakee  county.'  Illinois,  and  in  1880 
he  removed  to  Cook  county,  where  he  followed 
farming,  renting  land  near  Richton  for  nine 
years.  In  1889  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  and 
at  once  took  full  charge  of  the  John  Donovan 
estate  of  eight  hundred  acres.  Upon  this  place 
he  has  since  remained,  covering  a  period  of 
seventeen  years — a  fact  which  indicates  his  thor- 
ough trustworthiness  as  well  as  his  business 
capacity  and  enterprise.  He  has  always  had 
charge  of  extensive  estates  and  throughout  his 
life  has  made  a  sjiecialty  of  the  raising  of  Scotch 
shorthitrns.  keei>ing  ini])oried  stock.  i  Ir  has 
registered  animals  and  with  his  fine  stock  enters 
all  of  the  big  fairs.  He  has  exhibited  at  the 
International    Live  Slock   .'~^liow  and   has   carried 


MR.  AM)  MRS.  I.  (i.  WnilKRS. 


UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  IIJ.IXOIS. 


42<» 


oil  >ovcr:il  hr>l  ami  ijliainpion  prciiiiiim>.  lU' 
also  has  txliibitcil  at  all  tho  principal  fairs  in 
the  I'nitcd  Stalis.  his  stock  rankinj;  favorably 
with  the  finest  in  the  land.  In  km**'  Mr.  With- 
ers traded  si.\ty-four  head  of  cattle,  vahied  ai 
sixti-en  thousand  dollars,  for  a  farm  of  three 
hinidred  and  seventy- four  acres  in  Muchanan 
comity,  Iowa,  and  his  son  I-" red  will  niana.i,'e  that 
j)lace. 

Mr.  Withers  was  married  (  ictohcr  3.  iS*",^.  to 
Miss  Sarah  .\nn  .\rcher.  Makin.ij  a  visit  to  his 
old  home  in  Kn;;land,  he  there  renewed  the 
ac<inaintance  which  they  had  formed  in  cliild- 
ho<«l  days  and  their  friendship  rii)ened  into  love, 
which  was  consummated  in  marriajjc.  She  is 
a  daughter  oi  Charles  Archer  aiul  a  representa- 
tive of  an  old  En}j;lish  family.  They  have  become 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  but  they  lost  their 
third  child,  a  daughter,  (irace.  at  the  ago  of  five 
years.  The  oldest  living  is  Charles  .\.,  who 
remains  at  home  with  his  j)arcnts  and  assists  in 
o|xrating  the  farm.  I'lizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
J.  .\.  I'eterson.  a  resident  farmer  of  \'ermilion 
county,  Illinois,  and  llu-y  have  three  chililren : 
Susan.  John  and  Irene.  William  j.  marrie  1 
Catherine  I'ields  and  is  a  resident  farmc-  of 
Stockland  township.  Walter  S..  living  in  Stock- 
laixl.  is  married  and  has  two  children,  llessie 
an<l  .\rthur.  l-'red.  who  married  Rose  I'arks 
Edricks,  is  living  in  Michigan.  Rnili.  Jane  aivl 
Susan,  the  yomiger  members  of  the  family,  ar.- 
all  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Withers  and  their 
family  attend  the  Methodist  ICpiscopal  church. 
They  are  communicants,  however,  of  the  I''pis- 
co|)al  church,  but  there  is  no  congregation  of 
that    denomination    in    their    immediate    vicinity. 

Mr.  Withers  votes  with  the  democracy  at 
state  and  national  elections  and  casts  an  inde- 
pendent local  ballot.  He  has  held  various  town- 
ship offices  in  Cook  county  and  has  served  as 
highway  commissioner  and  also  as  township  col- 
lector, lie  has  likewise  been  school  director 
for  fourteen  years.  lie  belongs  to  the  <  )dd  I'el- 
lows  society,  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  his 
lodge  and  has  been  noble  grand  and  ])ast  grand. 
r.'>th  he  and  his  wife  are  widely  and  favorably 
known  in  the  county  and  have  a  large  circle  of 
friends  almost  co-extensive  with  the  circle  of 
their  ac(|uaintance.  Mr.  Withers  is  a  man  of 
resoiin-i  fill  business  abilitv  and  there  is  in  him 


a  weight  of  character  and  a  native  sagacity  thai 
renders  him  a  leader  in  agricultural  circles, 
where  he  has  operated  extensively  and  success- 


i'mIIv 


1 1  .r     niriii  V      \.  f-i  i'-* 


ORMLLK  K.  DIX. 


( )rville  E.  Uix,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  re- 
siding on  section  32,  Inxjuois  township,  was 
born  Decemljer  27,  1852,  in  tirundy  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  old 
families  of  Xew  York  that  was  established  there 
when  the  state  was  largely  a  frontier  wilderness. 
Richard  Dix,  the  grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Xew  York  and  dietl  when  his  son 
Oliver,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  a  small 
boy,  after  which  the  grandmother  married  again 
and  removed  with  her  family  to  Illinois  alwut 
1833,  making  the  journey  from  the  Empire  state 
with  team  and  wagons.  .\t  that  time  there  was 
not  so  much  as  a  trading  post  at  Chicago. 

( )liver  Dix  was  lx)rn  in  ( )ncida  county.  Xew 
York.  Jamiary  5,  1821,  and  was  therefore  a  lad 
of  alxiut  twelve  years  at  the  time  of  the  removal 
westward.  The  family  made  a  settlement  in 
Kendall  county,  and  it  was  upon  that  frontier 
farm  that  ( )liver  Dix  was  reared  to  manhood, 
sharing  in  all  the  hardshi|)s  and  privations  inci- 
dent to  life  on  the  frontier,  lie  was  twice  mar- 
ried. In  Kendall  county  he  weilded  Lydia 
Wing,  an  aunt  of  Judge  Wing,  a  distinguished 
attorney  of  Chicago.  She  was  a  native  of  Lhau- 
tau(|ua  county.  Xew  York,  and  her  death  oc- 
curred when  her  son  Orville  was  only  four  years 
old.  It  was  still  an  early  |)eriod  in  the  devek>ii- 
ment  of  Illinois  when  Oliver  Dix  removed  to 
(irnndy  county,  becoming  one  of  its  first  resi- 
dents. He  settled  on  wild  land  and  from  the 
raw  jjrairie  (levelojjcd  a  good  farm,  which  he 
yet  makes  his  home.  He  is  a  republican  in  his 
|)olitical  views  and  affiliations  and  has  held  a 
mimbcr  of  positions  of  public  honor  and  trust, 
lie  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodist 
I^jjiscopal  church  near  his  home  and  has  always 
been  <jne  of  its  most  active  and  faithful  mem- 
bers. The  honorable,  upright  life  which  he  has 
liviil  li.iN  u, 111  f, ,r  him  niain   frii  ikU  .nul  he  has 


430 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


ihc  unqualitiiil  cniifukiicc  and  esteem  of  all  who 
know  him. 

Orville  E.  Uix  is  the  younger  of  two  sons. 
Jlis  brother,  Asa  \V.  Dix.  is  an  enterprisinsj  and 
progressive  farmer  of  Xettlc  township.  (Irundy 
county,  and  is  quite  prominent  locally  in  po- 
litically circles.  Orville  E.  Dix  was  reared  to 
manhood  upon  the  old  homestead,  no  event  of 
special  importance  occurring  to  vary  the  routine 
of  farm  life  for  him  in  his  boyhood  days.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  reached  his  ma- 
jority and  in  the  meantime  acquired  a  good  edu- 
cation in  the  common  schools,  the  academy  and 
the  Newark  high  school.  After  completing  his 
studies  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  a  time  and 
displayed  considerable  ability  in  imparting  clearly 
and  readily  to  others  the  knowledge  that  he  had 
acquired.  He  afterward  rented  a  farm,  which 
he  operated  until  1882,  and  in  that  year  he  re- 
moved to  Iroquois  county,  where  he  purchased 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  section 
32.  Iroquois  township,  where  he  now  makes  his 
home.  He  has  put  all  of  the  improvements 
upon  the  place  and  has  tiled  the  land,  which,  well 
drained,  is  a  model  of  high  production  and  is  now- 
all  under  cultivation.  In  the  midst  of  the  farm 
stands  a  pleasant  and  comfortable  residence  and 
the  property  is  one  of  the  desirable  and  valuable 
farms  of  this  locality.  The  work  of  repair  and 
improvement  is  well  kept  up.  good  farm  niacliin- 
ery  is  used  to  facilitate  the  labors  of  the  fields 
and  everything  is  done  in  accordance  with  pro- 
gressive ideas  concerning  agricultural  life.  He 
al.so  raises  stock  and  in  his  jjastures  are  found 
.good  grades  of  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

In  October,  1874.  occurred  llie  marriage  of 
^Ir.  Dix  and  Miss  FJizabeth  Riggs,  the  wedding- 
being  celebrated  in  (irnndv  county,  Illinois.  The 
lady  is  a  native  of  \\\st  \  irginia,  and  in  her 
early  girlhood  days  she  was  brought  b\-  her 
father  to  Illinois,  being  reared  and  educated  in 
(!rundy  county.  'I'hrer  cJiiKb-t'n  have  coine  to 
bless  this  union:  Lettic.  the  wife  of  M .  1'. 
Hilchin.  a  resident  of  Loda,  Illinois:  Ida.  the 
wife  of  W.-dter  Curtis,  of  Loda.  by  whom  she 
has  one  daughter,  .Marie ;  and  Eugene,  who  is 
at  home.  The  wife  and  mother  passed  awav  in 
1SS4.  and  in  October.  18S7.  Mr.  Dix  was  again 
married,  his  .second  imion  being  with  Mrs.  Ma- 
tilda (Anderson")  TIarvev,  a  widows  who  is  a  na- 


tive of  Sweden  but  was  reared  in  America. 
Four  children  grace  this  union,  Oliver.  Mildred 
Pearl.  Hazel  and  Elsie.  All  are  living  at  home. 
Mr.  Dix  votes  with  the  republican  party  and 
is  a  strong  advocate  of  its  principles  and  policy. 
He  regards  it  the  duty  as  well  as  the  privilege 
of  every  American  citizen  to  stanchly  uphold  his 
views  in  regard  to  political  ((uestions  and  he  is 
an  active  worker  in  the  local  party  ranks.  The 
cause  of  education  also  gains  his  stalwart  sup- 
port.  for  he  believes  in  good  schools  and  compe- 
tent teachers  and  while  servin.g  for  six  years  as 
a  member  of  the  school  board  in  his  coninnmity  he 
did  effective  work  in  behalf  of  public  education. 
He  and  his  wife  are  both  consistent  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  labor 
untirin.gly  in  its  cause.  His  fraternal  relations 
connect  him  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  Mr.  Dix  is  truly  a  self-made  man  and 
as  the  architect  of  his  own  fortunes  has  budded 
wisely  and  well.  By  his  industry,  enterprise  and 
perseverance  he  has  made  steady  progress  until 
he  now  ranks  with  the  county's  substantial  farm- 
ers and  is  well  known  and  well  liked  in  the 
communitv. 


MARTIN  TOTHEROH. 

Martin  Toiheroh  is  a  worthy  representative 
of  the  agricultural  interests  of  Iroquois  county, 
owning  and  o])erating  a  well  in-iproved  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  situated  on  section 
i<).  i'rairic  Creen  township,  on  the  Indiana  state 
line,  his  postoffice  address  being  Anibia  of  the 
latter  state.  His  birth  occurred  in  Readin.g. 
Pennsylvania.  August  9,  1838.  a  son  of  Joseph 
Totheroh,  who  was  born  in  Berks  county  of  the 
Keystone  state,  and  was  there  reared  and  married 
to  .Miss  Catherine  Richards,  also  a  native  of 
I'.erks  county.  The  father  followed  farming  in 
the  east  until  1854.  when  he  removed  to  Indiana, 
the  family  home  being  established  in  Benton 
county,  where  the  father  continued  his  farming 
operations,  and  there  met  his  death  by  accident 
in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  His  wMdow  then 
reared  their  family,  numbering  five  sons  and  two 
dau.ghters,  all  of  whom  reached  mature  years, 
and    those    surviving    are :     Joseph,    a    resident 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


43" 


farmer  of  I'rairie  Green  towiisliip;  Daniel,  wlio 
follows  farming  in  Benton  cmmty.  Indiana :  Mar- 
tin, of  this  review;  and  Catlurinc.  the  wife  of 
George  Willis,  a  resident  of  I-'owler.  Illinois. 

Mr.  Totheroh  was  reared  to  farm  life  in  his 
native  state,  and  was  there  edncatcd  in  the  ci)m- 
mon  schools  to  the  age  of  si.xteen  years,  when 
he  accompanied  the  family  on  their  removal  to 
the  west,  the  family  home  being  establishe<l  in 
Menton  connty.  Indiana,  where  the  son  worked  at 
farm  labor.  His  patriotic  spirit  being  aroused 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war.  in  i8*>J.  he  en- 
listi-d  for  service  in  the  Union  army,  becoming  a 
member  of  Company  F,  Seventy-seventh  Indiana 
X'olnnteer  Infantry.  Going  south,  he  participated 
in  the  battle  of  Chiekaniaugua.  and  wa>  on  scout- 
ing duty  most  of  the  time.  After  the  first  nine 
months  he  was  with  Wilson's  corps  and  was  on 
detached  duty  the  greater  portion  of  the  time. 
His  entire  service  covered  a  period  of  three  years, 
when  he  was  honorably  discharged  at  Xashville. 
in  iW)5. 

After  the  war  he  returned  home,  and  was  then 
engaged  in  herding  cattle  in  licnton  and  Iro- 
quois counties,  being  employed  in  this  way  for 
about  thirteen  years,  having  as  high  as  four  hun- 
dred head  of  animals  in  a  herd.  Establishing  a 
home  of  his  own.  Mr.  Totheroh  was  united  in 
marriage  in  Benton  county,  Indiana,  in  Septem- 
l>er.  1871.  to  Miss  Mary  Alice  De  Witt,  who  was 
born  in  the  state  of  New  York,  where  she  was 
reared  and  educated. 

Following  their  marriage  the  young  coui^le 
located  on  a  farm  in  Iroquois  county,  which  he 
rented  for  one  year,  after  which  he  located  on 
the  farm  which  is  his  present  iKune.  first  renting 
the  land,  but  he  later  purchased  the  property. 
which  comprised  eighty  acres,  but  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  increased  he  extended  the  bound- 
aries of  his  land  until  it  now  embraces  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  acres.  He  has  cleared  the  land 
and  has  added  many  improvements,  having 
erected  a  good  residence,  in  the  rear  of  which 
stand  a  good  barn,  cribs  and  other  outbuildings 
which  have  also  Ijcen  placed  here  bv  the  present 
owner.  He  has  laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  thus 
aflFording  good  drainage  to  his  fields,  from  which 
he  annually  harvests  rich  an<l  bounteous  crops. 
He  has  also  set  out  two  good  orchards,  which 
contain  a  great  variety  of  fruit,  and  altogether  he 
25 


has  here  one  of  the  valuable  and  well  improved 
farms  of  Irotjuois  county.  In  addition  to  carry- 
ing on  the  work  of  the  fields,  Mr.  Totheroh  gives 
considerable  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock, 
and  this  is  proving  a  good  source  of  revenue. 

Unto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
nine  children :  Kd,  who  is  a  young  man  and 
now  resides  in  .\mbia.  Indiana;  .\nna.  the  wife 
of  Miner  Chafee.  als<3  of  .\mbia;  Charles,  who  is 
married  and  resides  on  a  farm  in  Prairie  Green 
township;  Mattie,  the  wife  of  Bert  Hallock,  a 
resident  farmer  of  this  township ;  Cora,  a  young 
lady  at  home;  Lottie,  who  makes  her  home  in 
Chicago;  and  Benjamin  and  Alice  Ruth,  alx) 
at  home. 

Mr.  Totheroh  has  always  given  his  political 
allegiance  to  the  republican  party,  casting  his  first 
presidential  ballot  in  i860  in  su|)port  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  and  he  has  supjiorted  each  i)resi(k'ntial 
candidate  of  that  party  since  that  time.  He  has 
never  sought  or  desired  office,  preferring  to  give 
his  undivided  attention  to  his  private  business 
interests.  Mrs.  Totheroh  and  her  children  are 
all  identifieil  with  the  Christian  cluirch.  Mr. 
Totheroh  has  resided  on  his  present  farm  since 
the  year  1878  and  by  his  industry  and  cajjable 
management  has  made  it  a  well  unproved  prop- 
erty. Having  lived  for  a  long  period  in  Irocjuois 
county  and  in  Benton  county  of  the  neighboring 
state  of  Indiana,  he  has  a  wide  and  favorable 
acquaintance  for  he  has  ever  been  as  loyal  in 
citizenship  as  he  was  during  his  service  in  de- 
fense of  the  Union,  and  is  today  numbered  among 
the  valued  and  highly  esteemed  risidents  of  this 
portion  of  the  state. 


TOSEI'lI  JOHNSON. 


Joseph  Johnson  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  farm 
of  three  hundred  ami  twenty  acres,  situated  on 
section  1 1 .  Martinton  township,  this  property 
having  been  developed  and  improved  by  him  in 
an  early  day,  for  it  has  been  his  home  contin- 
uously for  almost  a  half  century.  He  is  a  native 
of  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  born  December  5. 
1810.  His  parents.  Joseph  and  Lvdia  C.  (Cook) 
Johnson,  were  both  natives  of  Rhode  Island, 
whence  thcv  made  their  wav  to  Ohio  at  a  verv 


432 


I'AST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


early  day,  the  journey  being  made  with  a  one- 
horse  wagon,  the  trip  requiring  forty-one  days, 
for  that  was  before  the  era  of  railroad  trans- 
portation. 

Joseph  Johnson  was  reared  and  eilucated  in 
the  lUickeye  state,  and  while  his  school  privi- 
leges were  somewhat  limited  owing  to  the  prim- 
itive system  of  instruction  in  a  new  countrx'.  his 
training  at  farm  labor  was  not  meager  for  he 
was  at  an  earlv  age  assigned  to  the  duties  of 
developing  and  cultivating  new  land,  it  was 
during  his  residence  in  Ohio  that  he  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  ^iary  A.  Transton,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  that  state,  the  wedding 
being  celebrated  in  the  year  1840. 

Taking  up  their  abode  in  their  native  state, 
they  there  remained  until  tJ>5t^,  when  thinking 
to  enjov  better  advantages  in  the  new  western 
country,  the  father  came  with  his  family  to  Iro- 
quois county,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  Martinton  townshi]).  Here  the  father  bought 
tliree  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land,  on 
which  stood  a  small  frame  house,  in  which  the 
family  took  up  their  abode.  The  land  was  raw 
and  iincullivale<l  but  .Mr.  Johnson  immediately 
undertook  the  task  of  developing  the  jiroperty, 
for  he  was  not  unfamiliar  with  such  labor.  He 
broke  the  prairie,  prepared  the  land  for  the  ])low. 
planted  the  seed  and  in  due  time  gathered  rich 
harvests.  A  jiortion  of  the  land  was  low  and 
swam])y  but  he  made  this  prcxluctive  by  digging 
ditches  and  laying  tile,  having  laid  altogether  an 
amoimt  reaching  a  mile  and  a  quarter.  The 
familv  endured  many  inconveniencies  at  that 
early  day  for  the  homes  of  the  settlers  were 
widely  scattered,  and  the  products  of  the  farm 
had  to  be  conveyed  by  wagon  to  Kankakee,  wliich 
was  their  nearest  market.  Mrs.  Johnson  had 
lived  in  this  locality  for  six  luonths  before  she 
saw  another  white  woman,  so  few  were  the  set- 
tlers who  had  here  established  homes.  As  titne 
has  ])assed  and  Mr.  Johnson  has  prospered  in 
his  work  he  li.as  bein  enabled  to  add  man\' 
modern  improvements  to  his  place.  In  1871  he 
replaced  the  ])ioneer  home  with  a  modern  and 
substantial  frame  dwelling,  and  he  has  likewise 
erected  many  outbuildings,  has  set  out  many 
shade  and  ornamental  trees,  and  his  place  is  kept 
in  an  excellent  condition,  presenting  a  neat  and 
attractive   appearance.      In    former   years,   in  ad- 


dition to  carrying  on  general  agricultural  i)ur- 
suits,  he  raised  considerable  stock,  which  added 
materiallv  to  his  financial  income.  In  1881  he 
l)urchased  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres, 
situated  on  section  12,  Martinton  townshii).  and 
from  this  he  derives  a  good  annual  rental,  so 
that  he  and  his  wife  are  now  able  to  s])end  the 
evening  of  their  days  in  honorable  retirement,  be- 
ing [irovided  with  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

L'nto  our  subject  and  his  wife  have  been  born 
eight  children  as  follows:  John  B.,  Julia,  P.  P., 
Lewis  C,  Lizzie,  Charles  L.,  J.  \\'.  and  Mary  A. 
In  his  political  views  and  affiliations  .Mr.  John- 
son is  a  stalwart  republican,  and  has  served  as 
school  director.  He  and  his  wife  have  spent 
sixty-six  years  of  happ\-  luarried  life  together. 
Coming  to  Iroquois  county  at  an  early  day  they 
are  faiuiliar  with  the  progress  and  advancement 
that  has  here  been  made,  and  Mr.  Johnson  has 
not  only  been  an  interested  witness  but  an  activi 
])articipant  in  the  agricultural  develo])ment  of 
his  section  of  the  state  for  he  has  iiuproved  a 
farm  and  made  it  a  valuable  and  productive 
property,  from  which  he  derives  an  incoiue  suffi- 
cient to  enable  him  In  enjny  a  well  earned  rest. 
He  has  now  passed  the  eighty-seventh  milestone 
on  life's  journey  but  is  still  a  hale  and  hearty  ol'l 
man.  giving  his  personal  supervision  to  his  busi- 
ness affairs.  His  wife  has  reached  the  iige  of 
eighty-two  years.  They  arc  highlv  esteemed 
residents  of  the  count\  and  have  a  host  of  warm 
admirers  among  Ijoth  young  and  old,  rich  and 
poor. 


OSCAR  .\PPLEGET. 


Oscar  .\ppleget,  well  known  in  connection  with 
his  stock-raising  interests  in  Concord  township, 
was  born  in  Indiana,  November  6,  1845,  and  w  as 
onlv  six  \ears  old  when  brought  to  lro(|uois 
county  bv  his  father,  P.enjamin  Applegct.  who 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  family  home  was 
established  in  Concord  township,  where  the  fa- 
ther remained  until  1861,  when  he  offered  his 
services  to  the  government  in  defense  of  the 
Union  cause  and  became  a  member  of  Company 
I.  (  )ne  Hundred  and  Thirteenth  Illinois  Infan- 
try.     He   went   to   the    front   and   died   of    fever 


.MR.  .\.\l)  .MR.S.  O.^C.XK   AI'I'I.RCKT. 


iiwnfFt 


^^  il.MNOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


435 


at  Corinth,  Mississippi.  His  wife,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  t'f  Sarah  Ann  Wade,  was  a  native 
of  Indiana. 

Uscar  Appleget  started  out  in  Uic  wlien  four- 
teen years  of  age  and  assisted  in  the  support  of 
the  family.  He  was  employed  at  farm  labor  un- 
til i8<)5.  when  he  could  no  lon,!j;er  content  him- 
self to  remain  at  home  while  the  Union  cause 
was  still  imperiled  and  accordingly  when  eight- 
een years  of  age  he  joined  the  army  as  a  mem- 
ber of  Company  I-'.  (  )ne  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth 
Illinois  Infantry.  His  father  had  given  his  life 
for  the  cause  and  the  fires  of  patriotism  burned 
bright  within  his  l)reast.  He  went  to  the  front 
and  was  with  his  command  until  after  the  war 
was  over.  Returning  to  his  home,  he  again 
worked  by  the  month  as  a  farm  hand  until  about 
18/J9,  when,  desiring  that  his  labors  should  more 
directly  bcTiefit  biniscif,  he  rented  a  farm  and  at 
once  began  cultivating  the  fields.  As  soon  as  his 
financial  resources  permitted  he  invested  in 
eightv  acres  of  land  and  kejjt  adiling  to  his  prop- 
erty from  time  to  time  imtil  be  is  now  the  owner 
if  fiuir  hundred  and  five  acres  on  sections  29 
and  ji2.  Concord  township,  three  hundred  and 
ninety  acres  being  in  the  home  farm.  All  of 
the  improvements  upon  this  place  were  put  there 
by  him  and  are  as  monuments  to  his  thrift  and 
enterprise.  He  erected  all  of  the  buildings, 
fenced  the  fields  and  tiled  the  land,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  this  ])roperty  he  owns  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  acres  in  Indiana.  He  has  always  fol- 
lowed general  farming  and  likewise  raises  polled 
Angus  cattle  and  Chester  White  hogs.  He  and 
his  sons  farm  the  entire  place  and  as  the  result 
of  their  care  and  labor  the  farm  is  richly  culti- 
vated and  good  crops  are  annually  gathered. 

In  1868,  in  Concord  township,  Mr.  Appleget 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  Hoagland. 
who  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren :  James  and  Orie,  both  at  home,  assisting 
in  the  care  of  the  farm;  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Wil- 
liamson. 

Mr.  .\ppleget  is  a  republican  in  his  political 
views  and  has  served  as  pathmaster  and  school 
director  but  has  not  been  active  as  a  politician, 
preferring  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon  his 
business  affairs.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the 
Grand  .\rniy  post  at  Sheldon.  He  may  truly  be 
called  a  self-made  man.  for  starting  out  in  life 


at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  has  depended  en- 
tirely upon  his  own  resources  and  has  made 
steady  progress  along  those  lines  which  demand 
close  application  and  unfaltering  perseverance 
but  which  eventually  lead  to  success. 


MAJOR  ROBERT  WOODARD  FOSTER. 

.Major  Robert  Woodard  Foster  was  for  many 
years  a  leading  merchant  of  Sheldon  and  so  ac- 
tive and  honorable  was  he  in  his  business  career 
that  the  most  c-nvious  could  not  grudge  him  his 
success.  Moreover,  he  rendered  valiant  service 
to  the  Union  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war  and 
in  all  matters  of  citizenship  has  been  loyal  to  the 
best  interests  of  the  community.  His  life,  actu- 
ated by  high  principles  and  honorable  motives, 
has  made  him  one  of  the  best  loved  citizens  of 
Sheldon  and  no  history  of  the  town  would  be 
complete  without  mention  of  Major  Foster. 

IJorn  in  Xorthampton  county.  North  Carolina, 
.\\)r\\  3.  i82<).  lie  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten  chil- 
dren, whose  parents,  James  and  Sarah  (Hicks) 
Foster,  were  also  natives  of  that  state.  He 
comes  of  an  ancestry  noted  for  longevity  and 
his  i)atcrnal  grandfather  reached  the  very  remark- 
able old  age  of  one  hundred  and  eight  years. 
James  Foster  was  reared  in  the  state  of  his  na- 
tivity and  served  his  country  as  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  By  occupation  he  was  a  farmer 
and  in  1830  he  removed  from  the  south  to  Ohio, 
establishing  his  home  near  Zanesville  in  Logan 
county,  where  his  subsequent  days  were  passed, 
his  death  occurring  when  he  was  fifty-si.\  years 
of  age. 

Major  Foster  was  only  alx)ut  a  year  old  at  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  the  Buckeye 
slate  and  to  its  public-school  system  he  is  in- 
debted for  the  educational  privileges  that  he  en- 
joyed. He  remained  at  home  until  1836  and 
then  came  to  Iroquois  county,  casting  in  his  lot 
with  the  early  settlers.  For  a  half  century  he 
has  lived  within  its  borders — an  interesed  witness 
of  its  development  and  an  active  participant  in 
much  of  the  growth  that  has  brought  about  its 
present  condition  of  progress  and  prosperity.  He 
first  settled  upon  a  farm  of  one  hundrefl  and  twen- 
ty acres  which  he  purchased  on  Sugar  creek  in 


436 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


Stockland  township  near  .\lilford,  and  with 
characteristic  eiierg)-  he  took  up  the  task  of  con- 
verting raw  land  into  richly  cultivated  fields.  As 
the  years  passed  he  made  his  farm  a  valuable 
property  and  won  a  gratifying  degree  of  pros- 
peritv  in  his  agricultural  interests.  He  had 
driven  across  the  country  from  Ohio  and  when 
he  arrived  in  Iroquois  county  his  possessions  con- 
sisted only  of  his  team  and  twenty-five  dollars 
in  money.  Thus  from  a  very  humble  financial 
position  he  has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward 
to  affluence,  continuing  to  engage  actively  in 
farming  until  1875.  when  he  removed  to  Shel- 
don, where  he  worked  in  a  lumberyard  for  a 
year.  In  partnership  with  Richard  Carroll  he 
then  bought  the  lumber  business,  which  they 
conducted  for  a  year.  At  the  end  of  that  time, 
however,  they  sold  out  and  Major  Foster  estab- 
lished a  grocery,  flour  and  feed  store,  which  he 
carried  on  until  1879.  In  that  year  he  opened 
his  furniture  store,  which  he  conducted  for  over 
twenty  years.  He  carried  a  large  and  well  se- 
lected line  of  goods  and  in  that  business  pros- 
pered, but  he  invested  in  the  Novelty  Works  and 
through  mismanagement  of  others  lost  most  of 
his  wealth.  While  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  every  year  he  gave  to  the  widows  of 
Sheldon  a  nice  turkey  as  a  Thanksgiving  pres- 
ent and  his  generosity  has  always  been  one  of 
his  marked  characteristics.  The  poor  and  needy 
have  ever  found  in  him  a  friend  and  he  responds 
readily  and  liberally  according  to  his  means  to 
the  demands  of  those  who  are  in  distress.  In 
1901  he  retired  from  the  furniture  business  and 
has  since  enjoNcd  a  well  merited  rest  in  his 
pleasant   little  home   in   .Sheldon. 

Major  Foster  proved  his  loyalty  to  the  L'nion 
cause  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting  on 
the  7lh  of  August,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Com- 
pany E.  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  of  Illinois 
Infantry,  under  Captain  .\bram  Irvin.  He 
served  for  three  years  and  was  with  (  irant  on 
his  march  to  \  icksburg  and  was  at  Holly 
.Springs  at  the  time  of  \'an  Dorn's  raid  upon  that 
place.  I'^rom  there  he  went  to  .Memphis,  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  remained  until  the  siege  of 
^'icksburg.  In  .Vugust,  iS()j,.  he  returned  home 
on  a  furlough,  his  leave  of  absence  being  grant- 
ed him  on  account  of  illness,  which  developed 
into  a  .severe  attack  of  typhoid  fever,  necessitating 


his  remaining  at  home  for  about  si.x  months. 
As  soon  as  able,  however,  he  rejoined  his  regi- 
ment at  IJlack  River  bridge  east  of  \'icksburg, 
where  he  remained  during  the  siege,  after  which 
he  was  sent  to  Mound  City  hospital  in  the  fall  of 
1864.  He  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg  and  in  the  engagements  at  Jackson  and 
Denton,  together  with  others  of  importance. 
Three  weeks  after  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital 
he  was  ordered  home  on  account  of  disability 
and  he  received  his  discharge  and  was  mustered 
out  of  service  in  Galveston,  .\ugust  2,  1865, 
being  paid  off  in  Chicago  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month,  .\lthough  he  was  never  wounded  he 
still  feels  the  effects  of  his  army  service  and  has 
never  been  quite  the  man  physically  that  he  was 
before  he  experienced  the  privations  and  expos- 
ures of  army  life.  When  the  war  was  over  he 
returned  home  and  resumed  farming,  which,  as 
stated,  he  followed  uiuil  he  became  comiected 
with  commercial  interests  in  Sheldon. 

Major  Foster  had  been  married  in  Ohio, 
?ilarch  20,  185 1,  to  Miss  Hulda  Inskeep,  who  was 
born  in  the  Buckeye  state  and  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  there.  She  is  a  daughter  of 
Job  and  Sarah  (  Sharp  1  Inskeep.  Her  mother's 
parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  were 
pioneer  residents  of  Ohitj.  Job  Inskeep  was  born 
in  \'irginia  and  s])ent  his  boyhood  and  youth 
as  a  farm  lad.  pursuing  his  education  in  the  ])ul)- 
lic  schools  and  working  in  the  fields  when  not 
busy  with  his  text-books,  .\fter  attaining  his 
majorit}   he  wedded  ^[iss  Sarah  Siiarp.  a  native 

of    (  )hio.   and    unto   them    were   born    nine    chil- 

• 

dren.  of  whom  only  one  is  now  living:  Levi. 
John,  Isaac,  .\mos,  Eliza,  Hulda  and  .^arah  Aim 
are  deceased.  ]Vlajor  and  Mrs.  Foster  have  one 
daughter.  Amietta.  the  wife  of  Mahlon  Inskeep. 
of  Watseka.  and  they  have  two  ciiiidren.  l^'rank 
and  .Mary,  aged  res])ectively  fifteen  and  twelve 
\  ears. 

.Major  l-'oster  cast  his  first  jjresidential  vote 
for  (leneral  Winfield  Scott  and  was  a  supporter 
of  the  whig  ]iarty  until  the  organization  of  the 
new  republican  ]iarty.  whi-n  he  joined  its  ranks 
and  has  since  been  one  of  its  stalwart  advocates. 
I  lis  fellow  townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and 
ability,  have  several  times  called  him  to  public 
office.  lie  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Stockland   township,  was  ciimmissioncr  of  high- 


IROQUOIS  COUXTV.  ILMNOIS. 


4.17 


ways  and  also  supervisor  of  that  lownsliip  for 
thrif  years.  He  was  likewise  sii])ervi.sor  of  ."^liel- 
ilon  township  for  ten  years  and  has  tilled  other 
Itical  jKisitions.  the  <luties  of  whieh  have  heen 
di.scharRcd  with  proni|>tness  an<l  tidelit).  lie  be- 
longs to  ."^lieldon  lodfje.  N'o.  <>oi>,  .\.  I".  &  A.  .\I.. 
and  to  A.  1'..  I'lrown  ]iost,  \o.  i3t.  (i.  .\.  R..  also 
to  the  Patriotic  (  )rder  of  Sons  of  .\nierica.  Hoth 
he  anil  his  wife  are  nienihers  <»f  the  .Methodist 
church  and  for  fifty-five  ye:irs  they  have  travelctl 
life's  journey  toijether.  shariiisi  its  adver.sitv  and 
|)ros|)erity.  its  joys  and  sorrows.  .Mtosjether 
.Major  l'"oster's  career  has  Ix'en  a  prosperous  one 
owini;  to  his  well  directed  efforts,  his  industry 
and  enterprise.  He  also  attributes  nnich  of  his 
success  to  the  aid  of  his  faithful  wife,  whose 
counsel  and  arlvice  have  been  of  jjreat  benefit  to 
him.  She  has  nobly  done  her  full  part  and  her 
words  of  encouragcTiieut  have  often  been  his  in- 
spiration. .Major  l-"oster  is  a  man  of  broad  hu- 
manitarian i)rinciples  and  many  there  are  who 
have  reason  to  rememl^cr  him  with  trratitude. 
Instead  of  hoarding  up  his  |)ossessions  he  has 
considered  himself  but  the  steward  of  a  trust 
placed  in  his  care  and  has  given  lilxrally  of  his 
means  to  aid  others,  for  the  sup])ort  of  churches 
and  f(jr  the  welfare  of  the  conmnmity  at  large. 
Me  is  a  man  of  pleasant,  genial  disposition  and 
kindly  manner — <|ualities  which  endear  him  to  all 
wlu)  know  him.  and  both  lu'  and  his  wife  have 
a  host  of  warm  friemls.  lie  has  now  ])assed 
the  seventy-seventh  milestone  i«n  life's  journev 
and  there  is  no  more  respcvted  or  worthy  citizen 
in  Sheldon  that  .Major  RoIhti  W'oodard   I'oster. 


MICH.VKL  I.KOXARI). 

-Michael  Leonard  has  lived  retireil  from  active 
busitiess  since  iS"/)  InU  is  still  the  owner  of  good 
farm  pro|)erty  and  makes  his  home  on  section 
15.  Ashkum  township,  where  he  has  one  hundred 
and  twent\  acres  of  land.  His  resiflence  is  sur- 
roiuided  by  a  fine  grove  of  trees  which  were 
Jilantcd  by  him  in  1855.  a  fact  which  indicates 
that  he  was  one  of  the  ])ioneer  residents  of  tlii< 
part  of  the  stale.  More  than  a  half  century  has 
come  and  gone  since  he  located  in  Illinois,  and 
he  is  theret'iir.'  l,Tri:iU    faiuiliar  with  the  historv 


of  this  County,  where  he  has  labored  energetically 
and  with  strong  jnirpose  in  the  acquirement  of 
a  Competence  that  now  enables  him  to  |>ut  aside 
the  luore  arduous  cari>  of  biiNJiuss  .ind  rr^t  in 
comfort  and  case 

He  was  b(trn  in  (.ountx  .Meatli.  Ireland.  .\u- 
gust  ji,  i^i*.  and  spent  the  first  twenty  years  of 
his  life  in  that  cotuitry,  when,  determining  to 
establish  his  honie  in  the  new  world  he  started 
from  l)ublin.  Ireland,  on  the  6th  of  .\])ril.  1S52. 
and  made  his  way  to  Liverpool.  England,  whence 
he  embarked  for  the  L'nited  States,  landing  at 
-Vew  York  on  the  i6th  of  .May.  He  did  not 
tarry  long  in  the  east,  however,  but  made  his  way 
at  once  westward,  to  (."hicago.  Illinois,  where  he 
was  employed  in  various  ways  until  1S55.  He 
then  became  a  grader  on  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
road, which  was  then  under  course  of  construc- 
tion but  after  a  brief  period  he  left  the  railroad 
company  at  Clifton,  and  pre-emi)ted  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  .\shkum  township.  He  is  one  of  the 
few  men  of  Inxpiois  county  who  are  still  living 
on  the  land  which  they  pre-empted  from  the 
government  in  those  early  days.  He  has  im- 
proved his  ])ropcrty  with  comfortable  buildings 
and  all  of  the  land  is  well  drained  and  therefore 
tillable.  His  home  stands  in  the  luidst  of  a 
beautiful  growth  of  trees  of  his  own  planting, 
which  he  set  oiu  a  half  century  ago.-  In  all  of 
his  farm  work  he  has  been  methodical,  sy.stematic 
aufl  enterprising,  keeping  abreast  with  the  trend 
of  modern  improvement  as  manifest  'u  agricul- 
tural lines. 

Mr.  Leonard  was  married  at  L'l'.rable.  Illinois, 
in  1S57.  to  .Miss  Rosanna  .Mulloy.  and  they  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  ujjou  the  farm  where  they 
have  resided  continuosly  since.  Mr.  Leonard  be-  , 
ing  actively-  concerned  in  the  work  of  the  fieUls 
until  I  Si/ 1,  when  he  retire<I  from  business,  turn- 
ing over  the  care  of  the  farm  to  others,  while 
he  has  since  enjoyed  a  well  earned  rest.  Itoth 
he  and  his  wife  hold  meiubershi|)  in  the  Catholic 
church,  at  Clifton.  In  politics  he  is  a  stalwart 
ilemocrat.  emphatic  in  his  advocacy  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party  since  casting  his  first  presi- 
<IentiaI  ballot  for  James  lluchanan.  He  has  been 
school  director  and  jiathmaster  at  various  times 
an<l  all  imblic  duties  reposed  in  him  have  been 
faithfully  and  i)roniptly  discharged.  He  has 
I.iTij    1m III    recognized    as    a    representative    anrl 


438 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


valued  citizen  of  the  community  and  in  agricul- 
tural circles  has  made  a  creditable  name.  In  ad- 
dition to  his  home  property  he  owns  forty  acres 
of  land  on  section  lo,  Chebanse  township,  and  his 
property  returns  to  him  a  good  income  enabling 
him  to  secure  the  necessities  and  many  of  the 
luxuries  of  life  without  recourse  to  further  labor. 


ED  HARPER. 


Ed  Harper,  who  is  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing on  section  20,  Onarga  township,  this  being 
the  old  family  homestead  property,  was  born 
here,  March  25,  1857.  Plis  father,  Samuel  H. 
Harper,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  but  was 
reared  in  Ohio  and  remained  a  resident  of  that 
state  until  he  came  to  Illinois  in  early  manhood 
in  the  fall  of  1837.  He  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Iroquois  county  and  entered  land  from 
the  government  and  also  purchased  other  tracts 
until  he  owned  more  than  four  hundred  acres. 
He  set  out  many  cottonwood  trees  upon  the 
place,  broke  the  prairie,  fenced  the  fields,  erected 
good  buildings  and  otherwise  improved  the  farm 
until  it  became  a  well  developed  propertv.  He 
was  married  here  to  Miss  Mary  Lehigh,  a  native 
of  Virginia,  who  was  reared,  however,  in  Illi- 
nois. I\Ir.  and  ]Mrs.  Harper  reared  their  own 
family  upon  what  has  since  been  known  as  the 
homestead  and  he  carried  on  farm  work  here 
up  to  the  time  of  his  demise,  which  occurred 
April  21,  1889,  when  he  was  seventy-five  years 
of  age.  His  wife  survived  him  for  several  years, 
passing  away  .\pril  24,  1894.  In  the  family  were 
two  sons  and  five  daug'hters,  who  are  yet  living, 
the  brother  of  our  subject  being  Alexander  Har- 
per, a  resident  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri.  His 
sisters  are  Alvira,  wife  of  Charles  David,  of 
Onarga  tow-nship;  Harriet  E.,  wife  of  Orrin 
Hull,  of  Kirkw-ood,  Missouri;  Ella  F.,  wife  of 
William  .S.  Barnes,  of  Onarga  township;  Mar- 
garet J.,  wife  of  S.  C.  Moore,  of  Onarga;  and 
Eva,  who  is  the  twin  sister  of  Ed  and  acts  as  his 
housekeeper. 

Ed  Harper  was  reared  upon  the  farm  where 
his  birth  occurred  and  after  acquiring  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  he  continued  his 
studies   in  Grand  Prairie   Seminary   in   Onarga. 


\\'hen  not  busy  with  his  text-books  he  aided  in 
the  work  of  the  home  farm  and  after  completing 
his  education  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  thus 
relieving  his  father  of  much  of  the  active  work 
of  the  fields.  At  a  later  date  he  purchased  the 
interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  old  home  prop- 
erty and  became  owner  of  this  farm,  which  com- 
prises two  hundred  and  forty-six  acres  of  rich 
and  arable  land  on  section  20,  Onarga  township. 
He  has  since  built  to  and  remodeled  the  house 
and  has  also  built  a  barn.  He  has  likew'ise  tiled 
and  fenced  the  land,  has  set  out  fruit  trees  and 
has  carried  forw-ard  the  work  of  improvement 
along  modern  lines  of  agricultural  development 
until  he  now  has  a  splendid  farm  property.  He 
uses  the  latest  improved  machinery  in  carrying 
on  the  work  of  the  farm  and  in  cultivating  his 
crops,  and  in  addition  to  the  raising  of  cereals 
he  also  gives  considerable  time  to  the  raising 
of  pure  blooded  Hereford  cattle,  Percheron 
horses  and  Cotswold  sheep.  He  is  a  practical 
farmer  and  stockman  and  his  business  interests 
are  attended  with  a  measure  of  success  that  in- 
dicates his  careful  management  and  executive 
force. 

Politically  Mr.  Harper  is  a  republican  and  has 
served  on  the  school  board  and  in  other  local 
positions.  He  holds  membership  in  the  Onarga 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  this  relation  is 
indicative  of  the  principles  which  have  permeated 
his  life  and  guided  his  conduct.  He  has  been  a 
resident  of  the  county  from  his  birth  to  the  pres- 
ent time  and  has  progressed  with  its  development 
and  growth,  while  in  agricultural  circles  he  now 
occupies  a  prominent  place. 


•       Wir.I.lAM  E.  KXIRLOE. 

William  E.  Knibloe  is  numbered  among  the 
pioneers  in  the  work  of  drainage  in  Iroquois 
county,  whereby  a  wilderness  and  swamp  has 
been  reclaimed  and  converted  into  a  rich  agricul- 
tural district.  With  keen  foresight  and  sagacity 
he  recognized  the  possibilities  for  development 
here  and  put  forth  his  efiforts  along  practical 
lines,  whereby  the  county  at  large  has  benefited, 
while  his  individual  success  has  also  been  greatly 
l)romoted.     He  is  now  one  of  the  venerable  resi- 


ED  HARPER. 


UNIVEKi^llV  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQrOIS  CofXTV.  II.I.IN'oIS. 


44' 


dents  of  the  cuuiily,  liviiij;  n-lircd  in  (iilmaii.  hm 
for  a  long  period  was  closely  assiK-iated  witli 
ajiriciiltiiral  interests  in  Doufilas  towiislii]).  lie 
lias  long  since  passed  the  I'salniists  sjian  <ti  three 
score  years  and  ten.  having  attained  his  eiglity- 
seventii  year,  for  his  liirtli  occurred  I'ebrnary  17. 
1820.  The  place  of  his  nativity  was  Shamn 
township,  Litchtiehl  ctnnity,  t'onnecticut.  and  Iiis 
parents  were  'IhonipstHi  and  Keziah  (W'ingi 
Knibloc.  Descended  from  Scotcli  ancestry,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  America  was  the  great- 
grandfather of  our  subject,  who  was  a  Presby- 
terian minister  and  emigrated  from  I-Miiiburgh 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  remaiiie<l 
active  in  the  work  of  the  church  throughout  his 
entire  life  and  his  son,  the  grandfather,  devoted 
his  time  and  energies  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
Thompson  Knibloe,  who  was  born  in  Litchtiehl 
county,  Connecticut,  was  also  a  farmer  and  when 
he  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  wed<led 
Keziah  Wing,  who  was  horn  near  Cape  Cixl  and 
with  her  parents  reniovetl  to  Litchfield  county, 
where  she  gave  her  hand  in  marriage  to  Mr. 
Knibloe.  The  fatlier  died  when  his  son  William 
was  about  twelve  years  of  age  and  the  muther 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  nenjamin  .M\ers. 
who  removed  tu  Allegany  county.  Xeu  \'<irk. 
where  she  s])ent   her  last  days. 

William  Knibloe  is  the  only  surviving  repre- 
sentative of  the  family  of  the  fathers  first  mar- 
riage, numbering  four  children,  and  is  the  eldest. 
His  youth  was  divided  between  attendance  at 
the  early  schools  and  work  upon  the  Imme  farm 
until  si.xteen  years  of  age.  when  he  entered  upon 
a  five  years"  ap])renticeship  to  tlic  cabinet-maker's 
trade.  He  worked  through  the  summer  months 
from  sunrise  to  sunset  and  from  Se|)tember  until 
March  his  labors  continued  until  nine  o'clock  at 
night.  His  youth  and  early  maidiood  were 
therefore  a  period  of  inost  earnest  and  imrcmit- 
ting  toil  and  it  was  in  tlic  hope  of  bettering  his 
financial  condition  that  he  .sought  a  home  in  the 
middle  west  in  1843.  spending  a  year  in  Chicago. 

In  the  meantime  .\Ir.  Knibloe  had  been  marrieil 
on  the  "th  of  .\pril.  1842,  to  .Miss  Mary  A. 
Dakin,  who  was  born  in  Dutchess  cininty,  N'ew 
York,  December  22.  1821.  a  daughter  of  Talm.ii 
and  Clarissa  (  Yerrington  )  Dakin,  who  were  na- 
tives of  the  i'jiipire  state.  I  ler  |)atcrnal  grand- 
father was  a  llaptist  minister  of  I'.nglish  descent. 


Her  parents  spent  their  entire  lives  in  Xew  York 
and  there  reared  their  family  of  seven  children. 
.\  year  after  her  husband  had  come  to  the  west 
.Mrs.  Knibloe  joined  iiim  in  Chicago,  which  was 
at  that  time  a  comparatively  small  town  of  about 
seven  thousand  inhabitants.  Much  of  tiie  dis- 
trict upon  wiiich  the  now  popuhuis  city  stands 
was  a  veritable  swam]>  and  the  city  gave  little 
promise  of  the  rapid  and  marvelous  changes 
which  were  to  take  |)lace.  transfonning  it  into 
one  of  the  world's  metropolitan  centers.  With  a 
partner  .Mr.  Knibloe  established  and  conducted  a 
cabinet-making  shop  in  Chicago,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1838.  when  he  came  to  Iroquois 
county  and  in  com))any  with  Mdward  Silver  pur- 
chased a  half  section  of  land  in  Douglas  town- 
shi]).  With  characteristic  energy  be  iK-gan  the 
work  of  development  and  improvement  and  in 
course  of  time  had  reclaimed  the  wild  land  and 
converted  it  into  a  productive  farm.  (  )n  selling 
tl)at  pro|)erty  he  operated  the  .^turgis  farm  for  a 
([uarter  of  a  century  or  niore  and  he  is  today  the 
owner  of  valuable  farming  i)ro|)erty.  but  since 
i8<M  has  lived  retired,  iiaving  in  that  year  re- 
moved to  (lilman,  where  he  has  since  resided  in 
the  enjoyment  of  a  rest  which  he  has  truly 
earned  and  richly  merits. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knibloe  was 
blessed  with  two  daugiiters  and  a  son.  of  whom 
Anna  died  after  reaching  adult  age.  Harriet  is 
the  wile  of  X.  J.  Henry,  a  resident  of  Chicago; 
and  Walter,  who  married  .\ddie  Clark  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  state  university  at  Champaign, 
has  devoted  his  life  to  educational  work,  lieing 
now  located  in  Jacksonville,  l-'lorida. 

Mr.  Knibloe  gave  his  early  jiolitical  allegiance 
to  the  democracy  but  since  the  organization  of 
the  republican  |)arty  has  been  one  of  its  stalwart 
chamiiions  and  has  served  as  highway  and  ditch 
commissioner.  In  the  latter  jiosition  and  as  a 
private  citizen  as  well  he  has  done  nuich  for  the 
reclamation  of  the  county,  draining  and  im])rov- 
ing  it  so  that  die  once  swam|)y  land  has  been 
converted  into  rich  and  |)roductivc  fields.  He 
readily  recognized  the  value  of  im])rovements  of 
this  character  and  ])nt  forth  streiuious  and 
etTective  effort  in  behalf  of  drainage.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  first  (  )dd  l'"ellows  society  of  Chi- 
cago called  the  Cnion  lodge,  and  his  life  has  ever 
been   an   exemplification  of  the  beneficient    sjjirit 


442 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


that  underlies  that  organization.  His  residence 
in  the  state  covers  a  period  of  ahnost  two-thirds 
of  a  century  and  marvelous  have  been  the 
changes  which  have  occurred  within  his  memory. 
In  manner  he  is  kindly  and  genial  and  while  he 
has  ever  been  a  man  firm  in  support  of  his  hon- 
est convictions  he  has  never  manifested  bittter 
partisanship  nor  been  abusive  of  others  who  hold 
opposite  opinions.  On  the  contrary  he  is  broad 
minded,  according  to  others  the  right  of  their 
views  and  commanding  uniform  confidence  and 
respect  b}'  reason  of  his  upright  life  and  sterling 
worth.  Both  he  and  his  wife  have  during  their 
residence  in  Iroquois  county  had  a  circle  of 
friends  almost  co-extensive  with  the  circle  of 
their  acquaintance  and  today  \\'illiam  Knibloe  is 
one  of  the  most  honored  as  well  as  one  of  the 
most  venerable  citizens  of  Oilman. 


ISAAC  HILLS. 


The  home  farm  of  Isaac  Hills  is  situated  on 
section  13,  Onarga  township,  and  embraces  one 
hundred  and  ten  acres  of  good  land.  L'pon  this 
place  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  He  is  numbered  among  the  early  set- 
tlers of  the  state,  having  located  in  La  Salle 
county  in  1850.  A  native  of  Maine,  he  was 
born  near  Belfast,  December  6,  1849.  His  fa- 
ther, Isaac  Hills,  was  also  born  in  the  Pine  Tree 
state,  his  natal  year  being  1811.  There  he  was 
reared  and  following  his  marriage  he  removed 
westward  in  1850,  settling  in  La  Salle  county. 
He  was  a  man  of  good  education  and  engaged 
to  a  considerable  extent  in  teaching.  By  trade, 
however,  he  was  a  ship  carpenter  and  he  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit  in  early  manhood.  He  re- 
moved to  the  west  in  order  to  keep  his  son  from 
going  to  sea  and  settled  upon  a  farm  in  La  Salle 
county,  where  he  lived  until  his  removal  to  Otta- 
wa, where  he  followed  carpentering.  In  1867 
he  came  to  Iroquois  county,  where  he  purchased 
land  and  here  he  was  identified  with  educational 
interests.  His  farm  was  situated  near  La  Hogue 
and  he  bought  the  land  for  seven  dollars  per 
acre.  Today  it  is  worth  one  liundred  and  fifty 
dollars  per  acre,  owing  to  the  improvements 
which  have  been  placed  upon  it  an.l  the  rise  in 


land  values  consequent  upon  the  settlement  of  the 
state.  In  1871  he  removed  to  Frankfort,  Mich- 
igan, where  his  remaining  days  were  passed,  his 
death  occurring  in  1886.  His  wife  survived  him 
for  about  five  years  and  passed  away  in  1891. 
In  their  family  were  seven  children  who  reached 
adult  age:  Nathan  F.,  who  died  in  Oilman  in 
i8g6,  leaving  a  family;  Isaac  H.,  of  this  review; 
John  \\'..  who  for  twenty  years  has  engaged  in 
the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago ;  C.  W.,  also  a 
lawyer  of  Chicago;  Henry  A.,  superintendent  of 
the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Orand  Rapids,  Michigan ; 
Berton  N..  who  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago  bar ; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Welsh,  a  widow  who  resides 
in  Frankfort,  Michigan,  where  her  husband  was 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber. 

Isaac  Hills  came  to  Iroquois  county  when  a 
young  man  of  eighteen  years.  Although  born  in 
the  east  the  greater  part  of  his  \'outh  was  passed 
in  La  Salic  county  and  his  education  was  mostly 
acquired  in  Ottawa.  After  arriving  at  years  of 
maturity  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
for  fifteen  years  carried  on  business  as  a  con- 
tractor and  builder,  being  in  jiartnership  with 
his  brother,  Nathan.  Subsequently  he  devoted 
a  similar  period  to  the  dredging  business  in  In- 
diana and  siHithern  Illinois  until  lyoo.  when  he 
took  up  his  abode  at  his  present  residence. 

Mr.  Hills  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss  Oeneva 
Harper,  who  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  in  which 
state  her  girlhood  days  were  passed.  There  are 
two  children  by  this  union :  Laura  O.,  who  was 
a  teacher  in  Iroquois  county  for  six  years  and 
is  now  the  wife  of  Benjamin  F.  Brown,  a  pro- 
fessor in  tlie  Petoskey,  Michigan,  schools ;  and 
Lester  Flarper,  who  is  a  student  in  the  North- 
western Medical  School,  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Hills,  the  father,  is  now  giving  his  time 
and  attention  to  agricultural  interests  and  stock- 
raising.  \\"hile  he  and  his  brother  Nathan  were 
engaged  in  contracting  and  building  they  erected 
many  residences  and  other  structures  in  Iroquois 
and  Ford  counties  and  were  well  knnw  n  as  repre- 
sentatives of  the  builder's  art  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  They  eidarged  their  acquaintance  and 
their  sphere  of  usefulness  when  they  engaged 
in  the  dredging  business  through  Indiana  and 
southern  Illinois.  Now  Isaac  Hills  is  concen- 
trating his  energies  upon  general  agricultural 
piu-snits  and  has  a  well  ini|>riived   farm  pr(i])erly 


UNIVtKSllt  UF  ILUNOIS 


MRS.  SAMUEL  llARl'KK 


S.\.Mli:i.   IIAKI'KR. 


wnmm  of  iwW 


J 


IROQUOIS  cuLMV.  II. 1. 1  .\(  "IS. 


447 


of  OIK'  luiiulrcd  and  icii  acres  on  scciiuii  i_^. 
( )narga  tuwnshi]).  This  land  is  valnaWc  and 
prixiuctive  and  the  liclds  liavc  been  hmuLjlu  under 
a  high  state  of  cuUivatiun. 

I'.dth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hills  are  nienihers  cji  tjii- 
.Methodist  cinirch  and  were  reared  in  that  faith. 
Politically  he  is  a  stalwart  republican  but  has 
never  asked  for  office  as  a  reward  fur  i)ariy 
fealty,  lie  affiliates  with  the  Masonic  fraternity. 
havin};  joined  the  organization  in  the  blue  lodge 
at  (iilnian.  and  he  is  also  connected  with  the 
Independent  (  )rder  of  Odd  Fellows,  with  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  .\incrica  and  with  the 
Fraternal  Insurance  Order.  He  iias  seen  this 
county  change  from  a  wilderness  and  swamp  into 
a  splendidly  improved  district  and  through  his 
business  interests  has  been  an  imi)ortanl  factor 
in  growth  anti  progress  here.  He  is  widely 
recognized  as  a  man  of  sterling  worth,  justly 
meriting  the  trust  and  confidence  which  are  uni- 
formly extended  him.  and  his  life  is  also  an  ex- 
cellent illustration  of  the  fact  that  success  and 
an  honorable  name  may  be  won  simultaneously 
and  that  earnest,  persistent  labor  constitutes  an 
excellent  foundation  upon  which  to  build  the 
su])erstructure  of  prosperity. 


TII(  ).MA.^   r..   I'AKRI.^^II. 

Thomas  L.  Farrish.  living  on  section  i.  Love- 
joy  township,  raises  and  feeds  stock  in  connec- 
tion with  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil.  His  landed 
interests  in  this  county  embrace  two  hundred 
acres  in  the  home  farm  and  an  eighty-acre  tract 
in  .Stockland  townshi]).  .\  native  son  of  Illinois. 
.Mr.  Parrish  was  horn  in  Logan  county,  Decem- 
Ikt  19,  i860.  His  father.  Captain  Lemuel  Par- 
rish, was  a  native  of  .\rkansas.  born  near  Little 
Rock,  in  1SJ7.  In  his  childhood  days  he  was 
brought  h>  Illinois  and  was  reared  in  Jersey 
county.  He  served  as  a  soldier  throughout  the 
Mexican  war.  being  a  member  of  a  cavalry  com- 
l>any.  He  niarried  Miss  .\mi  Hampton  and  for 
many  years  followed  farming  in  Logan  county 
but  in  later  years  removed  to  Iroquois  conntv,  his 
last  days,  however,  being  ])assed  in  Hoopeston. 
Illinois,  where  he  departed  this  life  in  HJ03.  He 
had  long  survived  his  wife,  who  died  alxjut  1871. 
26 


This  worthy  couple  were  the  parents  of  a  family 
of  four  Sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  three 
sons  and  a  daughter  are  yet  living. 

Thomas  L,  Parrish  was  reared  in  I^gan  coun- 
ty, earlv  becoming  familiar  willi  the  work  of  the 
farm,  while  in  the  public  schools  he  ac(juired  his 
elementary  education  and  contiinied  his  stu<Iies 
in  the  high  schcx)l  at  Latham,  .\bout  1887  he 
came  to  Irixiuois  county,  then  a  young  man  of 
twenty-seven  years,  and  purchased  forty  acres  of 
land  where  he  now  resides.  He  Ix'gan  the  im- 
|)rovement  of  the  farm  and  upon  the  |)lace  where 
lie  now  resides  he  was  married  on  the  21st  of 
December.  1887.  to  Miss  Matilda  R.  .\dsit.  who 
was  Ijtirn  and  reared  here  and  acquired  her  edu- 
cation in  liloomington.  where  she  pursued  a  lit- 
erary and  musical  course.  She  also  attended  the 
normal  there  and  was  a  teacher  for  four  years. 
I  ler  father  was  D.  C.  .-Kdsit,  a  prominent  farmer 
of  this  county,  who  died  in  Ikx)peston,  Illinois. 

Following  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Par- 
rish located  where  they  now  reside  and  he  at 
once  began  the  further  development  and  improve- 
ment of  the  property.  They  experienced  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  life  on  the  frontier 
but  resolutely  met  these  and  in  the  course  of 
years  prosperity  came  as  the  reward  of  earnest, 
unfaltering  efT(jrt.  When  his  financial  resources  ' 
permitted  of  the  purchase  of  more  land  he  added 
to  his  original  tract  until  he  now  has  two  hundred 
acres  in  the  home  farm,  and  the  buildings  upon 
the  place  have  been  erected  by  him  and  stand  as 
moinunents  to  his  thrift  and  enterprise.  He  has 
ditched  and  tiled  the  i)lace  and  has  enclosed  it 
with  a  woven  wire  fence.  He  has  also  set  out  a 
great  variety  of  fruit  trees  and  his  farm  is 
equippeil  with  all  of  the  conveniences  and  acces- 
sories which  go  to  make  u])  a  model  farm  prop- 
erty of  the  twentieth  century.  He  also  bought 
an  eighty-acre  tract  in  .St(X"kland  township  but 
has  rented  the  place.  He  is  farming  a  half 
section  at  the  present  time  and  he  also  breeds 
and  deals  in  ])(>lled  Durham  cattle,  having  a 
pure-blooded  male  at  the  head  of  his  herd.  He 
also  has  other  ijure-blooded  and  high  grade  stock 
anil  he  also  breeds  and  raises  I'.erkshire  hogs. 

VnUt  Mr.  and  Mrs,  Parrish  have  been  born 
two  children:  Perry  C,  who  is  now  a  student 
in  the  Wellington  high  school :  and  Ruth  .\.. 
at    home.     The  parents  belong  to  the  W^elling- 


448 


AST  AXD  PRESEXT  (Ji- 


ton  .Mtlhodist  Episcopal  cluirch.  in  which  .Mr. 
Parrish  is  serving  as  a  trustee  and  steward,  wliile 
his  wife  is  one  of  the  active  workers  in  the  churcli 
and  Sunday-school,  serving  as  a  teacher.  Pjoth 
are  deeply  concerned  in  various  movements  for 
the  benefit  of  the  church  and  the  advancement 
of  the  cause  and  their  lives  are  in  harmony  with 
their  profession.  Politically  Mr.  Parrish  is  a 
republican  but  has  never  had  time  nor  desire  for 
office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  energies  upon 
his  business  affairs.  He  put  up  the  T\-irrish  tele- 
phone line  to  \\'ellington,  it  being  now  owned  by 
j  a  stock  company.  He  commenced  life  in  this 
I  countv  a  poor  man  without  capital.  His  wife  in- 
herited eighty  acres  of  land  and  with  this  as  a 
I  start  their  possessions  have  been  continually  in- 
creased until  they  now  embrace  two  hundred  and 
eighty  acres  of  rich  and  valuable  land,  and  the 
comforts  of  life  which  were  once  denied  them  be- 
cause of  their  limited  financial  resources  are  now 
bv  them  easilv  secured. 


WllJJA.M   il.  CRAWPt  )RD. 

William  H.  Crawford  is  actively  connected 
with  farming  interests  about  two  miles  from  Mil- 
ford,  where  he  owns  and  cultivates  a  good  tract 
of  land  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  His 
birthplace  was  a  farm  in  ]\Iilford  township  and 
his  natal  da\  .September  7,  1867.  He  is  descended 
from  one  of  the  old  families  of  Mrginia  that 
was  established  there  at  an  early  day.  David 
Crawford,  the  father,  was  born  at  1  larpers  l\rry. 
\'irginia,  Se])tcmbcr  10,  1825,  and  was  a  sou  of 
Thomas  Crawford,  who  became  the  founder  of 
the  family  in  Illinois,  settling  in  Ir()(|uois  comity 
in  1835  when  there  were  few  white  residents 
within  its  borders.  Only  three  years  before  had 
the  white  people  of  the  state  disputed  the  (l(jniain 
of  the  red  man  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The 
seeds  of  civilization,  however,  were  being  planted 
and  the  wild  land  was  beins^'  converted  intci  rich 
fields  for  the  use  of  the  while  people.  Thomas 
Crawford  purchased  a  farm  on  which  slight  im- 
pnivemenls  had  been  made  and  began  its  further 
development  and  cultivation.  It  was  amid  pio- 
neer surroundings  and  environments  that  David 
'    Crawliird    was    reared    u])on    this    farm,    sharing 


with  the  family  in  the  hardsliijjs  and  privations 
of  pioneer  life  at  a  time  when  most  of  the  set- 
tlers lived  in  log  cabins  and  waged  a  relentless 
warfare  against  the  unfavorable  conditions 
caused  bv  the  swamps  and  the  sloughs  and  the 
uncut  forests.  When  a  young  man  he  went  to 
(  )liio  and  there  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  a  few  years.  While  in  the  Uuck- 
eve  state  he  married  Lydia  Judy,  who  was  born 
Xovember  29.  1829.  in  Clark  countv.  (  )hio,  and 
subsequently  returned  to  Iroquois  county,  locat- 
ing first  in  Milford.  After  spending  the  winter 
in  the  town  he  removed  to  a  farm,  purchasing 
land  thereafter  from  time  to  time  until  he  was  one 
ni  the  most  extensive  landholders  of  the  county, 
his  possessions  aggregating  nearly  fourteen  hun- 
dred acres  in  Stockland.  Milford  and  Lovejoy 
townships.  He  also  had  land  elsewhere  in  the 
state  and  he  bought  and  sold  lands,  his  operations 
being  extensive  and  profitable.  He  was  widely 
known  as  a  prominent  farmer  and  business  man, 
watchful  of  his  opportunities  and  so  conducting 
his  etTorts  that  success  resulted.  Seldom  was  he 
at  error  in  matters  of  business  judgment.  He  re- 
moved from  his  farm  to  Milford,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days,  passing  away  October  17,  1904,  at 
the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy-nine.  His  wife  is 
still  living  and  makes  her  home  in  Milford.  The 
famil\-  of  this  worthy  couple  numbered  eight 
children,  si.x  sons  and  two  daughters,  the  eldest 
of  whom  is  John  Crawford,  a  resident  of  Mil- 
ford. The  others  are  James,  who  is  living  in 
Ambia,  Indiana:  Anna,  the  wife  of  T.  A.  Lyons, 
a  farmer  of  ^^lilford:  Charles,  a  business  man  of 
Ambia  :  Edward,  a  resident  farmer  of  Stockland 
t(>wnshii> :  W'illiam  H..  of  this  review  :  Emma,  the 
wife  of  W'illiam  Caldwell,  of  Chicago:  and 
Frank,  a  resident  farmer  of  Milford  townshii). 
William  H.  Crawford,  nne  of  the  county's  na- 
tive sons,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Mil- 
ford and  remained  with  his  father  through  the 
|K'rind  of  his  boyhood  and  vouth.  being  reared 
in  a  cultured  home,  while  lessons  of  industry, 
perseverance  and  economy  were  earl\-  instilled 
into  his  mind.  The  lady  who  now  bears  his 
name  was  in  her  maidenhood  ]\liss  Clara  Kelly 
and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  on  Christmas 
day  of  1892.  She  was  also  reared  in  Iroquois 
county  and  following  their  marriage  they  es- 
tablished   their  home  ui)on   a    farm,    Mr.    Craw- 


IROQLOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


449 


forti  conciiitratinj,'  liis  ciurf,'ii>  upmi  tiic  ilevtlop- 
iiiciu  and  improvcniciu  cf  a  tract  of  laiui  oi 
oiif  luiiulrcil  ami  si.xty  acris.  .\s  tiiiic  passed  lie 
brmi^ht  liis  tieMs  under  a  iii!,'li  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  annually  gathered  tlierefrom  rich  crops. 
With  the  laruiinj.;  he  also  raised  uood  stock.  In 
i<XK).  however,  he  removed  to  Milford  and  \n\T- 
chascd  one  of  the  most  attractive  residences  of 
the  town.  He  has  not  abandoned  farm  work, 
however,  but  jjoes  back  and  forth  to  attend  to 
the  duties  of  the  farm,  which  is  carefully  man- 
aj^ed  under  his  immediate  supervision. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Crawford  has  been 
bles.sed  with  three  children.  Daphne,  .\ubrey  and 
-Madijc.  .\  stalwart  democrat.  Mr.  Crawford 
has  never  sought  or  desired  office  but  is  inter- 
ested in  the  success  and  growth  of  his  party. 
He  and  his  wife  take  a  deep  and  Iieli)ful  inter- 
est in  the  work  of  the  Christian  cluucli. 
of  which  they  are  members  and  in  which 
he  is  serving  as  an  officer.  They  contribute  gen- 
erously to  the  support  of  the  church  and  do 
everything  in  their  power  to  advance  its  inter- 
ests. Mr.  Crawford  is  also  connected  with  the 
Knights  of  I'ythias  lodge  at  Milford.  Strong 
in  his  honor  and  his  good  name,  his  whole  life 
has  been  passed  in  or  near  Milford  and  he  has 
borne  an  unas.sailable  reputation  for  integrity  in 
business  as  well  as  for  activity  and  progressive- 
ness  in  his  farming  operations.  Many  are  his 
go«xl  qualities  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are 
greatly  esteemed  by  those  who  know  them,  their 
circle  of  friends  being  almost  co-extensive  with 
the  circle  r>f  their  acquaintance. 


E.  A.  WESTOVER. 


The  life  lecortl  of  E.  A.  VVestover.  of  Che- 
banse,  should  put  to  shame  many  a  man  of  young- 
er years  who,  grown  weary  of  the  struggles  and 
labors  of  an  active  business  life,  would  relegate 
to  others  the  burdens  that  he  should  bear.  .Mr. 
Westover,  although  now  seventy-five  years  of 
age.  is  still  actively  concerned  in  business  in 
Chebanse  as  a  stone-mason  and  in  former  years 
was  accounted  one  of  the  able  educators  of  this 
part  of  the  state,  devoting  a  quarter  of  a  century 
to  the  profession  of  teaching.     He  came  to  Che- 


banse in  1S37  and  has  here  since  made  his  home. 
He  is  a  son  of  Linus  \\  .  and  Sally  (Thomas) 
Westover.  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut  and 
of  Welsh  extraction  on  the  father's  side.  The 
original  ancestors  in  .\merica,  however,  came 
from  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

The  birth  of  E.  .\.  Westover  occurred  in 
Litchfield  county,  Connecticut.  .\\>v'\\  13.  1831, 
The  greater  period  of  his  manhotid  has  been 
passed  in  Chebanse.  where  he  has  made  his  home 
for  almost  a  half  century.  Securing  a  school  in 
this  locality,  he  engaged  in  teaching  for  twenty- 
four  terms  anil  during  the  periods  of  vacation  he 
worked  at  the  stone-mason's  trade.  He  took  up 
his  abode  in  Chebanse  township  before  Milks 
("irove  townslii[)  had  been  set  otT,  the  two  being 
under  one  organization  and  known  as  Chebanse 
township.  He  became  a  giMjd  workman  at  the 
stone-mason's  trade  and  has  assisted  in  the  con- 
struction of  many  of  the  important  buildings  of 
the  county,  including  the  courthouse  at  W'atse- 
ka.  His  life  has  been  one  of  tireless  activity  and 
enterprise  and  as  the  years  have  passed  he  has 
met  with  a  creditable  measure  of  success. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1862,  Mr.  Westover  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Jane  Brady,  and 
unto  them  was  born  a  son,  Linus  E.,  who  is  lo- 
cated in  Chebanse. 

Mr.  Westover  has  long  been  recognized  as 
one  of  the  prominent  democrats  of  this  locality. 
He  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James 
P>uchanan  and  has  supported  each  candidate  at 
the  head  of  the  ticket  since  that  time  with  the 
e.xception  of  the  year  1864,  when  he  voted  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  for  he  believed  in  the  war 
policy  and  thus  upheld  the  administration.  Mr. 
Westover  has  been  called  to  various  offices.  He 
has  been  road  commissioner  for  three  years,  was 
constable  for  four  years,  marshal  of  Chebanse 
for  two  years  and  school  director  for  ten  years. 
He  has  also  acted  as  judge  of  election  since 
the  Australian  ballot  system  was  inaugurated. 
He  is  the  only  survivor  of  the  three  democrats 
in  Chebanse  township  when  he  arrived  here  and 
he  has  been  a  most  faithful  adherent  to  the 
principles  of  the  party.  He  holds  membership 
in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Chebanse 
and  his  life  has  been  in  harmony  with  his  pro- 
fessions. He  has  always  endeavored  to  live  at 
p)eace    with    his    fellowmen,    acknowledging    the 


45° 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


rights  of  others,  and  has  manifested  a  spirit  of 
consideration  and  kindhness  that  has  gained  him 
a  warm  place  in  public  regard. 


ADA.M  WA.MIJA. 


Adam  \V'amba  is  now  living  a  retired  life  at 
Martinton  and  perhaps  no  citizen  of  the  village 
has  done  more  for  its  substantial  upbuilding  and 
commercial  development,  by  reason  of  which  he 
certainly  deserves  honorable  mention  in  this  vol- 
ume as  one  of  the  prominent  and  representative 
men  of  Iroquois  county.  He  was  the  real  founder 
and  promoter  of  the  town  of  Martinton  and 
although  now  living  retired  from  business  has 
never  ceased  his  efforts  in  its  behalf. 

JMr.  Wamba  was  born  in  Hesse-Darmstadt, 
Germany,  September  30,  1828.  In  1849  ^^^  ^"' 
tered  the  German  army,  and  on  the  19th  of  Xo- 
vember,  1852.  his  military  service  being  ended,  he 
set  sail  for  New  York,  where  he  arrived  after  a 
long,  tedious  and  stormy  passage  in  February, 
1853.  He  then  made  his  way  to  Trenton.  Xew 
Jersey,  and  worked  in  the  rolling  mills  until  the 
following  vear. 

In  1854  Mr.  Wamba  made  his  way  westward 
to  Chicago  and  to  Green  Bay,  Michigan,  where 
he  worked  in  a  sawmill  for  a  time.  He  then 
returned  to  Chicago  and  assisted  in  building  the 
first  water  works  of  that  city.  He  was  offered 
a  building  lot  for  a  day's  work,  but  did  not  con- 
sider the  lots  worth  anything  and  so  took  one 
dollar  per  day  for  his  service  instead.  In  1857 
he  came  to  Chebanse  township,  where  he  lived 
for  fourteen  years,  following  the  occupation  of 
farming.  At  the  time  of  the  June  flood  in  the 
year  1868  he  went  out  and  flagged  a  train  on  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  carrying  with  him  the 
lamp  from  the  table.  He  thus  stopped  the  train 
frnni  plunging  into  the  creek  where  the  bridge 
had  been  washed  away  and  thus  saved  many 
lives.  In  1870  he  came  to  Martinton  township 
and  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  from 
John  Cobb  for  eighteen  dollars  per  acre,  and 
six  acres  on  section  16.  It  was  raw  land,  being 
I  entirely  unimproved.  U])on  this  ])lace  Mr. 
Wamba  built  a  small  frame  dwelling,  in  which 
he  lived  for  a  number  of  years.     Later  he  pur- 


chased two  hundred  and  twenty  more  acres  in 
the  same  section.  He  has  tiled  the  entire  farm 
himself,  has  fenced  and  improved  it,  and  in  1898 
he  erected  a  large  twelve-room  residence,  which 
he  now  occupies,  it  being  one  of  the  attractive 
homes  of  this  part  of  the  county.  In  1871  he 
gave  forty  acres  to  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illi- 
nois Railroad  Company  for  a  depot  and  track 
site  to  start  a  town.  The  town  was  established 
and  called  ^lartinton.  Mr.  Wamba  bought  hay 
and  grain  there  for  a  number  of  years  and  built 
the  first  elevator  in  the  town.  He  also  built  a 
switch  two  hundred  and  ten  feet  in  length,  pay- 
ing for  the  same  himself,  in  order  that  he  might 
load  cars  at  his  elevator.  He  has  raised  corn 
on  the  land  on  which  the  business  center  of  the 
town  now  stands.  He  has  also  laid  out  six  addi- 
tions to  the  town  and  sold  lots  and  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  town  in  1871.  It  would 
be  difficult  to  find  any  one  who  has  done  more 
for  Alartinton  or  contributed  in  larger  measure 
to  its  substantial  progress  and  development  than 
has  Mr.  Wamba.  who  from  the  beginning  has 
been  an  interested  witness  of  its  growth  and  in 
every  possible  way  has  aided  in  its  advancement. 
In  Chicago,  in  1857.  Mr.  Wamba  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Coolon,  who  was  born 
in  Canada,  and  they  have  become  the  parents  of 
nine  children :  A.  G.,  Philip,  Peter,  Joseph, 
Henry,  Frank,  Mrs.  Libby  Alexander,  Mrs. 
Mary  White  and  Mrs.  Philipina  ]\Iary.  Of  this 
number  Peter  and  Henry  are  now  deceased.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  in  1896  and  Mr.  Wamba 
was  again  married  in  Martinton  in  1898.  his  sec- 
ond union  being  with  Mrs.  Fredericka  Mack, 
who  was  born  in  Germany  and  was  the  widow 
of  G.  Mack,  who  died  in  1890.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  had  four  children:  .\ndrew  C. ;  Anna, 
who  is  married  and  lives  in  Chicago;  Sophia  Au- 
gusta, a  resident  of  Seattle.  Washington ;  and  Otto 
G..  of  Chicago.  Mr.  \\'amba  has  bought  over  four- 
teen hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  state  of  Wash- 
ington, which  he  has  divided  among  his  sons, 
who  are  now  operating  it.  He  has  also  bought 
and  shipped  to  them  a  considerable  amount  of 
houseliold  goods,  a  well  drill,  engines  and  all 
outfils  and  farm  implements.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  most  successful  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
iniblic-si)irited  citizens  of  ATartinton  township 
and,  having  acquired  a  handsome  competence,  he 


MR.  AM)  MRS.  ADAM   W  AMIIA. 


(^r   inc 
UNIVERSITY  Of   ILLINOIS 


IKOQL'OIS  COl'NTV.  ILLINOIS. 


453 


has  for  the  past  tew  years  heen  hviiip  a  retired 
life,  occupying  the  beautiful  lioiiie  wliicli  he  built 
for  himself  on  the  farm.  This  farm  he  broke 
fmm  the  raw  prairie  ami  by  hard  and  uiiremit- 
tiii.v;  effort  has  transformed  it  into  one  of  the 
parden  spots  of  tiie  county.  He  deserves  much 
credit  for  what  he  has  accom])lished  ami  his 
s|)len(lid  prosperity  is  well  merited. 


lUA  .M.  LLXDSKV. 


Ira  M.  Lindsey.  livinjj  on  section  3(1.  I  )narga 
township,  is  an  active  and  energetic  business  man 
operating  the  c>ld  Lindsey  hoinestead  of  two  hun- 
drecl  and  twenty-seven  acres,  lie  was  born  on 
the  farm  which  is  now  his  place  of  residence 
I'ebruary  3.  ii«^~.  and  his  father.  1!.  l".  Lindsey, 
was  likewise  born  on  this  farm,  which  is  one  of 
the  old  settled  places  of  the  county.  Thepatcrn.il 
grandfather.  Ira  Lindsey.  was  a  native  of  \'ir- 
ginia  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  here,  arriving 
in  the  district  when  it  was  a  wilderness,  the 
prairie  being  covered  with  the  native  grasses, 
while  in  certain  districts  there  were  forest 
growths  and  much  of  the  land.  to4),  was  very 
wet  and  swanijiy.  He  entered  several  hundred 
acres  and  upened  up  the  farm  which  has  since 
lieen  the  family  homestead.  His  son,  B.  F.  Lind- 
sey. was  reared  under  the  ])arental  roof  and 
having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  he  wcddc<l 
l-Vances  Wiswell,  a  native  of  Illinois,  who  was 
born  in  Morgan  county.  .\s  the  years  passed 
by  M.  F.  Lindsey  became  a  prominent,  active 
and  prosperous  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  owning 
alKuit  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  valuable 
land.  He  carried  on  general  agricultural  jnir- 
suits  successfully  for  a  number  of  years  and 
eventually  removed  to  (  )narga,  where  his  last 
years  were  jjassed.  his  death  occurring  there  in 
Jinie.  ii>oi.  He  was  always  reliable  and  active 
in  his  business  interests  and  therefore  left  to  his 
family  not  only  a  goodly  estate  but  also  an  im- 
tarnished  name.  His  wife  survives  him  and  now 
resides  in  ("ham|>aign.  Illinois. 

Ira  M.  Lindsey  spent  the  days  of  his  youih 
in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads,  early  becom- 
ing familiar  with  the  duties  of  field  and  meadow . 
His  preliminary  education  was  sup|)leniented  by 
study   in  Champaign   high   school  and   when  his 


father  removed  to  ( )narga  he  took  charge  of  the 
hon)e  place  and  has  further  improved  and  de- 
vclo|K;d  it,  making  it  a  valuable  farm  property. 
He  carries  on  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and 
also  raises  and  deals  in  stock,  and  Ixjth  branches 
of  his  business  are  proving  profitable. 

Mr.  Lindsev  was  married  in  (  )narga.  .March 
jij.  1891,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Carrie 
Capen,  who  was  born  in  Michigan  Inu  was  reared 
in  this  county.  They  now  have  three  children: 
()sa.  Leon  and  .\nita.  Mr.  Lindsey  exercises 
his  right  of  franchise  in  sup])ort  of  the  men  and 
measures  of  the  democracy  at  state  and  national 
elections  but  ca.sts  an  indei)endent  local  ballot. 
He  is  ni)w  a  member  of  the  school  board  and  he 
affiliates  with  the  .Masonic  fraternity.  Ix-longing 
to  ( )narga  lodge,  liilman  chapter.  Watseka  coun- 
cil. Paxton  commandery  and  the  Mystic  Shrine 
of  Peoria.  He  is  now  senior  deacin  in  the  blue 
lodge  and  he  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  in  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodge  at  Onarga.  of  which 
he  is  a  past  chancellor.  His  wife,  a  most  esti- 
mable lady,  holds  membership  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  and  both  are  highly  esteemed, 
occuj)ying  an  enviable  ]insition  in  social  circles 
where  true  worth  and  intelligence  serve  as  pass- 
ports into  good  society.  .Mr.  Lindsey  is  well 
known  in  Watseka  and  lro(|uois  county  and  in- 
vestigation into  his  life  record  shows  much  that 
is  commendable,  while  his  example  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  business  interests  might  be  profit- 
ably foUoweil  1)\  .'iH  who  desire  to  gain  honorable 
]3rt)sperity. 


L\MI-:S   lit  )A(iL\Xn. 


James  Hoagland  is  now  living  retired  in  .Shel- 
don but  for  many  years  was  closely  associated 
with  farming  and  stock-raising  interests  in  Iro- 
(|uois  county,  and  he  so  directed  his  labors  and 
managed  his  business  interests  that  there  ac- 
crued therefrom  an  extensive  competence  that 
now  enables  him  to  rest  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
fruits  of  his  former  toil.  He  was  born  .\pril  f>. 
1S51.  and  is  a  sf)n  of  James  and  Hannah  (  I'ox  1 
Ht«gland. 

The  father,  a  native  of  Clark  townshi]).  Co- 
shocton county.  ( )hio.  was  Intrn  March  ,^1.  1S18, 
and  his  parents  were  Lsaac  and  Polly  (Carpenter) 


454 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Iloagland,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  \'ir- 
ginia.  The  latter  was  a  daughter  of  John  Car- 
penter, one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  north  side 
of  the  Ohio  river  in  the  fjuckeye  state.  He  was 
probably  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
one  of  his  sons  was  for  seven  \ears  connected 
with  the  colonial  army,  doing  valued  service  as 
a  spy.  Thomas  Carpenter,  son  of  John  Carpen- 
ter, is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  child  born 
in  Ohio.  The  great-grandfather  of  our  subject, 
was  at  one  time  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians 
and  held  for  eighteen  months  before  he  was  able 
to  make  his  escape.  In  the  meantime,  his  people, 
supposing  him  dead,  returned  to  Mrginia. 
When  he  managed  to  escape  he  took  a  horse 
which  had  been  captured  with  him.  and,  swim- 
ming the  Ohio  river,  he  made  his  way  to  his  par- 
ents' home.  While  held  captive  the  Indians  were 
camped  between  Owl  creek  and  IMahicken  river, 
near  the  junction  of  the  two  streams,  and  Mr. 
Carpenter  was  so  pleased  with  that  country  and 
its  possibilities  that  subsequent  to  his  marriage 
he  removed  with  his  wife  and  children  to  that 
locality,  h  was  still  a  frontier  district  and  a 
mimber  of  families  built  and  occupied  a  fort  in 
order  to  secure  protection  from  the  red  men. 
One  day  while  Mr.  Carpenter  and  his  wife  were 
hoeing  in  the  garden  he  was  sliot  1)\-  an  I?idian. 
The  ball  entered  his  body  and  he  fell.  The  red 
men  thought  to  capture  Mrs.  Carpenter  but  she 
ran  screaming  to  the  fort  an<l  thus  made  her  es- 
ca])e.  Mr.  Carpenter  recovered  and  lived  for 
many  years  afterward. 

The  Hoagland  family  also  Ix-came  residents 
of  Ohio  in  pioneer  times,  Isaac  Hoagland,  the 
.grandfather  of  our  subject,  settling  in  that  state 
at  a  place  just  across  the  river  from  Wheeling. 
\\'est  \'irginia.  He  married  Polly  Carpenter, 
and  they  began  their  domestic  life  upon  a  farm, 
undergoing  all  of  the  jirivations  and  trials  of 
fnmtier  life.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  tlie  war 
of  1812,  and  after  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
the  fall  of  184S.  when  he  was  seventy-three  years 
of  age,  his  widow  obtained  a  land  warrant  in 
recognition  of  his  military  service.  I^he  sent 
the  paper  to  her  son,  James  Hoagland,  wlm  was 
then  living  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  but  it 
was  not  proptTly  signed  and  he  returned  it  but 
never  heard  of  it  again.  Mrs.  I'nllv  Iloagland 
died   in  Coshoctnn  county,  CJhin,  in    1X5,^  in  the 


seventy-fourth  year  of  her  age.  I'.y  her  mar- 
riage she  became  the  mother  of  ten  children. 

Of  this  family  James  Hoagland  was  the  sev- 
enth in  order  of  birth  and  upon  his  father's  farm 
he  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  as- 
sisting in  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  de- 
veloping new  land.  His  educational  opportuni- 
ties were  very  meager,  ov^ing  to  the  poor  condi- 
tions of  the  schools  in  that  pioneer  community. 
\\'hen  ei.ghteen  years  of  age  he  was  married  in 
Clark  township,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  on 
Christmas  day  of  1836,  to  Miss  Hannah  Fox, 
who  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  that  state. 
October  4,  1819.  and  was  a  daughter  of  Eli  and 
Lavina  (.\ndrews)  Fox,  who  were  natives  of 
Connecticut,  and  removed  to  Ohio  at  an  early 
day. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage,  Mr.  Hoagland 
had  but  little  capital  with  which  to  start  out  in 
life  but  he  rented  land  and  thus  en,gaged  in 
farmin,g  in  Ohio  until  1845.  He  then  came  to 
Illinois,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  four  chil- 
dren, bringing  with  them  a  few  household  goods, 
which  they  loaded  into  a  wagon  and  thus  drove 
across  the  country  to  Iroquois  county,  reaching 
their  destination  on  the  28th  of  September,  1845. 
James  Hoagland's  actual  capital  at  that  time  con- 
sisted of  but  twenty  dollars.  During  the  first 
three  years  of  his  residence  in  that  county  he 
rented  land  of  Squire  Courtright,  and  in  1848 
In-  entered  forty  acres  from  the  government,  reso- 
lutely undertaking  the  task  of  developing  a  new 
farm,  for  he  was  not  unfamiliar  with  such  a 
wiirk.  having  been  engaged  in  a  similar  enter- 
prise in  (  )hio.  His  life  was  a  busy  one,  and  his 
um-emitting  diligence  and  persistency  of  purpose 
gained  liiin  prosperity.  As  his  financial  re- 
sources increased  he  added  to  his  laud  until  at 
(ine  time  he  owned  eleven  hundred  and  ninety- 
ime  acres  in  Concord  township  and  owed  no  man 
a  dollar. 

His  wile  dietl  i'ebruary  g,  i8gj,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years.  She  was  a  faithful  member 
nf  the  I'nited  brethren  church  and  for  fifty- 
fivf  years  had  been  a  loving  wife  and  true  hel])- 
male  to  licr  husband.  'i"lK-\-  had  tra\eled  life's 
journey  to.gether  throu.gh  that  long  period  and 
on  Christmas  day  of  1886  was  celebrated  their 
.golden  wedding.  Tlieir  union  was  blessed  with 
ten   children.     F.li,   who  was   born  in   Coshocton 


IKOorolS  ^  >  il  .\  I  V.   ILLINOIS. 


433 


couiitv.  dhio,  Xovciiiber  8.  1837.  is  now  livinj,' 
retiri'd  in  Sheldon  aiul  lias  seven  children. 
Marv.  born  in  Coshocton  county.  May  31.  i8,v^ 
hccanu-  the  wife  of  Lyman  Mather  and  died 
June  2.  1871,  leavinj^  four  children.  Isaac,  horn 
in  I'osluicion  county.  I  )ctober  14.  184J.  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Civil  war  from  iS<ii  until  18(12. 
servini;  under  I'remont.  hut  was  taken  ill  on 
the  tirst  march  after  I'rice  and  died  near  ( )tter- 
ville,  .Missouri.  January  3.  i8<j2,  his  remains  be- 
in>;  l)nnii;ht  hack  \o  iro(|Uois  county  by  his  father 
and  interred  in  the  .Sheldon  cemetery.  Lavina. 
who  was  born  in  Coshocton  comity,  t  )hio.  May 
10,  1844.  is  the  wife  of  James  .Xshbury  Clarke, 
of  Concord  township,  and  they  have  hve  children. 
Sarah,  Iwrn  in  Concord  township.  Iroquois  coun- 
ty. Illinois.  June  18.  184(1.  is  the  wife  of  ( )scar 
Ajiplejiet,  and  has  three  children.  Ira,  born 
Xovcnibcr  15,  1848,  resides  in  Concord  town- 
ship and  lias  five  children.  James  is  seventh  of 
the  family.  Hannah,  horn  Au.niisl  20.  1853,  died 
October  6.  1855.  Xaiicy.  horn  December  3, 
1855,  became  the  wife  of  (ieorfje  Slirim])liii  and 
died  .\pril  23,  i88»;,  leavmjj  tjiree  children. 
Charles,  born  July  ij.  1858.  is  married  and  has 
one  child. 

James  Hoafjland,  Sr..  altlioufjli  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  democratic  party,  became  a  stalwart 
advocate  of  whijj  principles  and  cast  bis  first 
presidential  vote  for  William  Henry  Harrison. 
On  the  organization  of  the  republican  party  be 
joined  its  ranks  and  remained  one  of  its  stalwart 
advocates  until  his  demise.  He  lived  an  uprifjlit. 
honorable  life,  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to 
his  business  interests  and  his  dealinj^s  were  ever 
characterized  by  u])rijjhlness  and  lionor.  so  that 
be  not  only  gained  a'comfortable  comjietence  but 
also  won  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  wit'i 
whom  he  was  brought  in  contact,  an<l  his  death, 
on  the  3d  of  .April.  i«/)i.  was  the  occasion  of 
sincere   and    widespread    regret. 

James  Hoagland.  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  IriKjuois  coun- 
ty and  acquired  a  district-school  education. 
When  not  busy  with  his  text-hooks  his  attention 
was  given  to  farm  labor,  and  he  early  became 
an  assistant  in  the  fields.  He  bought  his  first 
land — a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres — 
in  1875.  and  he  still  owns  that  i)ro])crty  hut  his 
holdings   have   become   much    more  extensive  as 


the  years  have  passed  by  and  be  now  has  five 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  in  this  county.  He 
gave  his  energies  to  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil 
and  the  raising  of  stock  until  1887,  when  he  re- 
moved from  the  iild  homestead  to  a  place  near 
.Sheldon,  and  in  11J03  retired  permanently  from 
farm  life  and  took  up  his  abode  in  the  city  of 
Sheldon,  where  he  iiurchaseil  a  beautiful  resi- 
dence, standing  in  the  midst  of  a  fine  lawn.  Here 
he  is  living  retired,  surrounded  by  all  of  the 
comforts  and  man\  of  the  luxuries  wliich  go  to 
make   life   worth   living. 

.\lr.  Iloaglanil  was  married  to  Miss  .Martha 
.\.  Crowl.  of  Iroquois  county.  llliiKjis,  a  daughter 
of  John  I'.,  and  .Mary  (Moore)  Crowl.  The 
father  was  horn  in  .\enia.  (  )hio.  I-'ehrnary  <j. 
1822.  and  was  a  son  of  Jose])h  and  .\letlia 
(  r.isliop)  Crowl,  who  were  natives  of  .Maryland 
and  X'irginia  respectively.  They  went  to  ( )hio 
in  early  life  and  were  married  there.  Mr.  Crowl 
clied  in  hebruary,  1852,  his  wife  surviving  him 
for  iwtnty  years,  or  until  ( )ct()her,  1872.  John 
I'..  Crowl.  the  father  of  .Mrs.  Hoaglaiul,  lived 
in  ( )liio  until  1831;,  when  with  his  parents  he 
removed  westward  to  Indiana,  settling  five  miles 
east  of  llunkum.  Illinois,  which  was  their  post- 
office.  -At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  crossed 
the  line  into  this  state  and  engaged  in  farming 
near  lUinkum  on  the  land  which  he  purchased 
from  his  father.  He  was  married  December  20, 
1843.  to  .Miss  Mary  Moore,  who  was  born  in 
(  )liio  and  came  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  He 
owned  three  hundred  and  sixty-three  acres  of 
land  in  this  county,  which  he  won  by  his  own 
labor  and  very  cajiable  management.  His  wife 
died  .\ugust  28,  iWk).  and  he  passed  away  in 
ii^oi.     Their  family  numbered  eight  children. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoagland  have  but  one  child, 
lohn  C'..  who  was  liorn  February  20,  1876,  and 
married  Harriet  .Mct'Ioud.  They  live  in  Shel- 
don, where  he  is  conducting  business  as  an  op- 
tician and  jeweler. 

Mr.  Ibiagland  belongs  to  Shehlon  lodge,  Xo. 
Ticx),  .\.  I".  &  A.  .M..  and  al.so  to  the  Mo<Icrn 
WiMidmcn  camp.  His  wife  holds  membership  in 
the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  he  is  a  lilxr.d 
ctMitributor.  He  has  manifested  many  good 
(|ualities  that  have  gained  him  favorable  regard. 
In  his  business  he  was  alert  ami  enterprising  and 
has  so  utilized  bis  opportunities  that  the  years 


456 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


have  brought  him  goodly  success.  His  name 
is  honored  by  reason  of  the  straightforward 
methods  he  has  followed,  while  his  personal  char- 
acteristics, geniality,  cordiality  and  good  will 
have  made  him  popular  with  those  who  know 
him. 


WILLIAM  A.  .MOXTGOMERY. 

William  A.  .Montgomery,  living  on  section  28. 
Belmont  township,  his  life  of  well  directed  activ- 
ity leading  to  success  in  agricultural  lines,  owns 
and  cultivates  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
five  acres.  He  is  of  Iroquois  county's  native 
sons,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  Concord 
township.  April  27.  1849.  His  father,  Samuel 
^^'.  Montgomery,  was  a  native  of  \"irginia.  but 
was  reared  in  Indiana  and  was  married  there 
to  Sarah  Harriman.  a  native  of  Ohio.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Indiana  and  reared  his  family 
there  until  the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  removed 
to  Illinois.  Here  he  owned  une  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Concord  townshii)  at  the  beginning 
of  his  residence  in  Iroquois  county  and  eventu- 
ally added  to  his  holdings  until  they  embraced 
four  hundred  acres.  In  the  spring  of  i860  he 
removed  to  Bclnionl  townshij).  where  he  died 
September  29.  1893.  in  his  seventy-eighth  year. 
Ilis  wife  died  January  14.  1894.  '"  lier  seventy- 
fifth  year. 

William  A.  Montgoniery  was  one  of  a  family 
of  ten  children  and  was  reared  upon  the  honie 
farm.  In  the  winter  months  he  attended  school 
and  in  the  summer  seasons  aided  in  the  labors 
of  the  fields,  reiuaining  with  bis  father  until  bis 
marriage  and  carrying  on  the  business  in  ])art- 
nershi])  with  him.  (  )n  the  1st  of  February,  1882, 
he  secured  a  coni()aiiion  and  bel|)inate  for  life's 
journey  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Melissa  I.  Hur- 
gett,  a  native  of  this  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Elias  lUirgett.  who  was  born  in  (  )hio.  Follow- 
ing their  marriage  the  young  coujile  took  up 
their  ab(xle  upon  the  farm  on  section  28.  liel- 
mont  townshi]).  Mr.  Montgomery  having  ])re- 
viously  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
of  land,  to  which  he  has  since  adtled  until  his 
farm  now  embraces  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
acres.     The     comfortable      Iwo-storv      (Uvi.lling. 


which  is  one  of  the  leading  features  of  the  place, 
was  erected  by  him  and  he  has  also  put  up  a 
good  barn,  forty  by  sixty  feet,  together  with 
corn  cribs  and  (Outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of 
grain  and  stock.  The  place  is  well  tiled  and 
fenced  and  his  labors  have  made  this  a  good 
farming  property,  on  which  he  raises  large  crops 
and  also  high  grade  stock  of  various  kinds. 
including  Durham  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 
In  October,  1906,  he  purchased  one  thousand 
and  ninetv  acres  of  land  in  Dickey  county.  Xorth 
Dakota,  which  is  partially  improved. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  [Montgomery  have  been 
born  nine  children:  [Maud  O..  Samuel  E..  Guy 
A..  Certha  E..  William  Harrison.  Sarah  M.. 
]^Iabel  \\'.,  Clarence  E.  and  Charles  Ray.  The 
parents  attend  the  Christian  church  and  are 
highly  esteemed  people,  who  have  a  large  circle 
of  warm  friends  in  the  county.  In  his  political 
views  [Mr.  Montgomery  is  a  republican,  but  at 
local  elections  where  ho  issue  is  involved  he  casts 
a  vote  independent  of  party  ties.  For  three  years 
he  served  as  school  director,  but  he  has  never 
sought  or  cared  for  office,  preferring  to  concen- 
trate his  time  and  energies  upon  his  business 
interests,  which  are  well  conducted  and  enable 
him  to  add  annually  to  his  income,  so  that  lie 
is  now  comfortably  situated  in  life.  Havmg 
always  lived  in  Iroquois  county,  he  has  a  wide 
acquaintance  and  the  fact  that  his  friends  are 
many  is  an  indication  that  he  possesses  genial 
(|ualities  and  many  sterling  characteristics. 


MEXRV  DILLOX. 

llenrv  Dillon,  a  highly  respected  citizen  and 
an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  now  living 
retired  in  Sheldon,  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  \  ermilion  county,  Se]i- 
tember  13,  184 1.  His  father,  .Solomon  Dillon, 
was  born  in  I^ast  Tennessee,  in  181'),  and  in  1830 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  from 
the  south  to  this  state.  The  year  18C10  witnessed 
the  arrival  of  Solomon  Dillon  in  Iro(|uois  coun- 
ty, at  which  time  he  purchased  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  situated  on  sections 
17  and  18,  .\sh  Grove  township,  lie  liad  been 
reared  as  a   I'riend.  or  (  hiaker,  and  was  one  of 


Mk.  AM)  MRS.  W.  A.  .M(  iXICi  ).\II-:RV 


IHE 
,  Oh  ILLINOIS 


IKoQlOlS  CUL'NTV.  ILLINOIS. 


459 


ihc  organizers  of  the  clnircli  of  that  dcnoinina- 
tion  at  Ash  lirove,  and  in  later  years  some  of  the 
c<pnj;rej;atioM  went  to  Watscka,  where  they  or- 
ganized a  church,  in  the  family  of  Solomon 
Dillon  were  six  children,  of  wiiom  four  are  now 
living,  namely :  Amos,  who  was  educated  at 
Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  at  one  time  engaged 
in  teaching  hut  later  practiced  medicine  and  is 
now  ilecea.<ed ;  llenrv.  whoso  name  introduces 
this  record;  William,  who  i>ursued  his  studies  at 
Cincinnati  antl  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
medicine  at  L'rhana.  lilimiis;  Mrs.  .Mary  Morris, 
a  resident  of  ( ioodland,  Indiana:  FJizaheth,  also 
a  resident  of  t'lOodland  :  and  tiarrett.  formerly  a 
resident  of  this  county,  died  in  i<S<>),  in  Kansas. 

Henry  Dillon  began  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  X'crmilion  county,  and  later  |)nr- 
sni-d  a  course  for  si.\  months  in  an  academy  in 
I'arkc  county,  Indiana,  in  which  institution  the 
Hon.  Josejih  ('•.  Cannon  was  also  educated.  Mr. 
Dillon  was  reared  in  much  the  usual  manner  of 
farm  lads,  assisting  in  the  work  of  tiie  fields 
when  not  engaged  with  his  studies,  and  thus 
gained  practical  knowledge  which  fitted  him  for 
the  more  arduous  and  responsible  duties  of  life 
when  he  started  out  ui)on  an  indei)endent  busi- 
ness career.  In  i860,  when  a  youth  of  nineteen 
years,  he  accompanied  his  father  on  the  removal 
from  X'ermilion  county  to  Iroquois  county,  where 
for  twelve  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  profes- 
sion of  teaching,  and  here  he  has  since  continued 
to  make  his  home. 

Loyal  to  his  country,  on  the  11th  of  .May, 
1864,  he  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Civil  war. 
becoming  a  member  of  Company  I'..  One  Hun- 
dred and  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  \olunteer  In- 
fantry, which  was  mustered  in  for  one  hundred 
days'  service  on  the  3d  of  June  of  that  year.  He 
was  mostly  engaged  in  guard  duty,  being  at 
Columbus  and  Mayfield.  Kentucky,  from  which 
place  he  went  to  Chicago  and  from  there  to  St. 
Louis  in  pursuit  of  Price,  being  mustered  out 
Xovember  4,  i«64.  He  was  ill  for  two  weeks 
during  his  army  service. 

Following  the  close  of  hostilities  .Mr.  Dillon 
returned  home,  where  he  resumed  farming  oi)era- 
tions,  having  previously  made  purchase  of  a 
tract  of  forty  acres  in  .\sh  (irnve  township  in 
1863.  On  selling  that  place  be  bought  forty 
acre  more  to  which,  in   1866.  he  adde<l  an  addi- 


tional forty-acre  tract.  Disposing  of  this  prop- 
erty, in  1872  he  purchased  another  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  the  same  township,  on  which  he  took 
up  his  alx)de  and  continued  the  further  develop- 
ment and  cultivation  of  the  jilace  for  about  ten 
years.  He  then  bought  another  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  si.\ty  acres  where  he  lived  until  1892. 
when  he  removed  to  .Sluldon  township,  where 
he  followed  farming  for  ten  years,  or  until  h/jj. 
when,  feeling  that  his  former  labors  justified  his 
retirement  from  the  more  arduous  labors  of  farm 
life  he  took  uj)  his  abode  in  the  village  of  Sheldon. 

.\s  a  companion  and  helpmate  for  life's  jour- 
ney, Mr.  Dillon  chose  .Miss  Rachel  Wagner,  a 
native  of  Milford,  this  county,  and  a  sister  of  the 
laie  John  \\  agner,  of  Walseka.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  with  six  children,  of  whom  the 
third.  Helen,  died  in  I'ebruarv,  n>oi.  The  others 
are:     Gertrude,  William,   Ruth,  .\nna  and   Lee. 

Mr.  Dillon's  study  of  the  ])olitical  questions 
and  issues  has  led  him  to  give  st;iKvart  support 
to  the  re])ublican  party,  and  he  has  served  as 
justice  of  the  i)eace  and  as  notary  jiublic  in  .\sh 
(.jrove.  He  is  connected  with  the  (irand  .Vrmy 
of  the  Rei)id)lic.  at  Sheldon,  and  when  a  young 
man  of  twenty-five  years  he  became  identified 
with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  of  which  he  has 
since  been  a  loyal  and  devoted  member,  while 
both  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership  with  the 
Methodist  K])iscopal  church  at  Sheldon. 
Through  almost  a  half  century  Mr.  Dillon  has 
been  interested  in  the  develo])nient  aiid  progress 
of  InHjuois  county,  where  in  former  years  he 
labore<l  earnestly  and  persistently  to  acquire  a 
competence,  so  that  he  is  now  well  situated  in 
life,  enjoying  a  well  earned  rest  in  a  comfortable 
diome  in  Sheldon. 


WILLI A.M  A.  wi:i;sti:r. 

William  .\.  Webster  is  a  native  son  of  Im- 
(|uois  county,  his  l)irth  having  occurred  Jaiuiary 
30,  1 8^)2,  in  Concord — the  townshii>  in  which  he 
has  alwa\s  made  his  home,  owning  and  o])eral- 
ing  at  the  present  time  alxuit  two  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  well  improved  land  on  sections 
27  and  28.  He  is  a  son  of  John  Webster.  He 
was  reare<l  to  the  occupation   which   he  has  al- 


460 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


wavs  made  his  life  work  and  acquired  his  ethtca- 
tion  in  the  schools  near  his  father's  home.  He 
remained  with  his  father  until  he  attained  his 
majority,  when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own 
account,  renting  from  his  father  a  tract  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  acres,  situated  on  section  28. 
Concord  township.  Through  his  industry  and 
economy  he  accumulated  a  sum  which,  in  Decem- 
ber, 1894,  enabled  him  to  I'urchase  a  farm  of 
seventy  acres,  to  which  he  has  since  added  from 
time  to  time  until  he  is  today  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  twenty  acres,  situated  on  sections 
27  and  28.  Since  taking  up  his  abode  here  he 
has  made  many  substantial  improvements,  laying 
tile  and  building  fences,  and  he  likewise  erected 
a  modern  countr\-  residence,  in  the  rear  of  which 
stand  good  outbuihlings.  He  is  practical  and 
progressive  in  hi,>  work  and  keeps  abreast  with 
the  times  in  carrying  on  his  business  alTairs. 
In  addition  to  raising  the  cereals  best  adapted 
to  soil  and  climate,  he  is  also  engaged  in  raising 
Poland  China  hogs,  and  this  branch  of  his  busi- 
ness is  proving  a  profitable  source  of  revenue. 
He  is  also  engaged  to  some  extent  in  the  poultry 
business,  raising  buff  cochin  chickens  of  high 
grade,  and  he  expects  to  make  this  an  important 
branch  of  his  business. 

On  the  1 2th  of  March,  1884,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Webster  and  Miss  Tirzie  Ab- 
bott, who  was  born  in  iSfxj.  in  Adams  county. 
Ohio,  where  she  was  reared  to  the  age  of  seven 
years,  when  she  was  brought  by  her  parents, 
James'and  Mary  (Johnson)  .Xbbott,  to  Iroquois 
count}-,  the  family  home  being  established  in 
Middleport  townshi]),  where  the  daughter's  mar- 
riage was  celebrated.  I'mlh  her  father  and 
mother  were  natives  of  the  lluckeye  state,  and 
the  father  followed  farming  llierc  and  subse(iiienl 
to  his  removal  to  lni(|Uiiis  county.  I'nto  nur 
subject  and  his  wife  have  been  l)nrn  ihree  sons 
and  three  daughters:  lu-nest,  a  young  man  <if 
twenty  years,  who  is  assisting  his  father  in  the 
operation  of  the  home  f;irm  :  Winnie  1'-..  who  is 
a  young  lady  of  eighteen  years  and  is  with  her 
parents:  Ray,  I.ena,  Edna  and  I-ial])!!,  aged  re- 
spectively thirteen,  nine,  three  and  two  years. 

Mr.  Webster  is  a  republican,  stanch  in  support 
of  the  party,  and  he  has  served  for  three  years 
as  road  commissioner,  while  for  the  ])ast  fifteen 
years  he  has  been   school   director,  being  deepl>' 


interested  in  the  cause  of  education.  He  is  al- 
ways interested  in  the  development  and  progress 
of  his  Jocality  along  the  line  of  agricultural  ad- 
vancement and  supports  every  movement  that 
tends  toward  that  end.  He  is  well  known  in 
the  county  as  an  energetic  and  progressive  farm- 
er and  his  circle  of  friends  is  an  extensive  one. 


WILLIAM  HARNEY  RUSH. 

William  Harvey  Rush  has  for  thirty  years  been 
engaged  in  breeding  and  dealing  in  line  cattle 
and  hogs,  in  which  connection  he  has  become 
known  as  one  of  the  leading  stockmen  of  Iro- 
quois county.  His  home  is  on  section  6.  Milford 
townshi]).  and  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  acres  pays  tribute  to  the  care  and  labor  which 
he  bestows  upon  it.  Born  upon  this  farm  .\u- 
gust  12.  1851,  he  is  a  son  of  Samuel  Rush.  Jr., 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  grandson  of 
Samuel  Rush,  Sr.,  who  was  born  in  Mrginia, 
whence  he  removed  to  the  Keystone  state,  where 
he  resided  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1830  he 
went  with  his  family  to  Ohio  and  later  came  to 
lllintiis,  casting  in  his  lot  with  the  pioneer  resi- 
dents here.  He  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land 
from  the  government  and  began  the  develop- 
ment of  a  farm,  for  not  a  furrow  had  been  turned 
nor  an  improvement  made  upon  the  place  when 
it  came  into  his  possession.  It  was  therefore  on 
this  farm  amid  jMoneer  surroundings  that  he 
reared  his  family. 

Sanniel  Rush.  Jr..  enjoyed  only  such  common- 
school  advantages  as  were  affored  at  a  very 
early  day  but  his  training  at  farm  labor  was 
not  meager,  as  he  assisted  in  the  development  and 
care  of  the  fields  upon  the  old  homestead  through 
the  period  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  did 
not  choose  lo  make  a  change  in  his  occupation 
when  manhood  came  but  always  followed  farm-« 
ing  and  stock-raising.  After  his  marriage  he 
began  lo  buv  land  as  opportunity  offered  and 
his  financial  resources  permitted  and  thus  he 
added  to  his  property  from  time  to  time  until 
he  accumulated  eighteen  hundred  acres,  becom- 
ing one  of  the  most  extensive  landowners  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  He  was  married  in  this  coun- 
t\'  to  Miss  Annie  West,  a  native  of  Indiana,  who 


lK(»yL()|S  (OlMV,  ILLINOIS. 


461 


(licil  SKint.'  years  later,  leavinjj  tlinc  diililiiii.  I  ..r 
his  siCdiul  wife  lie  chuse  Nancy  Martin,  a  na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  a  ilaiifjliter  of  l-'|iliraini 
.Martin,  who  l)ecaine  one  of  the  early  settlers  nf 
Ir»x|nois  county.  There  were  eij^flu  children  by 
this  niarria.ije.  .\  most  useful,  active,  lioiioralik- 
and  successful  life  was  that  lived  by  Samuel 
Rush.  Jr.,  and  he  lij^ured  for  many  years  as  one 
of  the  most  intUiential  and  leading;  ajjriculturists 
of  this  part  of  the  stale,  lie  died  in  1875.  while 
his  wife,  lonij  surviving  him,  passed  away  in 
June,  Kjo.T. 

William  Harvey  Rush  of  this  review  was 
reared  on  the  old  homestead  farm  and  ac<|nired 
a  fjood  education  in  the  ])ul)lic  schools,  lie  has 
always  remaineil  on  the  farm  and  mi  tile  "th 
of  November.  iSjo,  he  was  married  ti>  .Miss 
llattie  (iarner.  ;i  native  of  Indiana,  and  a  dan.nh- 
ter  of  William  S.  and  Mary  (iarner,  pioneeer 
residents  here.  Kollowinjj  his  niarriajje  he  he- 
pan  the  operation  of  one  hundred  and  ten  acres 
of  land.  u])on  which  he  still  resides,  and  in  its 
midst  he  erected  a  two-story  dwelliuij.  in  the  rear 
of  which  stands  a  pood  barn  and  other  omlmild- 
inps  that  are  monuments  to  his  thrift  an<I  labor. 
Me  has  transformed  this  into  a  very  valuable 
place  and  has  laid  over  one  thousand  rcxls  of 
tile,  beinp  amonp  the  first  to  bepin  the  i)rocess 
of  draininp  the  land  in  tliis  maiuier.  l-'verv  ))(><- 
sible  elTurt  has  been  put  forth  for  the  further 
development  and  improvement  of  the  farm  alonp 
lines  that  would  enhance  its  ])rodnctiveness  and 
value.  He  now  has  two  pood  artesian  wells 
upon  the  place,  topether  with  the  latest  improved 
machinery  for  the  cultivation  of  the  fields  and 
the  care  of  the  crops.  Moreover,  he  has  f'^r 
over  thirty  years  been  a  breeder  and  dealer  of 
hiph  prade  cattle  and  hops,  makinp  this  an  im- 
ixirtant    branch    of    his    business. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rush  are  the  jiarents  of  a  dauph- 
ter  and  son.  The  former.  .May.  is  the  wife  of 
I'erry  Saylor,  a  farmer  of  Jackson  county,  In- 
diana, and  they  have  three  children.  Wilbur 
is  still  attenilinp  school  and  also  aids  in  the  oj)- 
cration  of  the  home  farm.  The  parents  arc 
worthy  Christian  people,  actuated  in  their  lives 
by  hiph  principles  in  harmony  with  tlieir  pro- 
fessions as  members  of  the  MctluMlist  Episcopal 
church.  In  politics  Mr.  Rush  is  stronp  in  his 
republicanisin  thouph  not  bitterly  partisan.     He 


has  served  on  the  school  board  for  twelve  years 
but  is  without  desire  for  jjublic  office,  as  he  pre- 
fers to  concentrate  his  time  and  enerpies  upon 
his  business  interests  wherein  he  has  made  a 
poodly  measure  of  success,  and  where  he  finds 
opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  perseverance  and 
dilipence — his  dominant  (pialities. 


11.  \V.  Ill  iLLINCSWORTH. 

11.  \\  .  Ilollinpsworth,  one  of  the  larpe  land- 
owners of  ( )narpa  township,  his  possessions  ap- 
prepatinp  more  than  four  lunidred  acres,  lives  on 
section  1.  and  his  farm  is  a  well  improved  and 
valuable  i)roperty.  The  house  which  he  now  oc- 
cu|iies  was  his  birthplace  and  his  natal  day  was 
.\upust  z.  18^)4.  His  father.  William  Ilollinps- 
worth, a  native  of  Ohio,  was  twice  marrieil.  his 
second  union  beinp  with  Sarah  Weeks,  whom 
he  wedded  in  l8<)4.  Ilefore  removinp  to  Illinois 
he  came  to  Irocpiois  county  and  secured  between 
cipht  and  nine  hundred  acres  of  land.  .\t  lenplh 
takinp  uj)  his  abode  upon  this  tract  he  bepan 
farminp  and  further  improved  his  property, 
spendinp  his  remaininp  flays  upon  the  old  home- 
stead, which  he  develo])e(l.  He  jjassed  away  in 
iSi)4  and  his  widow,  who  still  survives  him,  now 
resides  with  her  son.  11.  W  .  Ilollinpsworth,  on 
the  home  farm.  In  their  family  were  three  chil- 
dren, of  whom  Jose|)h  Ilollinpsworth  is  a  resi- 
dent of  Chicapo.  while  the  dauphter  .Mice  is  the 
wife  of  Dr.  Mosher,  of  Havana,  Illinois. 

The  yonupest  is  H.  W.  Ilollinpsworth  of  this 
review,  who  was  reared  to  manhood  u|)on  the 
home  farm  and  ])ursned  a  common-school  edu- 
cation. I  le  assisted  in  the  work  of  tillinp  the  soil 
and  carinp  for  the  cro|)s  imtil  his  father's  death, 
after  which  he  succeeeded  to  the  ownership  of 
the  jiropert)-.  .Since  that  time  he  has  built  some 
p<Mid  outbuildinps  and  has  tiled  and  fenced  the 
lanil.  which  is  now  a  well  improved  propertv,  ex- 
emplifyinp  in  its  fine  appearance  the  spirit  of 
proprcss  that  has  been  so  manifest  in  apriciil- 
tural  circles  durinp  the  last  three  or  four  decades. 
In  Connection  with  the  work  of  raisinp  the  ce- 
reals best  adapted  to  soil  and  climatic  conditions 
he  also  raises  hiph  prade  stock,  incliidinp  horses. 


462 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


cattle  and  hogs,  feeding  hogs  on  (|uite  an  exten- 
sive scale. 

.Mr,  iioUingsworth  was  married  in  Onarga. 
J'ebrnary  2-],  1889.  to  Miss  Katie  Doyle,  who 
was  born  in  McLean  county  and  was  reared 
there  and  in  Iroquois  couiuy.  They  have  three 
children:  \'ictor  Earl.  Eula  .Ma\-  and  Cecil 
Grace. 

Politicall}  Mr.  Hollingsworth  was  formerly  a 
democrat  but  is  now  a  republican,  having  cast 
his  last  presidential  ballot  for  Theodore  Roose- 
velt. He  is  a  believer  in  good  schools  and  teach- 
ers and  he  served  on  the  school  board  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  reared  in 
the  Catholic  faith.  Fraternally  he  is  connected 
with  the  Knights  of  Pvthias  lodge  at  Onarga.  in 
which  he  has  tilled  all  of  the  chairs  and  is  now 
chancellor  commander.  He  likewise  affiliates 
with  the  ^lodern  Woodmen  of  (  )narga  and  with 
the  Fraternal  Insurance  Society.  W'idelv  recog- 
nized as  a  man  of  good  business  ability  and  tried 
integrity  and  worth,  he  has  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  the  community  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  its  substantial  and  public-.spirited  citizens.  His 
entire  life  has  been  passed  in  the  count}'  and  he 
feels  a  commendable  local  pride  in  its  advance- 
ment, while  his  efforts  have  been  an  element  in 
its  develoi)ment  and  growth  along  various  lines. 


JOHN  ALLISON. 


In  various  avenues  of  usefulness  John  Allison 
directed  his  labors,  and  from  pioneer  times  in  the 
history  of  Iroquois  county  until  his  death  re- 
mained an  honored  and  representative  citizen  of 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  arrived  in  the 
county  in  1854.  being  at  that  time  a  young  man 
of  twenty-nine  years.  His  birth  occurred  in 
P.eaver  count)-.  Pennsylvania,  in  1825,  and  his 
parents,  Air.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  Alli.son,  were 
also  natives  of  the  Key.stone  state,  spending  their 
entire  lives  in  Beaver  county,  where  both  passed 
away.  The  father  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
also  engaged  in  farming  there  in  his  later  years. 

The  public  schools  of  his  native  county  af- 
forded to  John  .Allison  tlic  educational  iirivilcges 
which  equipped  him  to  meet  the  d.iily  duties  of 
life,   and   when   he   put   aside   his   text-books   be 


began  to  learn  the  carpenter's  trade  under  the 
direction  of  his  father,  but  he  was  always  a  lover 
of  machinery  and  his  tastes  naturally  directed  his 
efforts  into  that  line,  so  that  he  obtained  a  posi- 
tion on  a  ferry-boat  on  the  Ohio  river  at  Wells- 
ville.  I'enn.sylvania.  For  a  few  years  he  devoted 
his  energies  to  that  business,  after  which  he 
removed  to  Oxford.  Indiana,  where  he  lived  for 
a  short  time.  He  then  came  with  an  uncle  to  Iro- 
quois county,  arriving  in  1854.  and  soon  he  be- 
came a  factor  in  industrial  and  business  life  in 
this  section  of  the  state.  He  purchased  a  sawmill 
near  the  town  of  Milford,  and  for  eleven  years 
continued  its  operation,  being  thus  closely  associ- 
ated with  manufacture  of  lumber  here.  How- 
ever, he  sold  out  and  removed  to  \\'atseka.  where 
for  several  vears  he  followed  the  carpenter's 
trade,  after  which  he  began  the  drilling  of  arte- 
sian wells.  In  this  work  he  continued  for  a 
number  of  vears  or  until  his  health  became  im- 
paired in  1883.  He  suffered  a  stroke  of  paraly- 
sis, and  for  fifteen  years  he  was  in  an  invalid  con- 
dition. 

In  1851;  Mr.  .Mlison  had  been  married  in  this 
countv  to  Miss  Alary  Axtel.  who  was  born  here 
in  1837,  her  parents  being  John  and  Mary  ( \'en- 
num )  Axtel.  Her  mother  was  well  known  all 
over  the  southern  part  of  the  county  as  Aunt 
Pollv.  and  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Colonel 
Thomas  \'ennum.  an  honored  pioneer  resident  of 
this  part  of  the  state.  Mr.  Axtel  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  he  and 
the  \'ennum  family  came  to  Iroquois  comUy  in 
1834.  Settling  ujjon  a  farm  three  miles  north  of 
the  town  of  Milford,  he  was  one  of  the  first  resi- 
dents in  that  locality  and  aided  in  reclaiming  a 
wild  and  unimproved  region  for  the  purposes  of 
civilization.  He  purchased  three  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  brush  land,  which  he  cleared  and 
cultivated,  making  substantial  improvements 
thereon.  He  split  the  rails  for  a  fence,  some  of 
which  is  still  standing,  having  been  in  use  more 
than  seventy  years.  He  continued  to  engage  in 
genenil  farming  there  throughout  his  remaining 
da\s  and  led  an  active  life  until  his  labors  were 
ended  in  death,  in  i860.  His  wife  had  jiassed 
away  in  1852.  In  their  family  were  two  chil- 
dren :  Mary,  now  Mrs.  .Mlison;  and  Thomas,  who 
resides  in  Woodland,  this  county,  lie  is  a  retired 
farmer  and  carpenter  .and  at  the  time  of  the  Civil 


JOHN  ALLISON. 


V 


II<()Ol-()IS  CUUXTV.  H.I.IXOIS. 


4'>5 


war  was  a  defender  of  the  I'nicni  laiise.  Four 
children  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allis<jn  : 
JeiHiie  died  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years.  Stella 
married  tlrant  Xifjhswronper.  of  tliis  ci>unl\.  and 
is  living  in  .\lva.  \\'o<m1s  county,  (  >klali(inia, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  the  implement  business. 
They  have  six  children,  Louise,  Mary,  l-"lorence, 
\ene,  ( )rba  and  Paul.  Charles  S.  married  Lydia 
Cline  and  the}  reside  with  his  mother,  lie  is 
a  plumber  and  steamtitter  by  trade,  but  is  now 
in  the  em])loy  of  the  Chicago  &  Mastern  Illinois 
Railroad  Company,  and  travels  most  of  the  time. 
Lizzie  \".  is  the  wife  of  ( )rma  Leroy  Clark,  a 
machinist,  residing  in  I'ittston,  I'emisylvania. 
They  have  two  children,  Lawrence  .\.  and  Dor- 
othy Helen. 

.\fter  retiring  from  business  Mr.  AUisnu  was 
made  tax  collector  for  the  county  and  filled  the 
office  for  three  years,  assisted  by  his  daughter 
Stella,  but  his  health  gradually  grew  worse  and 
he  ])assed  away  February  7,  1898.  He  gave  un- 
faltering support  to  the  democracy  and  took  a 
deep  interest  in  political  questi4ins.  .S(x"ially  he 
was  a  charter  member  of  the  (Jdd  Fellows  lodge 
at  Milford,  which  he  joined  upon  its  organiza- 
tion in  1H59,  while  his  wife  became  identified  with 
the  Rebekah  degree  there.  He  always  attended 
the  Cnitefl  I'reshyterian  church,  but  Mrs.  .\llison 
and  her  family  arc  now  members  of  the  Mellu)- 
ilist  I-'piscopal  church  at  W'atseka.  He  was  well 
known  as  a  pioneer  of  the  county  and  as  a  most 
industrious  an<l  useful  man,  whose  probity  was 
an  un(|uestioned  element  in  his  career.  His  en- 
ergy was  often  at  the  service  of  his  comiuunity 
and  he  had  the  love  and  res])ect  of  all  among 
whom  he  lived.  In  daily  life  and  action  he  was 
genial  and  alTable.  In  the  highest  and  best  sense 
of  the  ti.nn  he  was  ever  ami  essentially  a  gentle- 
nian,  of  which  fact  his  friends  bear  witness. 


MOORF  F.ROTHFRS. 

The  firm  of  Moore  Brothers  is  classed  with 
the  most  ])rominent  representatives  of  agricul- 
tural interests  and  business  life  in  Douglas  town- 
ship an<l  IrfK|uois  county,  and  in  the  control  of 
their  interests  they  display  much  of  that  spirit 
of  enterprise  and  jirogress  which  have  been  the 


dmiimiiiu  linliir  m  ilic  i.ipid  and  ^llbstanlMl  up- 
buihling  of  the  middle  west. 

Parker  Whitman  Moore,  the  elder  brother, 
was  born  in  Warren  cuuiUy,  Indiana,  February 
5.  i85(>,  and  Sino  l-Vauklin  Moore  was  liorn 
.\])ril  14.  18O0.  Their  parents  were  David  and 
FlizalK'th  Moure,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  iS'/i. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  (  )hio  and  the  mother 
of  Kentucky.  .\lr.  .Minire  was  a  farmer  by  oc- 
cupation and  followed  that  i»ursuil  for  some  time 
.'liter  coming  to  this  state,  but  on  accouiU  nf  ill 
health  he  had  to  abandon  the  active  work  of  the 
fields  and  the  business  was  taken  u|)  by  his  sons. 
I'arker  W.  and  .Sino  I"'.  Moore,  who  ])ractically 
])rovided  for  the  faiuily  from  that  time  on.  The 
father  retained  his  residence  here  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  when  he  was  sixty-seven  years 
of  age,  and  the  mother  afterward  became  a  resi- 
dent of  (iilman,  where  she  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four  years.  The  daughters  of  the  house- 
hold were  as  follows:  Sarah  I'lllen.  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  .Samuel  Higginson  and  died  at 
tile  age  of  twenty-five  years:  Rachel  .\nna.  who 
married  John  Robertson,  of  Inrliana,  and  died 
May  4,  iip2 :  Mary  Jane,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Henry  Whittaker,  of  Iuu|)oria,  Kansas,  and 
died  in  1874:  Nancy  Lavina,  who  married  Ed- 
ward Smith,  of  Indiana,  and  after  his  death  be- 
came the  wife  of  William  1'.  Whittaker.  who  has 
also  passed  away,  while  she  lives  in  I'armer  City, 
Illinois:  and  Hannah  l'"tta.  who  resides  with 
her  brothers. 

The  only  sons  of  the  family  are  the  brothers 
who  constitute  the  firm.  The  elder,  l^arker  W., 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  an 
early  age  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  In  con- 
nection with  Sino  I-".  M(M>re  he  reiitetl  land  for  a 
number  of  years  and  as  time  has  |)assed  they 
have  prosiH'red  in  their  undertakings.  .Xs  their 
labor  and  diligence  brought  to  them  sufficient 
ca|)ital  they  made  investments  in  land,  adding  to 
their  property  from  time  to  time  until  bv  hard 
work  and  good  management  they  are  now  the 
owners  of  a  valuable  place  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Douglas  township,  which 
they  purchased  in  1895  at  sixty-seven  dollars 
per  acre.  It  is  now  worth  much  more  and  is 
well  improved.  In  fact  it  is  one  of  the  valuable 
pro[)erties  of  the  township,  equipped  with  all 
modem  accessories  and  conveniences   for  carrv- 


466 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


ing  on  farm  work  along  most  progressive  lines. 
The  fields  yield  rich  harvests  and  they  also  raise 
a  high  grade  of  horses,  mostly  of  the  Percheron 
breed.  For  years  thev  have  raised  registered 
stock  and  nntil  recently  have  owned  stallions. 
JJoth  are  excellent  judges  of  horses  and  there- 
fore make  judicious  purchases  and  profitable 
sales. 

Sino  Franklin  ^loore.  like  his  brother,  ob- 
tained a  common-school  education  and  in  early 
manhood  started  out  in  life  for  himself.  Their 
business  interests  have  never  been  separated  but 
on  the  contrary  have  been  carried  forw^ard  witli 
mutual  pleasure  and  profit.  Working  together 
in  utmost  harmony,  the  labors  of  one  supple- 
ment and  round  out  the  labors  of  the  other  and 
the  firm  of  Moore  Brothers  is  one  of  the  strong 
business  combination  of  this  localit\-.  In  con- 
nection with  their  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising  interests  they  have  for  some  years  op- 
erated a  threshing  machine  and  corn  sheller  very 
successfully.  In  matters  oi  business  they  display 
keen  discernment  as  well  as  marked  enterprise 
and  are  seldom  at  error  in  business  judgment. 
Both  of  the  brothers  have  served  as  school  ili- 
rectors  in  their  district  and  Sino  F.  Moore  is 
now  filling  that  position.  Community  interests 
awaken  their  attention  and  elicit  their  support 
when  the  plan  or  measure  seems  to  promise  pub- 
lic benefit.  For  four  decades  the  family  have 
been  residents  of  the  county  and  investigation 
into  the  history  of  the  firm  shows  that  they  have 
always  employed  only  such  methods  as  w'ould 
bear  the  closest  scrutinv. 


F.  D.  PATMOR. 


Dr.  !•".  I).  I'atmor,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
veterinary  surgery,  with  a  large  business  cover- 
ing a  wide  territory,  makes  his  home  in  Shel- 
don. He  was  born  at  Sharonville,  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  May  22,  1858,  and  is  a  son  of 
.\lfred  Patmor,  who  was  likewise  born  in  the 
Buckeye  state.  The  father  was  a  mechanic  in 
his  early  days,  and  in  October,  1865,  removed 
to  Kentland.  Indiana,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois 
in  1872.  settling  in  the  town  of  Iroquois.  There 
he  lived  until  March,  1876,  when  he  removed  to 


Sheldon,  where  his  subsequent  days  were  passed. 
He  served  as  justice  of  the  jieace  for  fourteen 
years  and  was  also  notary  public  for  the  same 
length  of  time.  His  decisions  were  ever  fair  and 
impartial,  being  based  uiMn  the  law  and  the 
e(iuit\-  of  the  case  and  thus  he  won  the  commenda- 
tion of  all  law-abiding  citizens.  He  served  in 
the  army  during  the  period  of  the  Civil  war 
for  nearly  five  years,  doing  duty  with  Companies 
.\  and  B  of  the  Seventy-fifth  Regiment  of  ( )hio 
X'olunteer  Infantry  under  Colonel  McLean.  He 
participated  in  twenty-six  battles  and  on  one 
occasion  was  wounded,  having  a  finger  shot  off. 
EI  is  valor  and  loyalty  were  above  question  and  at 
all  times  he  was  most  faithful  to  his  country. 
Socially  he  was  connected  with  the  Independent 
( )rder  of  Odd  Fellows  and  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  at  Sheldon.  He  has  passed 
away.  In  his  family  were  six  children,  all  of 
whom  survive,  namely :  F.  D. :  Charles  E.,  a 
resident  of  Fairbury,  Illinois;  Mrs.  Cora  Shaw, 
of  Sheldon:  Mrs.  Emma  Clawson.  of  Sheldon; 
Mrs.  Xettie  Bilden,  of  Kankakee.  lUimiis;  and 
J.  I!.,  of  Chicago. 

Dr.  Patmor  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  Kentland,  Indiana,  and  continued  his 
studies  in  Iroquois,  Illinois.  Entering  business 
life,  he  was  made  inspector  for  the  Peoria,  To- 
ledo &  Warsaw  Railroad,  at  Sheldon,  for  ei.ght- 
een  years,  and  then  took  up  the  work  of  veterinary 
surgery  under  the  direction  of  L.  D.  Bi'own,  of 
Watseka,  with  whom  he  was  connected  for  five 
years.  He  began  independent  practice  in  1891 
and  has  since  been  a  representative  of  this  ])ro- 
fession.  He  has  had  some  of  the  most  important 
cases  in  the  county  and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  proficient  veterinary  surgeons  in  this  part 
of  the  state. 

On  the  15th  of  .Vpril,  1880,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Dr.  Patmor  and  Miss  Edith  Chin- 
borg.  of  Chicago,  who  was  bom  February  22. 
1858.  and  was  reared  in  Kentland,  Indiana.  The 
Doctor  and  his  wife  now  have  five  children,  fom^ 
daughters  and  one  son.  Harry,  who  w^as  grad- 
uated from  the  Sheldon  high  school,  is  now  car 
inspector  for  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Rail- 
road, at  Oilman,  Illinois,  Eva,  also  a  graduate 
of  the  Sheldon  high  school,  afterward  pursued 
a  steno.graphic  course  in  the  Kankakee  Business 
College,  and  was  employed  in  that  capacity  at 


IROQUOIS  COUXTV.  1LI.I.\(»1S. 


467 


Kankakee.  Slic  i.s  now  ihc  wile  nt  l-'icil  Clarke, 
of  that  city,  by  whom  she  lias  a  son  and  clau},di- 
liT.  l*"lorciice  is  llic  wife  of  William  Koss,  a 
farmer,  residin;;  near  Shclilon.  Bessie  U..  who 
likewise  completed  the  hijjh-school  course  in 
Sheldon,  is  now  enj^aged  in  teachinsj;  at  l)an- 
forlh.  Illinois.  She  is  a  cornet  i)layer  of  con- 
si<lerablc  ability,  here  services  in  this  connection 
iK-ini,'  in  demand  at  various  gatherings  in  many 
l)aris  of  the  state.  Lida.  the  youngest  of  the 
t'amily,  is  at  home. 

Politically  Dr.  I'atmor  is  a  rei)ublican  atul  has 
served  on  the  city  council  at  Sheldon  for  two 
terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Odd  b^ellows 
lodge  and  the  .Moclern  Woodmen  camp,  and  is 
cajitain  of  the  .'^oiis  of  \  eterans.  In  ctMimumity 
afl'airs  he  is  deepl_\  interested  and  his  labors  have 
been  an  element  in  the  general  ])rogress  in  the 
citv  which  he  has  so  long  made  his  home. 


loii.v  iii-:lli:r. 


b>hn  Heller,  who  for  almost  a  half  century 
has  made  his  home  in  Irotpiois  county,  while  his 
residence  in  the  state  dates  from  i85i>.  is  living 
on  section  35.  Chebanse  townshiii.  where  he  owns 
and  o])eratcs  a  well  imjjroved  fann  of  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres.  His  landed  possessions 
are  valuable  as  well  as  extensive,  owing  to  the 
excellent  improvements  which  he  has  made  upon 
the  property,  the  well  tilled  fields  bringing  forth 
rich  cro])s  annually,  and  in  bis  farm  work  he  is 
methodical,  systematic  and  enterprising. 

Mr.  Heller  is  a  native  of  Darmstadt.  ( lermany. 
where  he  was  born  February  8.  1842.  His 
father.  Conrad  Heller,  was  there  born  and 
reared,  and.  having  arrived  at  years  of  ma- 
turity, he  wcdiled  Apolona  Lucas,  likewise 
a  native  of  that  locality.  In  his  native 
coinitry  he  followed  farming  until  1852.  when 
with  bis  family  of  four  sons  and  daughters. 
he  sailed  from  Rotterdam,  and  after  a  voyage 
of  fifty-two  days  on  the  broad  Atlantic 
reached  the  harbor  of  Xcw  York.  He  did  not 
tarry  in  the  east,  however,  but  made  his  way  at 
once  t(j  Chicago.  It  that  locality  he  engaged  in 
gardening,  living  there  for  seven  years,  after 
which    be   came   to    Ir(H|uois   county   and    renteil 


land.  He  thus  followed  farming  for  a  few  years, 
when  he  invested  his  savings  in  eighty  acres, 
constituting  a  part  of  the  home  farm.  He  built 
a  good  residence  there  and  spent  his  remaining 
(lavs  upon  the  farm,  passing  away  in  i88()^  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  wife  had  departed 
this  life  in  1875.  when  sixty-eight  years  of  age. 

b)hn  Heller,  whose  name  introduces  this  rec- 
ord, was  reared  to  farm  life,  lie  had  only  com- 
mon-school advantages  but  his  training  in  the 
work  of  the  fields  was  not  meager  and  he  early 
became  familiar  with  the  best  methcKls  of  tilling 
the  soil  and  caring  for  the  crops.  I'ollowing  his 
father's  death  he  purchased  the  interest  of  the 
otlur  heir-  in  the  home  property  and  at  two 
other  times  has  purchased  eighty-acre  tracts  of 
land.  His  |)ossessions  now  aggregate  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres,  embracing  the  old  home- 
stead on  section  35.  Chebanse  township.  Here 
he  has  built  a  good  residence,  together  with  sub- 
stantial barns,  corn  cribs  and  other  structures  for 
the  .shelter  of  grain  and  stock.  He  was  among 
the  first  to  tile  the  land,  and  the  entire  farm  was 
thus  well  drained.  He  has  two  good  artesian 
wells  upon  the  place,  and  he  raises  high  grade 
stock,  also  feeding  hogs  for  the  market. 

(  >n  the  2d  of  January.  1872.  occurretl  the  mar- 
riage of  John  Heller  and  Miss  Carrie  I'alter,  a 
native  of  C()lunibus.  (  )hio.  and  a  daughter  of 
Louis  Falter.  She  was  born  October  20.  1852. 
and  remained  in  Columbus  until  thirteen  years 
of  age.  Her  father.  Louis  I'alter.  was  born  in 
Ciermany  and  on  removing  from  Ohio  to  Illinois, 
settled  in  Joliet.  .\fterward  he  went  to  I'ord 
county  and  subsequently  came  to  Iroquois  coun- 
tv  in  1868.  For  several  years  he  lived  ui)on  a 
farm  in  Chebanse  township  but  his  last  days 
were  spent  in  the  village  of  Chebanse.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Heller  have  become  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren: Minnie  and  Xettie.  who  are  at  home; 
Jacob,  who  assists  in  carrying  on  the  homestead 
farm :  Charles,  who  is  living  on  a  farm  adjoining 
bis  father's,  and  who  married  Carrie  Chajiman, 
b\  whom  he  has  one  child.  Jester;  and  .Mice,  who 
is  attending  school  in  Clifton. 

The  parents  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Clifton.  Mr.  Heller  is  a  stalwart  re- 
public.ui.  intlexible  in  his  advocacy  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party.  He  has  been  school  director 
for  a   number  of   \ears   but   has   never  been   an 


468 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


office  seeker.  He  is  today  numbered  among  the 
valued  pioneer  residents  of  the  county,  for  he  has 
lived  within  its  borders  for  forty-seven  years  and 
has  witnessed  its  transformation  from  a  com- 
paratively wild  and  unimproved  district  into  one 
of  the  richest  agricultural  centers  of  this  great 
state.  ^loreover,  his  has  been  a  life  of  activity 
and  energy,  and  as  the  years  have  passed  by  he 
has  made  steady  and  substantial  advancement 
until  he  has  long  since  left  the  ranks  of  the  many 
and  is  todav  numbered  among  the  successful  few. 


JOHN  L.  WTXTERROTII. 

John  L.  \\'interroth,  living  on  section  30,  Che- 
banse  township,  is  one  of  the  enterprising  and 
progressive  farmers,  who  gives  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  the  cultivation  of  three  hundred  an.l 
twelve  acres  of  valuable  land.  He  was  born  in 
Salina  township.  Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 5.  1S60.  and  is  a  son  of  J.  W.  Winterroth, 
a  native  of  Germany,  who  came  to  America  in 
1840.  He  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade  and  fol- 
lowed that  jnu-suit  in  Chicago  for  a  few  years 
but  gave  much  of  his  life  to  general  farmini''. 
He  was  married  in  Chicago  to  Miss  ^lary  M. 
Ludwig,  a  native  of  Germany,  and  subsequentls 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  .Salina  town- 
ship, Kankakee  county,  where  he  develcjpetl  and 
improved  a  farm,  making  it  his  hcjme  until  he 
was  called  to  his  final  rest  in  1880.  when  fifty- 
one  years  of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  had  pros- 
pered in  his  undertakings  and  had  added  to  his 
property  until  he  owned  two  hundred  acres  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  llis  widow  is  still  living 
in   Kankakee   at  the  age  of   sixty-nine  years. 

John  L.  Winterroth  was  the  second  in  order 
of  birth  in  the  family  of  eleven  children.  He 
was  reared  under  the  parental  roof  and  had  but 
common-school  advantages.  When  nut  busy 
with  his  text-books  his  time  was  given  tn  the 
work  of  the  farm  and  he  remained  at  licmii.'  nnti! 
after  his  father's  death,  working  f(ir  liis  imillKr 
for  four  years.  He  then  rented  the  farm  and 
engaged  in  general  agricultural  ])ursuits  nn  bis 
own  account  until  1895.  when  he  renidved  to  Iro- 
quois county  and  with  the  capital  that  he  had 
saved  from  his  earnings  purchased  the  farm  upon 


which  he  now  resides.  He  has  adikd  to  and  im- 
proved the  house  and  has  put  up  two  good  barns, 
one  forty-four  by  sixty-four  feet  and  the  other 
thirty-six  by  eighty-six  feet  with  nine  foot  base- 
ment. He  also  has  a  crib  with  elevator,  the  di- 
mensions being  forty  by  twenty-eight.  All  of 
the  buildings  are  of  substantial  structure  and  the 
farm  is  well  tiled  and  drained.  Mr.  Winterroth 
feeds  stock  and  raises  good  grades  of  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  is  living  a  life  of  un- 
remitting activity  and  enterprise.  He  has  put  in 
a  sawmill  on  his  place  and  cuts  all  kinds  of  native 
lumber.  He  likewise  has  a  planing  machine  and 
sells  considerable  lumber.  He  bought  poor  land 
but  has  brought  it  up  to  a  high  valuation  by 
reason  of  the  care  and  labor  he  has  bestowed 
upon  the  fields  and  the  improvements  he  has 
made  thereon. 

Mr.  Winterroth  was  married  in  Kankakee 
county  to  Miss  .Sophia  Schwark,  a  native  of 
Germany,  the  wedding  being  celebrated  March 
18,  1886.  They  are  now  the  parents  of  ten 
children,  nine  sons  and  a  daughter:  John  Jacob, 
Louis  P..  Albert  A.,  Gustave  A.,  (ieorge  H., 
Walter  \Mlliam,  Lambert  F.,  Hannah  Sophia. 
William  Julius  and  Claranca  \\'..  all  of  whom 
are  at  home. 

In  politics  'Sir.  Winterroth  is  a  stalwart  re- 
publican where  national  (juestions  are  involved 
but  casts  an  independent  local  ballot.  He  belongs 
to  the  Modern  Woodmen  camp  at  Chebanse  and 
is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  He  is  like- 
wise a  stockholder  in  the  new  State  I5ank  of 
Chebanse  and  is  a  citizen  whose  varied  activities 
make  him  a  leading  resident  of  the  comniunitx' 


JOHN  B.  ANDERSON. 

Jdhn  I'..  Anderson  is  one  oi  the  active,  pushing 
and  up-to-date  farmers  of  Stockland  township. 
His  farming  interests  comprise  twc^  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  excellent  land  on  section  31. 
which  he  has  brought  uniler  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  which  returns  to  bini  bounteous  har- 
vests. His  birth  occurred  in  the  south  part  i>f 
Sweden  on  the  7th  of  May.  i8()j,  and  he  is  a 
son  of  Elias  Anderson,  a  farmer,  who  was  also 
born  in  Sweden  and  who  was  married  there  to 


Mk.    AM)   MRS.    I.    I..   W  l.\  ll'.Kkt  >lll. 


Ui^lVERSnt  U^  iLLlMOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINDIS. 


Miss  Jennie  lienson.  Tliey  were  tlie  |):irems  of 
seven  children,  of  whom  John  is  the  eltlest.  Ik- 
was  reared  u])'in  tlie  lumie  farm  and  attendeil  tlie 
common  scliools.  remainiiijj  with  liis  father  in 
the  work  of  tilhnji  the  soil  and  ciiltivaiin.i,'  the 
crops   mitil    twenty-five   years   of  aye. 

Attracted  by  the  hroader  Inisiness  opportuni- 
ties of  the  new  world,  John  I!.  Anderson  hade 
adieu  to  friends  and  native  land  in  1887  and 
sailed  for  the  L'nited  States.  I  le  made  his  way 
direct  to  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  locatinj;  first 
at  W'ellinfjton.  where  he  worked  by  the  month 
for  three  years.  lie  then  rented  two  hundred 
and  forty  acres  of  land  and  bejran  farmins;  on 
his  own  account,  liviufj  ui)on  that  place  for  nine 
years.  He  afterward  rented  five  hundred  acres 
of  land  in  Milford  township  and  continued  its 
further  cultivation  and  development  for  four 
years,  when  with  the  capital  he  had  saved  from 
his  earninjjs  he  made  investment  in  one  hundri-d 
acres  of  land  on  .section  31.  Stockland  township, 
where  he  now  resides.  Subsec|uently  he  Ixiuj^ht 
forty  acres  more  and  afterward  eiijhty  acres,  so 
that  he  now  owns  altogether  two  hundred  aiul 
twenty  acres  of  jjood  im])rovcd  farminsj  land. 
In  i(/33  he  built  a  substantial  two-story  frame 
residence,  which  represents  an  attractive  st\le 
of  modern  architecture  and  he  has  since  init  uj) 
a  fjood  barn  and  outhuildinijs.  The  farm  is  well 
drained  and  fenced  and  the  fieltls  respond  in  rich 
harvests  to  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon 
them.  Mr.  Anderson  also  raises  g'ood  tirades 
of  stock  and  both  branches  of  his  business  are 
yieldiufj  him  a  f^ratifying  financial  return. 

<  )n  the  2d  of  .^ei)teml)er.  iS<>i.  Mr.  Anderson 
was  marrie<l  to  Miss  Jennie  Peterson,  a  native  of 
!^weden,  who  was  making  her  home  with  a 
brother  here.  Five  children  have  been  Ixirn  of 
this  union:  Herman.  Esther.  Kllen.  Arihnr  and 
.^eigel. 

When  he  became  a  naturalized  American  cit- 
izen Mr.  .\nderson  allied  his  interests  with  the 
republican  ])arty  and  has  since  been  one  of  its 
stanch  advocates  at  state  anti  national  elections 
but  at  local  elections  does  not  consider  himself 
liouufl  by  party  ties  and  considers  only  the  capa- 
bility of  the  canditlate.  He  hr^s  never  sought 
or  cared  for  office  But  has  given  his  time  and  at- 
tention to  his  fanning  and  business.  He  has. 
however,  been  a  school  <lirector  for  three  vears. 


both  of  the  district  and  of  the  lownshii>  hiyh 
schiKil,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  consistent  and 
faithful  members  of  the  Lutheran  church  and 
|>eo])le  of  the  highest  res|)ectability.  He  felt  that 
the  reiKirts  which  he  heard  concerning  o])i)ortu- 
nities  in  .\merica  were  not  exaggerated  and  as 
the  years  have  advanced  he  has  also  made  prog- 
ress, reaching  a  jjlace  on  the  highway  of  life 
where  limited  financial  resources  have  long  since 
given  way  to  attiuence.  for  he  is  now  in  pos- 
session of  a  comfortable   competence. 


WILLIAM    A.   lit  >LZ. 


(  In  a  farm  on  section  7.  .\rtesia  township,  re- 
sides William  .\.  Holz  and  in  the  care  an<l  im- 
provement of  his  farm  he  works  with  a  will  and 
his  resolute  purpose  and  unfaltering  diligence 
have  gained  for  him  a  ])lace  among  the  substan- 
tial farmers  of  the  community.  He  was  born 
about  a  mile  west  of  his  present  home  <}n  the 
i<>th  of  March.  1865.  His  father.  Matthew 
Holz.  was  a  native  of  Wurtemberg.  I  iermany. 
having  been  Ixirn  in  Steimheim  on  the  1  ith  of 
June.  1828.  his  parents  being  (leorge  and  Mary 
Holz.  in  whose  family  were  four  children. 
.Matthew  Holz  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
his  native  country,  which  he  attended  until  four- 
teen years  of  age.  He  then  began  learning  the 
weaver's  trade  and  when  a  youth  of  fifteen  he  left 
home  to  earn  his  own  livelihood,  for  when  but  a 
lad  of  eight  years  he  had  hist  his  father.  He  was 
first  emi)loye<l  in  a  dye  factory  and  his  time  was 
thus  ])assed  vmtil  he  came  to  America  in  1854. 
The  voyage  across  the  ocean  was  made  in  a  sail- 
ing vessel  and  much  severe  weather  was  en- 
countered, but  after  sixty-four  days  spent  upon 
the  the  deej)  he  landed  safely  at  Xew  York.  He 
did  Hot  tarry  in  the  eastern  metropolis,  however, 
but  went  at  once  to  llerks  coimty.  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  began  work  b\  the  day.  following  any 
occujiation  that  would  yielil  him  an  honest  living. 
His  capital  was  extremely  limite<l  when  he 
reached  .America  an<l  thus  inuuediate  employment 
was  a  necessity.  In  i85<)  he  left  Pemisylvania 
and  became  a  resident  of  Warren  county.  In- 
diana, where  he  was  em])loyed  bv  the  month  for 
a  short  time  and  afterward  rented  land.  r.  -lilinu 


472 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


thereon  until  tlie  spring  of  18^)4,  when  he  came  to 
Ilhnois. 

In  the  meantime  Matthew  Holz  was  married 
in  1859  to  Caroline  Knuar,  wlio  was  born  in 
^\'urtemberg,  Germany,  in  February,  1830.  On 
removing  to  Iroqitois  county  Mr.  Holz  rented 
land  for  several  years  and  then  invested  his 
savings  in  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
prairie  land,  which  up  to  that  time  was  still 
unculti\-ated.  He  at  once  began  its  development, 
however,  and  in  the  course  of  time  brought  the 
fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Fie  paid 
twelve  and  a  half  dollars  per  acre  for  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres  and  he  afterward  bough  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-four  acres  of  timber  land  ad- 
joining. .Still  later  he  added  forty  acres  and 
subsequently  one  hundred  and  five  acres  and  thus 
from  time  to  time  he  enlarged  his  holdings  until 
he  ow-ned  over  five  hundred  acres.  He  made 
good  improvement  upon  his  property  and  reared 
his  family  on  the  farm. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Alatlhew  Holz  were  born 
five  sons  and  a  daughter:  John,  Lewis,  Jack- 
son. \Mlliam,  Charlie  and  Emma.  The  daugh- 
ter is  now  the  wife  of  Robert  McClave.  The 
father  died  January  11,  1893,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
five  years,  while  the  mother  still  survives  and 
lives  with  her  son  Jackson  on  the  old  home  farm. 

William  A.  Holz  was  reared  under  the  parental 
roof  and  assisted  in  carrying  on  the  farm  work 
when  not  busy  with  his  te.xt-books.  In  fact  he 
ha<l  little  opportunity  to  attend  school,  for  he 
worked  about  ten  months  in  the  year,  aiding  in 
plowing,  planting  and  harvesting  and  in  all  of 
the  tasks  which  constitute  the  life  nf  an  agri- 
culturist. The  training  which  he  received  at  that 
time  proved,  however,  an  excellent  basis  upon 
which  to  build  his  success  in  later  life,  for  when 
he  took  up  farm  work  on  his  own  account  he 
brought  to  the  business  parctical  experience  and 
sound  judgment. 

C)n  the  27th  of  SeiJtember,  1893,  ^^^-  Holz  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Deitz,  a  native  of 
Irn(|iii]is  Cdunty  and  a  daughter  of  C.  C.  Deitz, 
who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  came  to  this 
county  at  an  early  day.  The  young  couple  be- 
gan their  domestic  life  upon  the  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  where  .Mr.  Holz  still  resides. 
He  lias  since  erected  a  good  two-stor\-  residence 
with  basement  un<kr?ieath,  heated  bv  ftn-nace  and 


piped  with  water.  There  is  also  a  good  barn 
and  corn  crib  with  elevator  and  other  outbuild- 
ings upon  the  place.  Fences  have  been  put  up 
and  the  fields  well  tiled.  I'orty  acres  of  the  land 
was  still  unbroken  when  it  came  into  his  pos- 
session but  his  labors  have  wrought  a  wonderful 
transformation  in  the  place.  He  now  has  a  good 
orchard  and  much  small  fruit  and  he  also  raises 
good  gradeil  stock  and  feeds  hogs  for  the  market. 
When  a  young  man  he  herded  cattle  on  the 
prairies  over  the  county  and  he  has  since  wit- 
nessed much  of  the  growth  and  development  of 
the  locality.  Long  since  all  of  the  ground  has 
been  taken  up  and  converted  into  good  farms, 
which  are  the  homes  of  a  contented  and  pros- 
perous people.  So  rich  and  productive  is  the 
land  that  no  other  district  of  the  country  sur- 
passes this  in  wealth  of  the  cereals  here  raised 
and  ]\Ir.  Holz  is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  good 
farm  properties  which  yield  rich  crops  in  re- 
turn for  the  care  and  labor  bestowed  upon  it 
b\-  the  owner. 

Unto  Air.  and  Airs.  Holz  have  been  born 
four  children,  three  sons  and  a  daughter :  Lloyd, 
Hazel,  Glenn  and  Harold.  The  parents  attend 
the  Presbyterian  church  of  Onarga.  Politically 
Air.  Holz  is  a  democrat  and  in  local  affairs  is  in- 
dependent. He  has  served  as  road  and  drainage 
ditch  commissioner  for  his  township  for  two 
years  and  his  incumbency  will  contiilue  for  an- 
other year.  .\s  one  of  the  native  sons  iif  the 
count\'  he  is  well  known  within  its  borders  and 
the  fact  that  many  of  his  stanchest  friends  are 
those  with  whcim  he  has  been  acquianted  from  his 
boyhood  to  the  present  is  an  intlication  that  his 
strong  characteristics  are  such  as  awaken  con- 
fidence and  trust. 


T.  FR.VXK  TYLER. 


J.  Frank  I'xler,  li\ing  on  section  13,  t  he- 
banse  townslii]i.  has  attained  a  prominence  as  a 
])oultry-raiser  that  has  made  him  known  not 
only  through  Tro(|uois  county  and  Illinois  but 
in  various  ])arts  of  the  Cnion  and  in  Canad;i  as 
well.  He  was  born  in  Columbia  county.  Xew 
A'ork,  Xovember  19,  1857,  a  son  of  John  J.  Ty- 
ler,  who  was  likewise  a  native  of  that  countv. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILI.IXdIS. 


473 


The  paternal  graiulfatlii:r.  Ji>lin  Tyler,  Sr.,  was 
for  some  years  a  resident  i)f  L'oliintbia  county, 
and,  having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  there, 
John  J.  Tyler,  father  of  our  subject,  was  married 
to  Miss  Jeanette  Ackley,  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts and  a  daughter  of  Daniel  Ackley.  .\fter 
resiiling  for  forty-tive  years  in  the  Empire  state 
John  Tyler,  Jr..  brought  his  family  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Iroquois  county.  He  i>urchased  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in  Chebanse 
township,  built  a  home  and  began  tn  im|)rove 
a  farm,  carrying  on  general  agricultural  imrsuits 
here  for  several  years.  He  died  in  iS<;3.  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years,  and  is  yet  survived  by  his 
widow,  who  is  now  living  in  California  with  a 
daughter,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

J.  I'" rank  Tyler  is  one  of  six  children,  all  nf 
whtim  reached  adult  age.  and  he  is  the  fourth  in 
order  of  birth.  lie  was  reared  to  farm  life  and 
was  afforded  good  school  jirivileges.  He  alwa\s 
remained  at  home,  coming  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois,  anfl  in  later  years  he  purchased  eighty 
acres  of  the  estate. 

On  the  2d  of  .\pril.  1S71).  Mr.  Tyler  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Lenora  ( )verhue.  a  native  of  Han- 
over, (iermany.  and  a  daughter  of  Charles  ( Iver- 
hue.  who  in  1865  be  came  a  resident  of  Kankakee 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  spent  his  remaining 
days,  ])assing  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven 
years,  while  his  wife  died  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  Follnwing  his  marriage  Mr.  Tyler  added 
to  the  dwelling  u])on  the  farm  and  dtherwise  im- 
proved the  buildings  there.  He  has  erected  a 
g(M)d  barn  and  has  carried  forward  the  work  nf 
developing  and  cultivating  his  farm,  this  claim- 
ing his  attention  for  several  years.  In  1880. 
hijwever.  he  began  raising  fancy  ])oultry  and  for 
twenty-one  years  has  made  a  specialty  of  barred 
Plymouth  Rock  chickens.  The  business  in- 
creased so  ra])idly  that  he  has  eliminated  all  other 
business  interests  and  concentrated  his  energies 
upon  his  poultry-raising,  having  from  fifteen 
hundred  to  twij  thousand  birds  each  year,  mostly 
of  very  high  grade.  He  is  today  recognized  as 
one  of  the  foremost  poultry  men  in  Illinois  and 
has  made  exhibits  throughout  the  state,  where 
he  has  won  many  premiums.  He  ships  fine 
birds  all  over  the  country,  his  trade  extending 
to  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  to  Canada. 
He  has  received  as  high  as  three  dollars   for  a 


Setting  of  eggs  and  twenty-live  dollars  for  a 
single  bird  for  breeding  jjurposes.  He  has  sold 
as  many  as  eighty  thousand  eggs  in  a  single 
season  for  hatching  puri>oses.  He  annually 
packs  from  one  hundred  and  fifty  to  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  cases  of  eggs,  there  being  thirty 
dozen  to  the  case,  so  that  his  average  sales  yearly 
are  fifty  thousand.  His  business  has  thus  grown 
continually  imtil  it  has  assumed  very  extensive 
jiroportions  and  has  long  since  become  a  most 
profitable   industry. 

In  politics  Mr.  Tyler  was  for  many  years  a 
su]i])iirter  of  democracy  but  in  later  years  has 
voted  with  the  ])ri>hibition  jiarly  at  national  elec- 
tions and  independently  at  local  elections.  He 
is  without  aspiration  for  office  yet  is  not  remiss 
in  the  duties  of  citizenship.  I'raternally  he  is 
ccjunected  with  Chebanse  lodge  Xo.  994.  .M.  W. 
A.,  and  with  the  Court  of  Honor,  Xo.  25.  at 
Springfield,  liolh  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Congregational  church  at  Chebanse  and 
are  highlv  esteemed  residents  of  this  part  of  the 
comity.  Mr.  'Tyler  is  recognized  as  a  man  of 
excellent  business  ability  and  executive  force  and 
is  regarded  as  authority  upon  the  subject  of  poul- 
try-raising, his  |)ractical  ideas  being  denujnstrated 
in  his  successful  manageiuent  of  a  business  that 
has  long  since  reached  extensive  proportions. 


A.  f.  \siii.i-:v 


A.  J.  .\shley.  a  self-made  man.  dependent  upon 
his  own  resources  and  exertions  for  a  livelihood 
from  his  youth  to  the  ])resent  time,  lives  on  sec- 
tion 4.  Onarga  townslii().  on  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-three  acres  and  in  connection  with 
his  own  jilace  he  also  operates  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  which  he  rents.  He  is  a  native  son 
of  Kentucky.  l)orn  in  Johnson  county,  in  Octo- 
ber. 18^)1.  and  since  1892  he  has  resided  in  Inv 
(|nois  county  His  father.  James  .\shley,  was  also 
a  native  of  Johnson  comity  and  was  there  reared. 
In  early  manhood  he  was  married  there  to  Susan 
Server,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  By  occupa- 
tion he  was  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  and  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  he  put  aside  business  and 
])ersonal  considerations  and  offered  his  services 
to   the    federal    government.     He    also   had    two 


474 


PAST  AXD  PRESEN'T  OF 


brothers  who  were  soldiers  of  the  Union  arni\'. 
while  three  others  served  in  ilu-  Confederate  arni\ . 
Thus  were  families  often  divided  when  they 
lived  upon  the  border.  James  Ashley  served 
throughout  the  war  and  after  the  cessation  of 
hostilities  located  in  Edgar  county.  Illinois,  where 
he  si)ent  his  last  years,  having  for  some  time 
survived  his  wife.  C  *f  their  family  of  five  sons 
and  four  daughters  all  reached  adult  age.  name- 
ly :  John,  who  is  a  resident  farmer  of  Edgar 
county :  Henry  and  Willard.  who  are  also  farm- 
ers of  that  county:  Jriardy.  now  of  Indiana:  A. 
J.,  of  this  review :  Mrs.  Maggie  W'ynn.  a  widow 
living  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri ;  Mary,  a  resident 
of  Indianapolis :  Susan :  and  Ella,  who  resides 
in  Paris,  Illinois. 

A.  J.  Ashley  spent  his  childhood  and  youth  in 
the  state  of  his  nativity  and  the  educational  priv- 
ileges which  qualified  him  for  the  practical  duties 
of  life  were  those  afforded  by  the  common 
schools.  Hardships  and  trials  early  came  to 
him  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he  started  out 
in  life  on  his  own  account  at  a  tender  age.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  i8q2  and  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  for  a  time.  In  Onarga.  in 
1 894,  he  wedded  Kate  (jray,  who  was  born. 
reared,  and  educated  in  that  city  and  success- 
fully followed  teaching  prior  to  her  marriage. 
The  young  couple  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
rented  land  and  thus  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
his  labors  had  brought  him  sufficient  capital  to 
enable  him  to  purchase  eighty-three  acres.  This 
he  farmed  and  improved  and  built  thereon  a 
good  residence  and  substantial  outbuildings. 
The  land  was  low  and  wet  and  in  order  to  do 
away  with  this  condition,  which  was  detrimental 
to  crops,  he  placed  many  rods  of  tiling  upon  the 
farm  and  also  built  fences  to  divide  his  acreage 
into  fields  of  a  size  convenient  for  cuUivalion. 
He  afterward  added  eighty  acres  more  and  fenced 
and  farmed  that  and  also  cultivated  rented  land 
until  he  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  in- 
dustrious and  ])ros]jerous  farmers  of  the  county. 
He  came  to  this  state  only  thirteen  vears  ago 
empty-handed,  and  in  the  intervening  period  he 
has  accumulated  a  verv  comfortable  comiietence 
and  through  the  assistance  of  his  estimable  wife 
has  gained  a  place  among  the  subst.mtial  resi- 
dents of  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has  one 
daughter,  Oma  .Mav. 


In  his  political  views  .Mr.  .Vshley  is  a  demo- 
crat where  national  issues  are  involved  but  at 
local  elections  casts  an  independent  ballot  re- 
gardless of  party  ties.  He  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  school  board,  as  overseer  of  roads  and 
in  other  local  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he  has 
discharged  with  promptness  and  fidelity.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Onarga  and 
also  affiliates  with  the  Woodmen  of  the  World 
and  the  Fraternal  Insurance  .\ssociation,  while 
his  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
churcli.  Mr.  Ashley  has  displayed  strong  force 
of  character  in  his  business  life,  allowing  no 
obstacle  to  brook  his  path  if  it  could  be  overcome 
bv  determination  and  honorable  effort.  .\n  ap- 
l^reciation  of  the  value  of  industry  and  perse- 
verance in  early  life  led  him  to  closely  apply 
himself  to  any  duty  that  came  to  his  hand  and 
as  the  vears  have  advanced  he  has  made  steady 
progress  on   the  highroad  to  prosperity. 


DA\TD  WHITE. 


.\  large  proportion  of  Sheldon's  populatiiin  is 
made  up  of  retired  farmers,  who  in  the  active 
and  careful  management  of  farming  interests 
have  accumulated  a  competency  and  are  now 
numbered  among  the  substantial  residents  of  th'S 
part  of  the  stale.  That  Mr.  White  has  pros- 
pered is  indicateil  by  the  ownershi])  of  a  beauti- 
ful home  in  .Sheldon,  where  he  enjoys  the  com- 
forts of  life  without  further  recourse  to  arduous 
labor.  He  was  in  former  years,  however,  a 
most  diligent  and  energetic  man  and  thus  won 
his   prosperity. 

He  was  born  in  Ayrshire.  Scotland.  January 
21.  1841,  atid  is  a  son  of  Thomas  White.  He 
remained  in  the  land  of  hills  and  heather  until 
he  reached  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  but  dur- 
ing that  ])eriod  enjoyed  ver\-  limited  advantages. 
His  education  was  meager,  but  his  ambition  was 
strong  and  it  was  this  which  heljied  him  to  seek 
a  home  in  the  Inited  ."^tiites.  I'liddinu'  adieu  to 
friends  and  native  land,  he  sailed  for  .\merica 
in  1858.  settling  first  in  Cuyahoga  county.  Ohio, 
where  he  lived  for  three  vears,  working  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand.  He  then  became  a  resi- 
dent of   Whitlev   count\-,    Indiana,  and   was  em- 


y. 


■f. 


0?  tHE 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


477 


pluvfd  ill  tlu-  luinlxr  wckhIs  diKppinn;  timlxr  fnr 
a  vi-ar.  He  next  wciit  li>  Warnii  coiiiUy,  Indi- 
ana, wlicrc  he  engaged  in  fanning  for  a  year. 

It  was  dnring  his  residence  there  that  Mr. 
White  was  married,  and  in  iH(M>  he  renntvcd  tc 
Ir«K|iiois  county,  wliere  he  invested  his  earnings 
in  fortv  acres  of  land  in  Slieldon  township.  .\t 
once  he  hegan  farming  liere.  This  land  he  still 
owns,  but  It  by  no  means  represents  his  entire 
acreage.  He  worked  diligently  and  without 
assistance  to  gain  a  good  start  and  as  his  finan- 
cial resources  increased  he  made  judicious  invest- 
ment in  property  until  he  now  owns  three  hun- 
dretl  and  eighty-six  acres  of  gootl  land  that  has 
liecn  rendered  very  productive  by  reason  of  th;; 
tilling  of  the  soil  and  also  owing  to  the  drainage 
that  has  been  done  through  the  judicious  use  of 
tile.  The  buildings  upon  the  place  stand  as  mon- 
uments to  his  thrift  and  entcrjirise.  having  been 
put  there  by  him.  and  the  fences  are  kept  in  a 
good  state  of  repair.  In  fact  the  farm  gives 
every  evidence  of  careful  supervision.  Mr. 
White  engaged  in  the  raising  of  grain,  cattle  and 
hogs  while  on  the  farm  and  was  very  successful 
in  his  business  undertakings.  .\t  length  he  re- 
tired to  Sheldon  in  the  fall  of  1901  and  Ixiuglit 
the  fine  residence  which  he  now  occupies. 

(  )n  the  3d  of  January.  1X^)4,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  White  aiid  Miss  .\manda 
I  lemmilright.  who  was  Ixirn  in  ( )hio.  This 
union  has  been  blessed  with  eleven  children : 
William  T..  who  resides  near  ( >klahoma  City, 
Oklahoma:  John  D..  who  ojierates  a  farm  be- 
longing to  our  subject;  Nettie  J.,  the  wife  of  Lli 
Conway,  who  resides  on  the  old  homestead  proj)- 
erty  of  her  father:  .\gnes,  the  wife  of  Hugh 
.Vairn.  a  resident  of  Iowa;  .\rtliur.  who  wedded 
(jrace  Hull  and  resides  in  .Sheldon;  Emma  L.. 
deceased;  Mary  .\ima.  the  wife  of  William  Wol- 
verton.  of  Sheldon;  i'aul  .\..  living  in  Okla- 
homa; May.  the  wife  of  I->nest  McCoy,  who 
resides  in  Sheldon  ;  Jesse  and  ICthel.  both  of 
whom  are  imder  the  jiarcntal  roof. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  and  their  family  Ixlong 
to  the  Methodist  L])iscopal  church  and  are  ])rom- 
inent  socially,  the  members  of  the  household 
occupying  an  enviable  position  in  society  circles 
in  which  they  move.  Mr.  White's  study  of  the 
political  conditions  of  the  country  has  led  him 
to  give  loyal   support  to  the  demcxTacy,   yet  he 


has  never  sought  or  desired  fiftice  as  a  rewanl 
for  ]»arty  fealty.  >erving  only  as  >chiK»l  direct<jr. 
When  he  came  to  this  county  .SJieUhjn  was  a 
very  small  town.  He  has  assisted  in  the  upbuild- 
ing of  the  county  and  has  watched  with  great 
interest  its  develo|)nient  and  progress.  He  stands 
for  advancement  and  reform  and  has  ever  lx"en 
an  advocate  of  justice,  truth  and  right  in  all  his 
relations   with   his   fellowmen. 


SA.MCKL  M.  .\l  AJ(  »K. 

Samuel  M.  Major,  a  veteran  in  the  Civil  war, 
has  for  the  past  twelve  years  resided  in  (  )narga 
but  prior  to  that  time  was  for  a  long  period  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  Artesia  and  ( )narga  town- 
ship, when  this  county  was  emerging  from  ])io- 
neer  conditions  and  taking  on  the  evidences  of 
modern  civilization  and  im|)rovement.  He  took 
up  his  abode  here  in  1S33  to  become  an  active 
factor  in  business  life  and  general  advancement, 
especially  along  agricultural  lines.  He  was  born 
in  Tip|x'canoe  county.  Indiana.  .\])ril  25.  1830. 
His  fattier,  James  H.  Major,  was  born  in  Dear- 
born county.  Indiana,  in  1802.  and  his  father, 
William  Major,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
When  but  a  boy  he  joined  the  army  for  service 
in  the  war  of  1S12  and  he  became  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Indiana,  aiding  in  its  reclamatitjn 
from  a  swamp  and  wilderness  and  its  conversion 
into  a  rich  agricultural  state.  James  H.  Major 
was  reared  in  Indiana  and  was  married  there 
to  -Miss  .Mary  Hartpence,  a  native  of  that  state. 
Locating  u|)on  a  farm  in  Tippecanoe  oumty.  he 
reared  his  family  there  and  sul)se(|uentlv  he  joined 
his  son  in  Iro<iuois  county.  Illinois,  spending 
his  last  years  here.  He  ])assed  away  in  1S82.  at 
the  age  of  eighty  years,  while  his  wife  dieil 
about  1874. 

Samuel  M.  Major  was  one  of  a  family  of  ten 
children,  two  sons  and  eight  daughters,  who 
reached  yeans  of  maturity,  and  is  now  the  only 
survivor.  The  days  of  his  boyhood  were  passed 
in  Tii)pecanoe  comity.  Indiana,  where  he  enjoyed 
but  common-school  advantages.  He  is  largely 
self-educated  and.  possessing  an  observing  eve 
and  retentive  memory  as  well  as  ready  adaptabil- 
itv,  he  has  learned  inanv  valuable  lessons  in  the 


478 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


school  of  experience,  while  reading  and  investi- 
gation have  also  largely  broadened  his  knowl- 
edge. He  came  west  to  Illinois  in  1853,  when 
a  young  man,  having  purchased  land  in  Iroquois 
county  in  the  previous  spring.  He  was  married 
in  the  spring  of  1853  to  2*liss  .\niy  l-".  Lee,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Indiana.  In  the  fall 
after  their  marriage  they  journeyed  westward  to 
( )narga  and  soon  began  their  domestic  life  upon 
a  farm  uf  one  hundred  and  seventy-two  acres. 
Their  home  was  a  log  cabin,  in  which  they  liveil 
for  about  four  }ears,  when  ^Mr.  Major  built  a 
more  modern  residence.  In  1855  he  lost  his  first 
wife,  wild  died  leaving  a  daughter.  In  October, 
1875,  in  this  county,  he  was  again  married,  his 
second  union  being  with  Catherine  Stephens,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Licking  count}-,  (  )hio, 
and  was  a  daughter  of  John  Stephens.  The 
family  removed  to  Illinois  in  1865,  locating  near 
Buckley,  and  Mrs.  Major  was  therefore  largely 
reared   and  educated   in   Iroquois   county. 

Mr.  r^Iajor  continued  the  work  of  the  farm 
and  transformed  wild  land  into  productive  fields. 
He  has  built  an  addition  to  his  house  and  further 
remodeled  it  and  now  has  a  substantial  resi- 
dence, in  the  rear  of  which  stand  good  barns, 
cribs  and  granaries.  .\n  orchard  adds  to  the 
value  and  attractive  appearance  oi  the  place  and 
modern  processes  of  tiling  have  been  used  to 
drain  the  land,  thus  promoting  its  fertility. 
Fences  also  divide  the  farm  into  jjastures  and 
fields  of  convenient  size  until  today  .Mr.  .Majnr 
is  the  owner  of  one  of  the  valuable  farm  prop- 
erties of  this  pari  (if  the  county.  He  adcled  to 
his  land  from  lime  to  time  until  he  became  the 
owner  of  more  than,  five  hundred  acres  but.  wish- 
ing to  put  aside  the  more  arduous  cares  of  busi- 
ness life,  he  has  since  disposed  of  much  of  this, 
although  he  still  retains  nm-  hnmlrccl  ;ind  seventy- 
two  acres. 

rile  only  interruption  to  his  farm  labur  up  tn 
the  time  of  his  retirement  came  because  of  his 
service  in  the  Civil  war.  (  )n  the  lotli  of  Sej)- 
tember,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  defense  of  the  L'nion 
as  a  member  of  Company  .M,  Xintli  Illinois  Cav- 
alry, lie  joined  the  army  as  a  private  but  was 
]iri)miited  on  the  field  to  the  rank  of  .second  lieu- 
tenant and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In 
the  s])ring  of  1864  he  veteranized  and  returned 
h(ime    (in    a    thirty   days'    furlough,      lie    wa.s    in 


numerous  engagements,  including  the  battles  of 
Salem.  Tupelo,  Guntown,  Hurricane  Creek,  ^lar- 
shall,  hVanklin  and  Nashville.  He  lost  no  time 
from  duty  on  account  of  illness  or  other  cause 
and  escaped  all  wounds,  serving  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  and  re- 
turned home,  receiving  an  honorable  discharge  at 
Springfield  in  July,  1865.  He  made  a  creditable 
record,  never  faltering  in  his  allegiance  to  the 
old  fiag  or  hesitating  in  the  performance  of  any 
duty  assigned  him. 

When  the  war  was  over  Mr.  Major  returned 
to  the  farm  and  again  took  up  the  active  work 
of  the  fields.  Stock-raising  and  feeding  became 
an  im]jortant  feature  of  his  business  and  was 
continued  in  connection  with  the  work  of  the 
fields  until  he  gave  up  active  farm  life  in  i8()3 
and  removed  to  C)narga,  where  he  has  since  lived 
retired. 

.Mr.  .Major  had  a  daughter.  Flora  -\.,  who 
reached  mature  years  and  became  the  wife  of 
George  P.  Stephens,  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere 
in  this  work.  They  located  in  r)uckley,  where 
Air.  Stephens  engaged  in  merchandising,  and 
later  they  took  up  their  abode  upon  the  Major 
farm,  where  .Mr.  Stephens  is  still  living.  His 
wife  died,  however.  .-\j)ril  8,  1895,  leaving  five 
children:  Raymond  L.,  who  is  now  in  North 
Dakota,  where  his  father  purchased  land ;  Frank 
.M.,  who  holds  a  responsible  business  position 
in  Chicago ;  John  B.,  who  is  with  his  father ; 
Marry  W. :  and  Hazel  (i.  The  last  named  has 
had  a  home  with  her  grandparents  since  infancy, 
owing  t(i  her  mother's  death. 

Politically  Mr.  Major  has  been  a  lifelong  re- 
]niblican  and  cast  his  first  ballot  for  John  C. 
■•"reniont.  Xo  presidential  nominee  of  the  party 
since  that  time  has  failed  to  receive  his  endorse- 
ment at  the  polls  and  he  has  firm  faith  in  tlie 
ultimate  triumph  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
While  on  the  farm  he  served  as  director  and 
school  trustee  and  as  a  member  of  the  school 
board,  and  he  has  also  been  highway  commis- 
sioner. He  acted  as  township  trustee  for  nine 
or  ten  years  and  has  been  a  delegate  to  numerons 
county  conventions.  He  and  his  wife  are  meiiil)ers 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Onarga, 
in  which  he  has  served  as  trustee,  and  at  one 
lime  was  very  active  in  Sunday-school  work. 
He  became  a  member  of  the  Odd   Fellows   so- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


A7'> 


cii'tv  b_v  juiiiiii};  tlic  loUj^c  ;il  (  )i)arj;;i  in  1X57. 
He  scrvcil  throiigli  all  llic  chairs  and  is  now  a 
past  firand,  and  1k>iIi  lie  and  his  wilV  arc  identi- 
fied with  the  Relxkaii  lodjje.  lie  likewise  lie- 
lonj;s  to  the  lirand  Army  post  at  ( )nar},'a.  of 
which  he  is  a  past  cuinniander.  (  )ne  cpf  the  few 
reniainiii}.;  veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  he  deli.yhts 
in  uiectinj.;  with  his  old  army  comrades  at  camp- 
fires  and  in  recallinij  the  inci<lents  of  the  tented 
fields  when  he  valiainly  battled  for  the  Union 
canse  and  followed  the  old  ria.ij  thronjjh  the 
south.  He  has  lived  an  honorable  and  useful 
life  and  is  esteemed  as  a  pioner  settler,  as  a 
reliable  business  man  and  a  progressive  citizen. 
While  he  has  never  souy;ht  to  fijjure  prominently 
in  public  life,  his  example  and  influence  have 
ever  Ix-en  for  the  best  and  ntij^dil  well  be  followed 
b\  those  who  have  true  re,t;ard  for  ch.iracler 
and  fieiuiine  pergonal  worth. 


s.\Mui-:i.  w ASiiiuRxi;. 

."^amnei  W'asiiburne.  whose  official  service  has 
l>een  of  direct  and  i)ermauenl  benefit  and  whose 
varied  business  interests  have  likewise  been  an 
elcTnent  in  the  proijress  and  jirosperity  of  the 
county  in  which  he  has  long  made  his  home,  is 
now  livinir  i"  Milford.  He  has.  however,  active- 
ly enjja^ied  in  farmin-j;  in  Ash  ( irove  township 
for  a  lonj;  period  and  is  still  the  owner  of  three 
Innidred  and  twentx  acres  of  well  improved  land 
there.  To  every  duty  that  has  come  to  him. 
whether  in  business  or  public  life,  he  has  brought 
a  spirit  of  willinjrness  and  fidelity,  so  that  his 
record  has  at  all  times  been  characterized  by  hitrh 
and  honorable  principles  and  faithful  execution 
of  the  tasks  that  have  devolved  upon  him. 

I'.cirn  on  a  farm  in  <  )swego  county.  New  York, 
on  the  <jth  of  .\ufrust.  183S.  .Mr.  Washburne 
conies  of  an  old  family  of  the  F.m])ire  state,  and 
is  more  remotely  of  ICnfjlish  ancestry.  His 
Rreat-Rrandfather  with  two  brothers  left  Kng- 
land,  their  native  land,  and  .sought  a  home  in 
.\merican  colonies.  They  located  in  the  state 
of  New  \ork  and  were  therefore  flefendcrs  of 
.\nierican  interests  duriu);  the  strujifjlc  for  inde- 
IK-ndence.  .Sanniel  Washburne.  ijrand father  of 
our  subject,  was  Ijorn  and  reared  in  Westchester 
28 


county ,  New  Vork.  where  he  followed  farming 
throughout  his  entire  life.  His  son,  Willett 
Washburne.  was  also  a  native  of  W  estchester 
county,  his  natal  year  being  i~',>8.  He  became 
a  farmer,  lumberman  and  contractor,  and  after 
traveling  through  the  wilderness  with  ox  teams 
to  what  was  then  the  frontier,  settled  in  Oswego 
County,  New  York,  where  he  spent  his  subse- 
quent years,  his  death  occurring  in  1887,  when  he 
had  reached  the  rii)e  old  age  of  eighty-nine.  His 
wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  llashford, 
and  was  born  in  Westchester  county,  .New  York, 
but  died  in  ( )swego  comity.  Unto  this  marriage 
were  born  seven  sons  and  five  ilaughters,  of 
whom  two  sons  and  one  daughter  are  yet  liv- 
ing. <  )ne  brother,  |.  M.,  is  now  a  retired  farmer 
of  Rock  I'alls.  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  while 
the  youngest  brother,  W'.  I,.  Washburne.  now  de- 
ceased, was  the  originator  of  the  emblematic  sign 
business.  At  the  time  President  Lincoln  was 
murdered  he  was  making  clicks  as  signs  for 
jewelers  in  New  York  city,  and  placed  the  liantls 
of  the.se  to  mark  the  hour  of  Lincoln's  assassina- 
tion. Nearly  all  such  signs  have  since  been  made 
in  the  same  way. 

(  >n  the  home  farm  in  his  native  coimty  .Samuel 
W  aslibm-ne  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
\outh.  I  )n  attaining  his  niajorit't' he  started  i)ut 
uiMin  an  independent  business  career  and  when 
a  young  man  of  twenty-six  years  became  a  resi- 
dent of  Kendall  county.  Illinois,  where  for  four 
years  he  operated  a  rented  farm.  He  then  came 
in  1868  to  Inxpiois  county,  and  made  a  pur- 
chase of  land  on  section  14.  .\sh  (irove  town- 
shiji.  where  he  resided  contiiniously  until  his  re- 
moval to  .Milford.  In  connection  with  the  active 
Work  of  tilling  the  soil — and  his  labors  resulted 
in  the  harvesting  of  good  crojjs — he  engaged  in 
raising  st(K'k  from  1872.  and  for  many  years 
made  a  s])ecialty  of  the  breeding  of  Clydesdale 
horses  and  shorthorn  cattle.  1  le  became  well 
known  in  this  connection  as  one  of  the  leading 
stockmen  of  the  Cf)unty.  He  raise<l.  fed  and  fat- 
tiue<l  stock  for  the  market  and  was  also  engaged 
in  the  dairy  and  chec.se  business  and  the  manu- 
facture of  butter.  In  fact  he  found  a  ready  sale 
for  all  his  dairy  products  and  this  branch  of  his 
business  proved  very  remunerative.  .\s  oppor- 
tunity offered  he  entended  his  realty  holdings  in 
this  localilv  until  his  farm  embraced  three  bun- 


48o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


drcd  and  twenty  acres  of  rich  and  productive 
land,  and  in  connection  therewith  he  also  operated 
another  quarter  section.  He  has,  moreover,  ex- 
tended his  activities  to  many  other  fields  of  busi- 
ness, for  he  is  a  man  of  resourceful  abilitv.  He 
is  a  dealer  in  real  estate  and  has  owned  land  in 
Indiana  and  other  states.  Through  trade  he  be- 
came possessed  of  a  stock  of  hardware  and  wood- 
enware  in  Washburne,  Woodford  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  for  two  years  engaged  in  the  conduct 
of  the  business  there.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  he  traded  the  store  for  a  farm  in  Fulton 
county,  Indiana,  which  he  still  owns.  In  1894 
he  bought  a  piece  of  ground  and  a  residence  in 
Milford,  and  has  since  made  his  home  in  the  city. 
When  he  took  up  his  abode  in  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship the  land  upon  which  he  settled  was  entirely 
destitute  of  improvements  hut  he  resolutely  un- 
dertook the  work  of  preparing  it  for  the  plow 
and  in  the  course  of  time  placed  the  entire  amount 
under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  erected 
thereon  substantial  farm  buildings.  Though  he 
started  out  empty-handed  he  steadily  worked  his 
way  upward  and  his  own  labor  and  good  busi- 
ness management  have  enabled  him  to  accumu- 
late a  very  desirable  fortune. 

(  )n  the  30th  of  December,  i860,  in  Oswego 
county,  Xew  York,  Air.  \\'ashhurne  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  A.  Lee,  who  was  born 
December  5,  1839.  They  became  the  parents  of 
the  following  named :  Flora,  who  is  the  widow 
of  Frank  Flutro,  of  Milford,  was  born  in  Xew 
York  and  has  five  children :  Lewis  and  Frank 
S.  Flutro,  who  are  married  ;  Robert  L.,  Mildred 
E.  and  .-Xdell,  who  are  at  home.  Jesse  Lee 
Washburne,  born  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  is 
now  living  in  Milfonl.  Mary  M.  is  the  wife  of 
Thomas  X.  Sinderson,  a  resident  farmer  of  Mil- 
ford township  and  they  have  three  children.  Iva 
W.,  Samuel  L.  and  Leland.  Charlotte  E.  is  the 
wife  of  T.  X^  Willougliby,  of  Kewanna,  Indiana, 
and  they  have  four  children.  Forest  S..  Wilbur, 
June  W.  and  Gale  X.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  \\'ashhurne 
have  also  lost  three  children. 

The  political  allegiance  of  Samuel  Washburne 
has  been  stanchly  given  to  the  re[)nblican  partv 
since  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  president  in  sup- 
port of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  i860.  He  has  long 
been  recognized  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  local 
ranks  of  the  party  and  has  done  effective  service 


in  its  behalf  and  for  the  general  welfare.  He 
has  often  attended  its  conventions  and  his  opin- 
ions have  frequently  been  a  decisive  element  in 
its  councils.  He  has  never  been  utterly  partisan, 
however,  and  is  interested  in  that  progress  which 
both  parties  are  making  toward  good  govern- 
ment and  which  is  the  most  hopeful  political  sign 
of  the  period.  While  on  the  farm  he  served  for 
eighteen  years  a  shighwav  commissioner  and  was 
the  first  incumbent  in  that  office  to  use  a  grader 
and  a  twelve  horse  power  machine  on  the  roads. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  first  to  lay  tile  for  drain- 
age along  the  roads  and  has  thus  contributed  in 
substantial  measure  to  the  making  of  good  high- 
ways. He  has  likewise  served  as  township  school 
trustee  for  years  and  has  been  a  member  of  the 
school  board  for  tvv'o  decades,  in  every  possi- 
tion  to  which  he  has  been  called  he  has  made  a 
faithful  and  efficient  officer,  discharging  his  duties 
with  promptness  and  fidelity  and  with  a  sense 
of  conscientious  obligation.  He  has  also  been  a 
leading  and  honored  member  of  the  Farmers  Mu- 
tual Benefit  Association.  Men  of  merit  are 
everywhere  recognized  and  as  such  Mr.  Wash- 
burne is  well  known.  His  residence  in  Iroquois 
county  covers  a  period  of  almost  thirty-four 
years  and  throughout  the  third  of  a  century  he 
has  been  an  active  and  progressive  business  man 
and  farmer.  He  stands  for  progress  not  only 
in  his  individual  business  interests  but  also  in 
county  and  municipal  afi"airs  and  In-  uses  ]iractical 
methods  in  working  toward  the  ideal.  liis  name 
is  synonymous  with  good  citizenshi]),  with  hon- 
esty and  diligence  in  business  and  with  Cdurtesy 
and  friendship  in  social  life.  His  wife,  a  most  es- 
timable lady,  shares  with  him  in  the  high  regard 
in  which  he  is  unifornilx'  held,  and  no  more 
worthy  citizens  of  Iroc[uois  county  can  be  named 
than  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Wash1)urne.  of 
-Milftird. 


PASriT AT.  r,.  \\'FFKS. 

Paschal  B.  A\'eeks.  a  retired  merchant  .-md  cap- 
italist of  Sheldon,  honored  and  respected  by  all 
not  only  because  of  the  success  he  has  achieved 
but  also  by  reason  of  the  straightforward  busi- 
ness methods  he  has  ever  followed,  was  born  in 


PASCHAf,   I!.  WI'.I'IKS. 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


ax.I 


White  county,  liuliana.  December  13,  i^i'Jj,  his 
parents  Iteinjj  \\  ilhani  A.  aiul  Anna  Eliza 
(Moore;  Weeks.  The  latlier  was  born  at  Lock- 
|M>rt,  St.  Lawrence  county.  New  York,  .\pril  17. 
1S36,  and  lived  there  tor  a  short  time,  when  lie 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  the 
western  part  of  New  York,  the  family  home  be- 
injj  established  near  Holly.  When  he  was  twelve 
years  of  au:e  the  family  becanK-  residents  of 
Monticello,  White  county,  Indiana,  where  Wil- 
liam A.  Weeks  rcmainctl  untU  1871,  and  there  his 
father  resided  until  his  death. 

t  )n  the  'ith  of  January.  185(1.  William  .\. 
W  ecks  was  married  at  Monticello,  to  Miss  Anna 
Mliza  Moore,  who  was  born  in  Morjjan  county, 
( )hio,  on  the  Muskintium  river.  l-'ollowin,tj  his 
marriajje  he  engaged  in  fanning  in  the  Hoosier 
state  and  was  also  in  the  hardware  business  in 
Monticello  for  a  part  of  the  time  for  fourteen 
years.  In  1870  he  removed  to  ( ioodland,  Indiana, 
where  he  conducted  an  elevator  for  six  months, 
and  in  March,  1871,  he  came  to  Sheldon,  where 
he  established  a  grocery  and  provision  business. 
Later  be  began  dealing  in  dry  gcxxls  and  grocer- 
ies and  admitted  Richard  Walsh  to  a  partnership, 
this  relation  being  maintained  until  his  death, 
when  his  widow  bought  out  the  interest  of  .Mr. 
Walsh,  and  she  and  her  sons  conducted  the  busi- 
ness tmtil  the  death  of  one  of  the  sons,  subsc- 
qucnt  to  which  time  Mrs.  Weeks  sold  out.  Her 
husband  had  departed  this  life  April  28,  1888. 
He  was  one  of  the  most  thorough  business  men, 
systematic  and  methodical  in  all  that  he  ditl.  en- 
terprising and  active  in  the  conduct  of  his  busi- 
ness and  reliable  and  honorable  in  all  de;dings. 
1  le  iKcame  recognized  as  the  leading  merchant 
of  .'^heldon,  carrying  a  large  stock  of  hardware, 
furniture,  groceries.  <lry  goods  and  other  com- 
nnxlitics.  When  he  came  to  .Sheldon  his  capital 
amounted  to  about  one  thousand  dollars,  and 
when  he  died  he  was  worth  between  twenty  an<l 
thirty  thou.sand  dollars.  The  estate  has  since  in- 
crcascfl  in  value  until  it  is  now  worth  one  him- 
<lred  thousand  dollars. 

I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks  were  born  three 
children:  I'aschal  1'..,  of  this  review,  however,  is 
the  only  one  now  living.  (  )ne  bnnher,  ( ieorge 
A.,  married  Winifred  Strickler  and  died  Septem- 
ber 24.  i<X)4.  leaving  his  wiclow  and  one  son, 
George  A.,  who  are  now  living  in   Hunter.  Ar- 


kansas, lie  was  a  member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  .\nierica  and  was  also  a  good  business 
man.  who.  associated  with  his  brother  I'aschal, 
successfully  conducte<l  the  store  at  Sheldon  until 
Iiis  demise.  The  father,  William  A.  Weeks,  was 
a  stalwart  republican  in  his  jiolitical  allegiance 
and  in  citizenship  was  deeply  interested  in  all 
movements  pertaining  to  the  general  welfare. 

His  widow  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
co|)al  church.  She  still  resi<les  in  Sheldon  and 
is  a  most  pleasant,  entertaining  lady,  having  a 
nice  home,  which  stan<ls  in  the  midst  of  a  large 
and  well  kept  lawn.  She  also  owns  two  other 
houses  in  the  town,  which  she  rents,  and  a  num- 
l;er  of  lots. 

Paschal  li.  Weeks,  brought  to  ."Sheldon  in  his 
boyhiKKl  days,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
here,  and  when  fifteen  years  of  age,  started  out 
in  business  life  as  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store, 
th>>roughly  mastering  the  business  in  principle 
and  detail,  as  he  aide<l  in  carrying  on  the  mercan- 
tile enterprise.  L'])on  the  father's  death  he  and 
his  brother  took  charge  of  the  business,  which 
was  conducted  under  the  name  of  A.  E.  Weeks, 
and  after  the  death  of  George  Weeks,  I'aschal  Ij. 
Weeks  and  his  brother  reniaine<l  at  the  head  of 
the  concern  until  March.  1905.  when  the\  sold 
.>ut.  .Mr.  Weeks  has  since  concentrated  his  ener- 
gies u])on  the  management  of  the  estate  and  the 
control  of  the  property  interests  and  is  recog- 
nized as  a  man  of  keen  business  discernment,  sel- 
dom if  ever  at  error  in  matters  of  judgment. 

(  )n  the  7th  of  .\ugust,  181)5,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  Weeks  and  Miss  Cora  May 
.*>trickler.  a  daughter  of  .Newton  .Strickler,  now 
of  Hunter.  Arkansas,  but  at  one  time  a  resident 
of  .'^lK•ldon.  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Weeks  have  on  chibl, 
Lester  l.;iverne.  born  (  )ctober  21,  KX14.  The  |)ar- 
ents  hold  membership  in  the  christian  church, 
contribute  generously  to  its  supjMirt  and  are  in- 
terested in  its  work.  .\t  one  lime  Mr.  Weeks 
served  as  church  secretarv.  In  politics  he  is  a 
ri|)nblican  and  is  a  man  of  genial  disposition  and 
corili.il  manner,  who  recognizes  true  worth  in 
the  individual  and  places  a  just  valuation  upon 
character.  He  has  never  sought  office.  ])refer- 
ring  to  concentrate  his  energies  u|)on  his  busi- 
ness interests,  which  have  claimerl  his  time  :mcl 
attention  and  which  are  now  extensive.  He  is 
now   Controlling  an  extensive  est;ite.   whidi   has 


484 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


been  greatly  enlarged  since  the  father's  death, 
having  increased  in  value  more  than  threefold. 
This  is  due  in  considerable  measure  to  the  efforts 
and  ability  of  yir.  Weeks,  whose  energies  have 
been  discerningly  directed  along  well  defined  lines 
of  labor  and  who  in  all  that  he  has  undertaken 
has  striven  to  achieve  the  highest  degree  of  per- 
fection possible. 


WILLIAM  A.  AMOS. 

William  A.  Amos,  deceased,  was  an  enterpris- 
ing and  respected  agriculturist  of  Sheldon  town- 
ship for  many  years.  He  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  Indiana,  in  1844  and  was  a  son  of  Ste- 
phen S.  Amos,  who  came  to  Iroquois  county 
about  1850,  and  with  his  family  settled  in  Shel- 
don township,  where  he  broke  the  wild  land  and 
improved  a  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  and  successfully  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  there  for  a  long  period. 
He  had  four  cliildren,  of  whom  two  are  living. — 
Mrs.  Michaels  and  Edward  M.  Amos,  both  of 
Chicago. 

William  A.  Amos  was  a  little  lad  of  nine  sum- 
mers when  brought  to  Illinois  and  was  therefore 
reared  in  Iroquois  county,  while  his  crliicational 
advantages  were  those  aflforded  by  the  district 
schools.  When  not  busy  witli  his  text-books  his 
labors  were  required  on  the  farm  and  after  reach- 
ing man's  estate  he  began  fanning  at  home  and 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  from  his  father  in 
Sheldon  townshij),  six  miles  south  of  the  city  of 
Sheldon,  to  which  he  added  as  his  financial  re- 
sources permitted  until  he  owned  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  He  prospered  by  feeding  stock 
and  he  kept  good  grades  of  horses,  cattle  and 
hogs.  Whatever  he  undertook  he  carried  for- 
ward to  successful  com])Ietion  and  was  one  of  the 
progressive  farmers,  keeping  in  touch  with  the 
advancement  which  is  continuallv  being  made 
along  agricultural  lines. 

In  1867  Mr.  Amos  was  married  to  Miss  Delilah 
Buckley,  a  sister  of  Samuel  and  .\lonzo  Buckley, 
who  are  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Her 
parents  were  Stephen  and  Eliza  Jane  (Ilarjier) 
Buckley.  Tier  father's  birth  occurred  in  Preble 
county,  Ohio.  Jainiary  2.  1823.  his  jiarents  being 


James  and  Sarah  (Lincoln;  Buckley,  the  former 
a  native  of  North  Carolina  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  The  mother  died  in  Tippecanoe  county, 
Indiana,  in  1844.  and  James  Buckley  afterward 
wedded  ^Nlrs.  Jacobs.  In  1851  he  became  a 
resident  of  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  but  after 
eighteen  months  removed  to  Carroll  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  spent  his  remaining  days.  His 
son  Stephen  Buckley,  was  only  two  years  old 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  to  Tippecanoe  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  lived  until  1856,  when  he  came 
to  Irocjuois  county  and  settled  on  land  which  he 
had  purchased  from  the  government  in  1854. 
He  added  to  this  until  he  owned  at  one  time  four- 
teen hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  this  county  and 
his  life  was  always  devoted  to  general  farming. 
That  he  was  very  successful  is  indicated  by  his 
extensive  holdings  which  were  acquired  entirely 
through  his  well  directed  labor  and  judicious  in- 
vestment. He  was  married  June  3,  1848.  to 
Miss  Eliza  Jane  Harper,  who  was  born  in  Mont- 
gomery county.  Indiana,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living, 
as  follows :  Samuel,  a  resident  of  Sheldon  ;  De- 
lilah, now  Mrs.  Amos;  Mrs.  Sarah  A.  Boatman, 
a  widow,  residing  in  Chicago;  Alonzo.  a  resident 
of  Sheldon  ;  and  Mrs.  Maria  Elizabeth  Roberts, 
who  resides  in  California.  Stephen  Buckley,  the 
father,  died  in  Sheldon,  Illinois,  in  June.  1904. 
at  the  age  of  eight\-one  year?  and  five  months, 
while  his  wife  passed  away  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years.  They  had  remained  continuous  resi- 
dents of  the  county  since  locating  within  its  bor- 
ders in  1856. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Amos  had  two  children.  John 
married  Jessie  Wingard,  who  died,  leaving  one 
daughter.  lone,  now  two  years  old.  Florence 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Hobart  Bissell.  a  ])racticing 
physician  at  Edgerton.  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Amos  was  a  defender  of  the  Union  cause 
in  the  Civil  war.  and  in  .\pril.  1865.  he  enlisted 
as  a  member  of  Company  K.  Forty-third  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  with  which 
he  continued  until  discharged  in  December  of  the 
same  year.  He  lost  his  health  while  in  the  army 
and  was  never  again  physically  the  same  man. 
He  voted  with  the  re])ublican  party,  which  was 
formed  to  prevent  the  further  extension  of 
slavery  and  which  was  a  champion  of  the  Union 
cause  in  the  dark  davs  of  civil  strife.     For  some 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  IF.LINOIS. 


485 


time  he  was  a  member  of  tlie  school  board,  ami 
lie  belonged  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  to  the 
Grand  Army  post,  at  Sheldon.  He  attended  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  his  wife 
bilongs.  He  died  May  31.  181/-).  respected  and 
honored  by  all  who  knew  him,  for  in  business 
he  was  reliable,  in  citizenship  loyal  and  in  the 
home  and  social  life  he  displayed  those  sterling 
traits  of  character  which  always  win  friendly 
regard  and  confidence. 

Mrs.  Anios  now  resides  in  Sheldon,  where  she 
has  purchased  a  good  brick  residence.  She  still 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  g<x)d  land 
in  Sheldon  township,  together  with  two  good 
fanns  which  she  inherited  from  her  father.  She 
is  a  most  estimable  lady  and  has  an  extensive 
circle   of   warm    friends. 


E.  H.  BROCKMANX. 


E.  H.  Brockmann  is  now  living  a  retired  life 
upon  his  farm  in  Danforth  township.  For  many 
years  he  was  closely  associated  with  agricultural 
interests  and  the  years  brought  him  a  gixjd  finan- 
cial return  for  his  labor,  so  that  he  is  now  enabled 
to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  life  without  recourse  to 
further  active  work.  He  was  born  in  <  )st fries- 
land,  (Jermany.  in  1833.  a  son  of  Herman  aiul 
.Mtje  ( Deakon )  IJrockmann.  who  spent  their 
entire  lives  in  the  fatherland.  There  is  one  sis- 
ter. Mrs.  Annie  Shipper,  who  for  the  past  twenty- 
three  years  has  resided  in  Danforth  township, 
her  husbantl  being  now  a  retired  farmer  of  the 
village  of  Danforth.  where  they  make  their  home. 

E.  H.  HriHrkmann  was  reared  uixju  the  old 
homestead  farm  in  Germany  and  pursued  his 
education  in  the  public  schrxjls  of  that  country. 
He  remained  a  resident  of  the  fatherland  until 
1857,  when  he  bade  adieu  to  friciuls  and  native 
country  aufl  crossed  the  .\tlantic  to  .\merica. 
He  resided  for  eight  years  in  I'ekin,  Illinois,  and 
after  sjH-nding  some  time  in  other  counties  re- 
moved to  Iroj|uois  county  in  1875.  Here  he  pur- 
chasefl  a  tract  of  prairie  land  on  section  4.  Dan- 
forth townshiji.  and  resifled  thereon  continuously 
until  1897,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  home 
on  section  8  of  the  same  township.  Here  he 
has  forty  acn-s  <jf  land  and  he  owns  altogether 


two  hundred  acres  of  finely  improved  land  in  this 
county.  His  farm,  however,  is  operated  by  his 
son  and  son-in-law,  while  he  is  enjoying  a  well 
merited  rest. 

Mr.  Ilrockmann  was  married  first  in  IVkin,  Illi- 
nois, Decemlur  i>),  1857.  to  Miss  .\ima  Eaden. 
who  was  Ixirn  in  the  same  pan  of  (jermany  in 
which  his  birth  occurred  and  who  passed  away  in 
|8<>4.  at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years,  leaving  five 
children  :  Ix-na,  now  the  wife  of  Ckorge  Meents, 
who  owns  and  operates  a  farm  on  section  4, 
Danforth  township;  Minnie,  the  wife  of  John 
Ileideman,  of  Danforth  township:  Herman,  a 
prosperous  fanner  of  Danforth  township;  Ed- 
ward, who  is  operating  the  home  farm  and  who 
married  Rena  Habbinga,  by  whom  he  has  two 
sons :  and  Katie,  the  wife  of  Hugo  Zacho,  a  resi- 
dent of  Ashkimi  township,  by  whom  she  has 
three  children.  Mr.  Brockmann  was  again  mar- 
ried May  20.  1897.  His  present  wife  bore  the 
maiden  nanie  of  Eliza  Eaeken  and  was  also  born 
in  the  province  of  Hanover.  Germany,  whence 
she  came  to  the  I'nited  .States  in  1893.  Her  birth 
occurred  in  1847,  her  father  being  Enno  Eaeken. 
She  was  reared  in  Tlermany  and  was  married 
there  in  1877  to  Dick  Habbinga.  who  died  in 
Xebra.ska  in  i8<j3.  They  had  two  children: 
Rena.  now  the  wife  of  Edward  P.rockmann.  sf)n 
of  our  subject :  and  Margaret,  wlvi  resides  at 
home  in  Danforth  township. 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Itrockmami  is  a 
Lutheran  and  was  the  first  to  haul  Itunber  for 
the  building  of  the  church  of  that  denomination 
at  Danforth.  He  has  always  Ix^en  interested  in 
church  work  and  his  efforts  have  been  of  value 
in  promoting  the  cause  which  he  advocates.  Po- 
litically he  has  l)een  an  earnest  republican  since 
casting  his  vote  for  .\braham  Lincoln  and  he 
has  served  for  seventeen  years  as  sch<x>l  director 
in  his  district.  Xo  native  son  of  .\merica  is 
more  loyal  to  the  interests  of  this  county  or 
more  devoted  to  its  welfare.  While  he  has  suc- 
cessfully carried  on  private  business  interests  at 
the  same  time  he  has  found  opportunity  to  aid 
in  the  promotion  of  tlirise  plans  aufl  measures 
which  have  iK-en  of  benefit  to  the  county  and  at 
all  times  he  is  known  as  one  whose  business  and 
politically  integrity  is  above  question.  He  de- 
serves much  credit  for  what  he  has  accomplished 
in    life,    f'""   ''•■   .-.n,..   t..    \,.,,ri'-ri    rmpty-han<lr>l 


486 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


and  has  worked  his  way  steadily  upward  through 
the  force  of  his  character,  his  unrtagjjing  de- 
termination and  his  diligence. 


JOSEPH  V(  )r.\(; 


Joseph  Young,  a  resident  of  Donovan,  is  op- 
erating three  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  fine 
farming  land  in  Beaver  township.  He  was  horn 
in  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  September  5,  1852.  His 
father,  Arzel  Young,  also  a  native  of  that  county. 
was  born  April  27,  1827.  and  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  Iroquois  county  in  1854.  making  the  jour- 
ney westward  by  wagon  after  the  primitive  man- 
ner of  travel  at  that  early  time.  They  were  upon 
the  road  for  thirteen  days  but  at  length  reached 
Beaver  township  and  Mr.  Young  located  on  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  on  sectipn  24, 
which  he  had  previously  purchased,  in  1853.  hav- 
ing come  here  and  entered  it  from  the  govern- 
ment. The  land  was  raw  and  uncultivated  and 
in  the  midst  of  it  he  built  a  log  cabin  sixteen 
by  eighteen  feet.  With  characteristic  energy  he- 
began  to  turn  the  furrows  and  break  the  sod.  so 
that  in  the  course  of  time  he  transformed  the 
wild  uncultivated  tract  into  fields  of  rich  fertility. 
He  (lid  all  of  his  breaking  with  an  ox  team  ami 
as  the  years  passed  he  successfully  foillowcd 
farming  and  stock-raising  and  made  many  sub- 
stantial improvements  on  his  ])lacc.  sujjplying  it 
with  all  of  the  cqui])ments  of  a  model  farm. 
There  he  made  his  home  until  his  ikatii.  which 
occurred  July  10,  i8</).  His  political  allegiance 
was  given  to  the  rei^ublican  ])arty  and  his  reli- 
ginus  views  were  in  harmony  with  tlie  tLach- 
ings  of  the  Methodist  church,  in  which  he  held 
membership.  His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  .Sally  Carver,  was  also  a  native  of  Dela- 
ware county.  { )hio.  born  July  26,  1827.  She  now 
lives  with  her  son,  Joseph,  and  although  eight\ 
years  of  age  still  ,-itteiuls  t.i  tlie  duties  of  the 
household,  being  a  remarkai)l\  well  jjreserved 
woman  for  one  of  her  years.  Since  the  age  of 
sixteen  years  she  has  been  an  (.ariiesl  and  cnn- 
sistent  meml)er  of  the  .Methodist  church,  iier 
daughter,  Dora  jane,  the  eldest  of  the  faniiK'. 
and  (h.-iries.  the  \ounger  son.  are  both  deceased. 

Joseph    N'oung   was   educated    in    the   common 


schools  of  Iroquois  county,  having  been  brought 
by  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  only  two  years  of 
age.  He  always  remained  under  the  jmrental 
roof  and  has  had  charge  of  the  farm  for  about 
twenty  years.  He  has  added  to  the  original  tract 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  until  today  he 
and  his  mother  own  three  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  of  very  valuable  and  productive  land.  He 
has  tiled  it  all  and  thus  by  judicious  drainage  has 
enhanced  its  productiveness.  He  has  also  added 
other  improvements  in  the  way  of  good  buildings 
and  has  erected  a  fine  ten-room  residence  in  the 
town  of  Donovan.  In  ( )ctober,  1903.  he  and  his 
mother  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  the  village, 
w^here  llie\-  now"  reside,  but  he  still  gives  super- 
vision to  the  farm. 

In  1880  ]Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  in 
Beaver  township  to  Miss  Emma  McCurtain.  who 
was  born  in  that  township  but  died  Januar\  12. 
igoi,  her  death  being  deeply  deplored  by  many 
friends,  who  had  learned  to  esteem  and  love  her 
for  her  many  good  qualities.  Mr.  Young  exer- 
cises his  right  of  franchise  in  support  of  the 
men  and  measures  of  the  republican  party  but 
the  honors  and  emoluments  of  office  have  had 
no  attraction  for  him.  His  religious  faith  has 
made  him  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church. 
In  his  farming  operations  he  has  displayed  ex- 
cellent business  ability  and  capable  management 
and  the  years  have  brought  him,  as  the  reward 
of  his  labor,  a  C(5mfortable  coni])etence  that  now 
enables  him  to  live  retired. 


IS.\.\C    1.  (iARl)\"l-.R. 


(.'liaracter  and  abilitv  will  come  to  the  front 
anywhere  and  the  truth  of  this  assertion  is  veri- 
fied in  the  life  history  of  Isaac  j.  (iardner.  one 
of  the  leading  and  re])resentative  citizens  of 
Douglas  townshi|>.  who  for  many  years  has  care- 
fully conducted  his  business  interests  with  the 
result  that  jirosperily  has  attended  his  labors. 
while  the  methods  he  has  followed  have  gained 
I'or  liini  the  res|)ect  and  honor  of  all.  I'or  many 
years  he  has  been  coimected  with  general  agri- 
cultural and  stock-raising  interests  and  has  also 
owned  and  operated  threshing  and  corn  shelling 
machiiHs.      lie  has  ever  stood    for  ])rogress  and 


MK.  AXI)  MRS.  AKZi:i.  VolXii. 


UNIVERSITY  Of  1LL!^S0IS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


48.> 


iinprovciuciit,  keeping  in  toiicii  with  llic  nnwanl 
march  that  has  revoliitionizcd  the  nii-thtKls  cif 
ai^ricultural  lite  in  scarcely  more  than  a 
j;cneralion. 

.Mr.  Ciardner  was  Ixjrn  in  SMS(|iiehanna  enmi- 
ty, rennsylvania.  on  the  I2tli  of  May,  iS.^7.  ami 
is  a  representative  of  one  of  the  oldest  colonial 
families  of  New  Lnjjland.  It  is  said  that  his 
ancestors  came  to  America  on  the  Mayflower.  It 
is  definitely  known  that  the  first  white  child  born 
in  Connecticnt — in  i()3<j — was  a  (iardner.  while 
Stephen  (iardner.  a  direct  ancestor  of  onr  sub- 
ject resided  in  Connecticut  durinjjf  the  earliest 
epoch  in  its  colonization.  lie  had  a  family  of 
twelve  children,  of  whoin  the  eleventh.  Havid 
fiardncr,  became  the  father  of  five  children. 
The  younpest  of  tliis  family  was  Isaac  (Iardner. 
who  was  born  in  Connecticut.  .Vovember  30. 
17(11.  and  when  the  colonies  atlemi)te<l  to  throw 
off  the  yoke  of  Uritish  oppression  he  joined  the 
army  and  foujjht  for  the  independence  of  tiic 
nation.  He  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife 
beinj:  Martha  Roj.;ers.  by  whom  he  had  five  chil- 
dren. I'ollowinj;  her  death  lie  wedded  Lsther 
Palmer  and  to  them  were  born  nine  children. 
She  became  his  wiilow  and  as  such  received  a 
pension  in  reccj^nition  of  the  service  which  he 
rendered   in   the   Revolutionary    war. 

William  1'.  ( lanlner.  father  of  Isaac  J. 
Ciardner  and  the  seventh  child  of  the  marriai^e 
of  Isaac  ( ianlner  and  I-^sther  Palmer,  was  iKirn 
in  New  LoikIoh.  (."onnecticut.  December  r; .  iSij. 
and  was  married  Jul\  5.  iS.^5.  to  .Miss  .^arah 
F.  James,  whose  birth  occurred  in  (.'onnecticut 
f>n  the  30th  of  Septendjer.  1S15.  Leaviiij^  New 
England,  he  became  a  farmer  of  Gibson  township. 
Sus(|uelianna  count  v.  Pennsylvania,  where  he  re- 
sided until  1857.  when  accompanietl  by  his  son. 
Isaac  J.,  he  came  to  Illinois  in  .search  of  a  lo- 
cation. Pleased  with  Iro(|uois  county  and  its 
possibilities,  they  became  i)ioneer  settlers  of 
Douplas  township,  building  on  the  present  site 
of  (iilman  a  house  which  was  coustrucied  from 
the  first  carload  of  liunber  mdoaded  at  (iilman. 
The  little  dwelling  was  built  in  .\ugust.  1S57. 
and  in  February.  1858.  William  P.  (iardner 
brought  his  family  to  the  west.  This  district 
was  largely  a  wilderness  and  nnich  of  tlie  land 
was  under  water,  but  the  possibilities  of  making 
it    a    rich    agriculH1r.1I    district    were    there.       \' 


about  the  close  of  the  Civil  war  Mr.  (ciardner  re- 
moved to  a  farm  near  Chebansc.  but  after  five 
\ears  returned  to  (iilman.  where  he  continued  to 
make  his  home  imtil  his  demise  on  the  2<jth  of 
May,  i8</>.  He  built  the  fir.st  house  in  (iilman 
and  he  was  a  ]>romiueiit  factor  in  the  material 
progress  and  im|irovemenl  of  the  coimty  along 
agricultural  lines,  lie  was  ever  ready  to  take 
up  any  new  methods  whose  practical  utility  he 
recognized  and  for  a  long  period  was  accounted 
one  of  the  prominent  and  leailing  agriculturists 
of  Douglas  township.  Mis  ])olitical  allegiance 
was  given  to  the  whig  party  in  early  manhood 
and  upon  its  dis.sohition  he  joined  the  ranks  of 
the  republican  jiartx.  following  its  bamiers  until 
his  death.  He  long  survive<l  his  wife,  who 
passed  awa\  in  September.  187,5.  '"  their  family 
were  five  children,  the  surviving  mendx-rs  being 
Isaac  J.,  of  this  review  :  F.  P...  an  agircullurist 
of  Nuckolls  County.  Nebraska:  and  William  I)., 
of  Seattle.  Washington.  .\  daughter  of  the 
family  taught  the  first  scIumiI  in  (Iilman.  .\ftcr 
losing  his  first  wife  William  P.  (Iardner  wedded 
Mrs.  Lydia  Hunt.  He  and  both  of  his  wives 
were  mend)ers  of  the  P.ai»tist  church  and  were 
earnest  Christian  people,  respected  by  all  who 
knew  them. 

The  early  e<lucationaI  |)rivileges  which  Isaac 
J.  (iardner  received  were  those  afforded  l)y  the 
district  schools,  but  all  through  his  life  his  mind 
has  been  both  receptive  and  retentive  and  in  the 
school  of  experience  he  has  learned  many  valu- 
able lessons,  while  reading  and  observation  have 
greatly  liroadened  his  knowledge.  He  was 
trained  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy  upon 
the  home  farm,  w  hieh  w  as  situated  in  a  timbered 
and  stony  country  and  ar<luous  toil  therefore  fell 
to  his  lot.  .\s  stated,  he  came  with  his  father 
to  lro(|uois  county  in  1857  and  the  family  home 
was  established  here  the  following  year,  so  that 
from  pioneer  times  to  the  jiresent  he  has  been 
identifieil  with  the  agricultural  iiUercsts  of  this 
|>art  of  the  state  and  with  its  substantial  improve- 
ment. Soon  after  his  marriage  in  i8f)2  he  re- 
moved to  his  present  home.  ]»urchasing  eighty 
acres  of  land  at  twelve  dollars  per  acre,  and 
five  years  later  he  added  forty  acres  more  lioughl 
at  the  same  price.  It  was  very  low  land,  being 
largely  under  water,  but  he  recoj^nized  its  |iossi- 
l.iliii.N   f.ir  development,  improvement  and  culti- 


490 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


vation  and  he  has  since  invested  hundreds  of 
dollars  in  tilinjj  and  drainage,  transforming  it 
into  richly  cultivated  fields.  At  one  time,  in 
connection  with  his  farming  operations,  he  car- 
ried on  a  dairy  and  throughout  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  he  has  owned  and  operated  threshing 
and  corn  shelling  machines,  having  owned  one 
of  the  first  machines  of  this  port  of  the  county. 
In  all  of  his  farm  work  he  has  been  intensely 
practical  as  well  as  progressive  and  a  glance  at 
his  place  indicates  his  careful  supervision,  for 
the  farm  in  every  department  is  characterized  by 
neatness   and    thrift 

On  the  2ist  of  December,  1862,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Isaac  J.  (.lardner  and  Miss 
Inverno  Bennett,  a  daughter  of  Lewis  J.  and 
Hannah  (Green)  IJennett.  Descended  from  an 
early  New  England  family,  her  grandfather. 
■^zekiel  Bennett,  removed  from  X'ermont  to  the 
state  of  New  York  during  tlie  period  of  its  pio- 
neer history.  Me  wedded  .Mary  High  and  their 
son.  Lewis  J-  liennctt.  was  born  in  tjie  Empire 
state,  where  he  wedded  Miss  Hannah  (Ireen,  also 
a  native  of  New  "^'ork.  In  1856  they  took  up 
their  abode  near  Onarga  in  Iroquois  county, 
where  Mr.  Bennett  carried  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  until  his  life's  labors  were  ended 
in  death  June  26.  1S77.  when  he  was  seventy 
years  of  age.  L'nto  Mr.  and  ;\Irs.  Gardner  have 
been  born  four  children.  I-"rank  IX,  a  graduate 
of  the  state  university  of  the  class  of  i8gi.  was 
formerly  assistant  professor  of  agriculture  in 
his  alma  iiialcr  and  also  assistant  agriculturist 
at  the  e\|)erinient  station  at  Champaign.  After 
many  years  thus  passed  he  was  sent  to  south- 
western Te.xas  and  later  placed  in  charge  of  the 
I'nited  States  experimental  station  in  Porto  Rico, 
which  he  established  lliere  for  the  government 
and  wliicli  he  conducted  for  three  and  a  half 
years.  He  is  now  assistant  to  the  chief  of  the 
department  of  soils  at  Wasliingti  in.  J).  t'.,  and 
is  an  e.\i)ert  in  his  fii-ld  of  labor,  having  Ijroad. 
com])rehensive  and  accurate  scientific  knowledge 
concerniijg  agriculture  and  all  that  bears  upon 
the  priidnction  of  crops  from  the  soil,  lie  mar- 
ried Ellen  ("rum.  nf  I'anner  Citv.  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  .Mathias  Crum.  a  l);mker.  June  (>. 
i8(;4.  and  they  now  have  three  cliildren.  Matliias 
C.  I''rank  Easter  and  Raneit.  Willi.nu  L. 
( l;irdiKT.  tlu-  '<cr<ind  son  of  the  f;iniil\.  w;is  grad- 


uated from  the  Metropolitan  Business  College 
of  Chicago  and  is  now  bookkeeper  and  manager 
for  the  Nutriola  Medical  Company  of  Chicago. 
He  married  Miss  Jessie  J.  Chase,  of  Chicago,  on 
the  28th  of  May,  1892.  May  E.,  who  is  a  grad- 
uate of  the  Gilman  high  school,  became  the 
wife  of  John  Gruber.  of  Chicago.  June  29.  1894, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Ethel  Ma_\-.  Carrie  F... 
wh(3  completes  the  family,  became  the  wife  of 
William  S.  Kaufman,  a  salesman  at  Elgin,  Illi- 
nois, on  the  3d  of  January.  1900.  and  they  have 
one  child,  Harold  Duane.  Mr.  (iardner  gives 
his  political  allegiance  to  the  republican  party, 
of  which  he  has  been  a  stanch  advocat.e  since 
casting  his  first  presidential  ballot  for  Abraham 
Lincoln.  In  April.  1SC3,  he  was  appointed 
school  treasurer  of  township  2/.  range  11.  east. 
Irotjuois  county,  and  has  continuously  occupied 
the  position  to  the  present  time  without  the  loss 
of  a  dollar  to  the  district.  No  public  trust  re- 
posed in  him  has  ever  been  betrayed  in  the 
slightest  degree.  <  )n  the  contrary  he  is  most 
loyal  to  the  public  welfare  and  his  efforts  have 
been  of  material  benefit  to  the  county  along 
many  lines  of  iiiiprovenient.  His  activity  in  busi- 
ness has  not  only  contributed  to  his  individual 
success  but  has  also  been  an  active  factor  in  the 
develo]Miient  of  the  state  and  he  is  now  accounted 
one  of  the  honored  ])ioneer  settlers  and  respected 
business  men  of  Douglas  township. 


J.\C()i;  .\LLL\(il':R. 

Jaciil)  Allingcr.  who  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing on  Section  1.  Artesia  townshi]i.  where  he  owns 
one  hundred  and  twenty-four  acres  of  good  land, 
was  born  in  W  urtemberg.  Germany.  Xovenihcr 
10.  1848.  an<l  when  a  young  man  of  twenty  \ears 
liecame  a  resident  of  Illinois,  while  three  years 
later  he  took  up  his  abode  in  this  county.  I  lis 
father.  1  lenry  Allinger.  was  also  born  and  reareil 
in  ( lermany,  and  followed  fanuing  there,  lie 
married  Elizabeth  Ziegler.  who  was  also  of  Gm- 
man  birth.  In  their  famil\-  were  ei.ght  children, 
who  were  reared  on  the  farm  in  the  old  country. 

Jaciil)  .XllingtT.  when  nineteen  years  of  age. 
sailed    from    I  laere.    I'"ranee.    for   tile   new    world. 


IRiKjrolS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


41)1 


aitractcil  l>v  ilic  (>i)|K>rtimilics  Iktc  nrt'cn-il  I'nr 
business  advancciiK-tU.  His  aUicatioii  had  Ikcii 
ac<niirccl  in  his  nativi-  c<)tiiur\  and  lie  liad  ln'i-n 
roared  tn  aj^ricuhural  hi'c  thi-rc.  He  landed  al 
New  Vt)rk  and  went  tirsl  U>  ISradford  county, 
IVtnisylvania,  where  he  remained  fnr  ahuut  three 
niiinths.  (  >n  tlie  e.\i)iration  of  iliat  period  lie 
liHik  up  his  abode  in  Loj^an  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  employed  as  a  farm  hand  ;it  twenty 
dollars  per  month,  workinj;  in  that  way  for  three 
years.  He  saved  his  earninf^s  and  in  1S71  eauK- 
to  lro(|uois  county,  investing;  his  capital  in  about 
eijihly  acres  of  lanrl  near  lloo|)eston  in  \'ermiliou 
county.  L'pon  this  ])lace  he  followed  farmin).; 
for  twelve  years  and  broujiht  his  land  luider  a 
hi.i;h  state  of  cidtivation.  annuall\  jjiatlurins,' 
therefrom  s<"'*l  crops. 

.Mr.  .\llinijer  was  married  in  lloo]>eston,  .No- 
vember Jt>,  1881.  to  .Miss  Liizabeth  Dinger,  a  na- 
tive of  .New  York  ami  a  daujjhter  of  I'eter  Dinjier. 
who  was  al.so  liorn  in  the  Lmpire  state  aii<l  came  to 
lllinoi.s  when  a  younjj  man.  Sellinjj  his  propertv 
near  Hi)o])eston.  Mr.  .Mlinj^er  afterward  took  uj) 
his  abode  upon  his  present  farm  on  section  1, 
.\rtesia  township.  He  erected  the  two-story  resi- 
dence which  adorns  the  [ilace  and  has  also  i)ut 
up  fjood  cribs  and  sheds  and  has  fenced  and  tiled 
his  land,  transfonninjj  it  into  a  valuable  farm. 
In  addition  to  the  work  of  the  fields  he  raises 
full  l)l(K3ded  Morjjan  horses  and  Poland  China 
lio!,'s  and  his  stock-raising  interests  are  an  im- 
p(jrtant  branch  of  his  business,  brinirini.;  to  him 
a  good  financial  return. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Mlinger  have  been  liiru 
three  children:  William,  who  assists  in  carrv - 
ing  on  the  home  farni ;  .\rla  and  ('tis,  who  are 
al>o  under  the  parental  roof.  .\lr.  .\llinger  an! 
his  family  atten<l  the  .Methodist  l*".])isco|)al  churc'i 
of  I'lucklcy.  The  wife  and  mother  dietl  in  11JO2, 
at  the  age  of  fifty  years,  and  her  death  was 
ileeply  de|>lored  by  manv  friends  as  well  as  her 
immediate  family. 

Where  national  (|ueslion>  ami  issues  are  in- 
volved .Mr.  .\llingcr  votes  with  the  democracy 
but  he  casts  an  inde]K-n(lent  local  ballot.  Thirty- 
eight  years  ago  \k-  came  to  .\merica  a  \oung  man 
with  little  more  capital  than  was  necessary  to 
meet  the  cxpcn.ses  of  the  trip,  lie  possessed 
courage  and  determination,  however,  and  a  will- 
ingness to  Work  thai    was   mmhi   manifest   in   the 


able  service  which  he  rendered  difTereni  em- 
l)loyers.  IScconiing  more  familiar  with  the  coun- 
try and  the  possibilities  offered  in  dilTerent  sec- 
tions, he  resolved  to  make  his  home  in  the  middle 
wcsi  and  has  for  more  than  a  third  of  a  century 
resideil  in  Illinois.  The  hope  th.it  leil  him  to 
make  this  change  has  been  more  than  realized 
and  here  he  now  has  a  gotnl  home  and  many 
friends,  while  in  his  business  life  he  has  gained 
that  success  which  is  the  measure  of  intlustry  and 
capable  management  and  is  the  reward  of  earnest 
lalxir. 


U()|'.i:UT    I-INC  II. 


Robert  I'incli  represents  the  agricultural  life 
of  Irotjuois  comUN.  owning  and  o])erating  a  valu- 
able and  well  improved  farm  of  one  hundreil  and 
sixty  acres,  situated  on  section  20.  I'rairic  (ireen 
township,  his  postoftice  being  .Ambia,  Indiana. 
He  is  a  native  of  Warren  county.  Indiana,  born 
in  (  •ctober,  1852.  and  when  two  years  of  age 
was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illinois,  the  family 
home  being  established  in  Irotpiois  county,  where 
the  son  was  reared  and  e<lucated.  He  remained 
with  his  parents  until  he  reachetl  mature  years, 
when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account, 
his  first  purchase  of  land  constituting  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  which  he  operated  during  the  suc- 
ceeding twelve  years.  .\s  he  prospered  in  his 
imderiakings  he  e.xtended  the  boundaries  of  his 
home  place,  and  later  (lis])oscd  of  that  i)roi)erty 
and  invested  tlie  money  in  a  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  situated  in  Crawford  county, 
which  was  located  in  the  oil  regions.  Taking 
U])  his  abode  there  he  further  improved  the  land 
by  the  erection  of  a  good  barn,  and  he  likewise 
set  out  a  large  orchanl  covering  thirty  acres  and 
Containing  many  varieties  of  fruit,  lie  thus 
made  it  a  v.iluable  property. 

Renting  that  property  Mr.  1-inch  returned  to 
lriK|uois  county  and  purch:ised  the  farm  which 
is  his  present  home,  comprising  one  Inmdrid  and 
si.xty  acres  situated  on  section  20.  Prairie  (Ireen 
township.  He  has  resided  on  this  place  since 
i.S<)4.  .Much  of  this  land  was  a  swamp  but  b> 
the  judicious  n.se  of  tiling  he  has  drained  the 
lami  and  maile  the  fields  very  productive.  He 
has    built     fences    and    otherwise    improved    the 


492 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


place  and  now  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  this 
section  of  the  county.  In  addition  to  his  farm- 
ings interests  he  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  the 
raising  of  stock,  includinsr  horses,  cattle  and 
hofjs  and  this  is  proving  to  him  a  good  source 
of  revenue,  lie  is  ])ractical  and  methodical  in 
all  his  work  and  his  labors  are  bringing  him  a 
gratifying  measure  of  prosperity. 

In  1897.  in  Streator.  Illinois,  occurred  ilu-  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  I'inch  and  -Miss  .May  Iloman,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Iroquois  county  and  was 
a  well  educated  and  cultured  young  lady.  She 
became  the  mother  of  two  daughters:  Flossie, 
who  died  Jnly  13.  1902 :  and  Mabel,  a  bright  little 
girl,  who  is  with  her  father.  In  Xovember, 
1904.  Mr.  l-'inch  was  called  upon  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  his  wife,  whose  remains  were  laid  to  rest 
in  a  cemetery  in  Crawford  county. 

Politically  ^Ir.  Finch  is  a  stalwart  supi)orter 
of  republican  principles  but  he  has  never  been 
active  as  an  office  seeker,  for  his  private  business 
interests  have  always  claimed  his  entire  time  and 
attention.  Having  resided  here  from  the  age 
of  two  years  Mr.  b'inch  is  well  known,  having  a 
large  acquaintance  in  llenton  county,  Indiana. 
as  well  as  Iroquois  and  \'ermilion  comities,  and 
he  is  ever  reliable  and  straightforward  in  all  his 
business  dealings  and  has  thereby  wim  the  con- 
fidence and  good  will  nf  all  with  whom  lie  has 
come  in  contact. 


FRED  ALl'.RI-XIIT. 


I'red  .\lbrecht  is  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock-raising,  his  home  being  on  section  32, 
Iroquois  township,  and  his  systematic  business 
methods  and  enterprise  constitute  the  strong  fea- 
tures in  his  success.  He  was  born  in  Prussia. 
Germany,  December  3,  1849,  'i'"^'  ^^-^s  a  young 
man  of  nineteen  years  when  in  1868  he  came  to 
.\nierica,  attracted  by  the  favorable  reports 
which  he  had  heard  concerning  the  opjiortunities 
aiifl  advantages  afforded  in  the  new  world.  Mak- 
ing his  way  to  Will  county,  lllin(jis,  he  there  re- 
sided for  a  year  and  afterward  went  to  Ne- 
braska, where  he  remained  for  eleven  months 
looking  over  the  country.  In  that  time  he  be- 
came  convinced   that   Illinois   offered   better   ad- 


vantages than  the  state  farther  west  and  retmiied 
to  Will  county,  where  he  engaged  in  the  opera- 
tion of  a  rented  farm.  Saving  his  earnings,  he 
at  length  acquired  capital  sufficient  to  enable  him 
to  purchase  a  farm  in  Concord  township,  Iro- 
quois comity,  in  1873.  and  he  took  up  his  abode 
thereon.  He  is  now  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  in  the  home  farm  in  Iroquois 
township,  two  hundred  and  ten  acres  in  Middle- 
port  township  and  one  hundred  and  seventy  acres 
in  Concord  township.  He  resided  in  Concord 
township  until  1900.  His  father  had  also  come 
to  this  country  and  after  residing  for  a  time  in 
Michigan  removed  to  Iroquois  county  in  1874 
and  lived  in  Concord  township  until  his  death. 
Fred  Albrecht  has  been  very  prosperous  and  as 
his  financial  resources  have  increa.sed  he  has 
placed  his  money  in  the  safest  of  all  investments 
— real  estate — and  is  now  the  owner  of  many 
farms.  He  has  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
where  he  resides  on  section  32,  Iroquois  town- 
ship, which  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock-raising.  He  rai.ses  thoroughbred  Durham 
cattle  and  also  hogs  and  other  stock.  He  has 
im|)roved  his  farms  and  all  are  in  good  condi- 
tion and  the  investments  have  been  very  carefully 
placed  and  have  therefore  returned  to  him  a 
gratifying  income. 

Mr.  .\lbrecht  was  married  January  27,  1870, 
to  Miss  I-'redericka  Kerchman,  and  they  have 
eight  children :  Charley  W.,  who  is  a  dealer  in 
general  merchandise  in  Crescent  City:  Henry, 
Paul.  Robert  and  Otto,  all  at  home ;  Mrs.  Minnie 
\\'alkner,  who  is  living  on  one  of  her  father's 
farms :  Mrs.  George  Easter,  also  living  on  one 
of  her  father's  farms ;  and  Mrs.  Samuel  Salt- 
kill,  who  resides  on  a  farm  east  of  Iroquois. 

X'oting  with  the  republican  party  since  becom- 
ing a  naturalized  American  citizen.  Mr.  Albrecht 
has  been  most  loyal  to  its  interests  and  is  a 
stanch  champion  of  its  principles.  He  has 
served  as  commissioner  of  highways  but  other- 
wise has  neither  sought  nor  desired  office.  P>oth 
he  and  his  wife  arc  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  and  he  is  one  of  the  prominent  men  of 
his  part  of  the  county.  He  owns  a  fine  store 
building  in  Crescent  City,  where  his  son  conducts 
business  and  his  property  interests  are  now  ex- 
tensive and  valuable.  His  business  record  has 
been  one  that  an\-  man  would  be  proud  to  pos- 


U:  >   ILUNOIS 


^^^^^^^^^^^^H^                        0^^^                                 ^^^V^^^^^^^^^^^^^l 

^V    Slk^    ^^1 

^tl.4 

^1 

H 

FRKD  AI.I'.KI-.Cin 


MRS.  FRED  ALBRECHT. 


29 


UNWERbU^  U^'  iLUilOlS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


497 


scss.  Ucgiiiniiig  at  the  very  bottom  round  of  the 
ladder,  lie  has  steadily  advanced  step  by  step 
until  he  is  now  occupying'  a  position  of  promi- 
nence. Through  his  entire  business  career  he 
has  been  looked  upon  as  a  model  of  integrity 
and  honor,  never  making  an  engagement  that  he 
has  not  fulfilled  and  standing  today  an  example 
of  what  determination  and  force,  combined  with 
the  iiighest  degree  of  business  integrity,  can  ac- 
complish for  a  man  of  natural  ability  and  strength 
of  character. 


JOHN  C".  \\  II.Ki:\i\(i. 

J.  C  Wilkening.  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  on  sections  20  and  29.  .\sh 
Grove  township,  where  his  possessions  cover  one 
hundre<l  and  seventy-si.\  acres,  was  Ixjrn  in  Will 
county.  Illinois,  September  4,  1859.  N<>  event 
of  s[)ecial  importance  occurred  to  vary  the 
routine  of  farm  life  ffir  him  in  his  boyhood 
days.  He  attended  the  public  schools  and  when 
not  occupied  with  his  te.xt-books  worked  in  the 
fields,  assisting  his  father  on  the  home  farm  u]) 
to  the  time  of  his  majority  and  acquiring  thereby 
a  practical  knowledge  of  the  best  methods  of 
conducting  farming  and.  stock-raising  interests,  so 
that  he  was  well  qualified  to  engage  in  business 
on  his  own  account  when  he  started  out  in  life 
for  himself. 

Mr.  Wilkening  was  married  in  his  native  comi- 
ty, .\pril  29,  1888,  to  Miss  Sophia  Lucke,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  that  county.  They  re- 
moved to  Inxjuois  county,  where  he  had  pur- 
chased a  farm  tlie  year  before  and  ujxni  which 
they  began  their  domestic  life.  He  resolutely 
umlertook  the  task  of  further  developing  and 
improving  this  place  and  the  present  attractive 
twtKStory  residence,  built  in  modern  style  of 
architecture  stands  as  a  monument  to  his  enter- 
prise, for  it  was  erected  under  his  direction.  He 
has  three  good  barns,  one  silo,  and  he  keeps 
everything  alxiut  his  place  in  excellent  repair. 
He  has  inrhaps  the  only  farm  in  this  locality 
with  a  silo  and  he  puts  up  ensilege.  He  has  all 
of  the  modern  farm  machinery  and  thus  the  work 
of  his  fields  is  greatly  facilitated.  He  has  set 
out  much    fruit   and   has  drained   the  I:md.     In 


connection  with  general  farming  he  raises  good 
dairy  stock  and  is  engaged  quite  extensively  in 
the  manufacture  of  butter,  the  product  being  of 
excellent  (juality  that  it  finds  a  most  ready  sale 
upon  the  market.  Mr.  Wilkening  is  an  alert, 
enterprising  farmer  and  stock-raiser.  He  has 
also  bought  land  in  Minnesota  and  though  he 
commenced  life  empty-handed  he  is  today  a  sub- 
stantial agriculturist  with  large,  valuable  and 
profitable  holdings. 

Mr.  Wilkening  lost  iiis  first  wile  in  iS<).?.  her 
death  having  occurred  in  the  month  of  I'ebruary. 
She  had  many  friends  and  her  loss  occasioned 
much  .sadness  to  those  who  knew  her.  She  left 
two  children,  Lydia  and  Tholinda. 

.Mr.  Wilkening  was  married  again  in  Will 
county,  <  )ctober  23.  1894,  to  Miss  Bertha  Tatge, 
a  native  of  Will  county,  who  was  reared  and 
educated  there.  Following  their  marriage  they 
lived  in  Will  county  for  about  two  years,  as  he 
had  his  own  place  rented.  I*"ive  children  have 
been  born  of  the  second  union.  Amiel.  Julia, 
Tilla.  Henry  and  Willie. 

The  i)areiits  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  the  faith  of  which  they  were  reared, 
and  Mr.  Wilkening's  political  views  are  in  har- 
mony with  reiniblican  principles.  He  has 
served  as  township  clerk  for  five  years  and  for  si.x 
years  has  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
his  decisions  being  strictly  fair  and  impartial,  so 
that  he  is  a  most  trustworthy  official.  He  is 
one  of  the  well  known  public  men  of  the  county 
and  is  a  po])ular  citizen,  possessing  a  genial  man- 
ner and  cordial  disposition  as  well  as  public  spirit 
and  business  enterprise.  These  qualities  have 
gained  for  him  favorable  place  in  the  regard  of 
those  who  know  him. 


CH.\RLES  L.  PRUITT. 

Charles  L.  Pruitt  is  extensively  engaged  in 
farming  aiul  stock-raising.  He  owns  three  farms 
com])risiiig  aliout  six  hundretl  acres  in  Milford 
:md  Lovejoy  townships,  his  home  being  on  sec- 
tion 3  of  the  latter  tcnvnship.  He  was  also  born 
in  that  township,  his  natal  day  being  December 
4.  iS</>.  His  ])arents  were  Joseph  and  .\ugusta 
(Hurd)    I'ruitt.  who  are  meirtioned  on  aiioiher 


498 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


page  of  this  volume.  Charles  L.  I'ruitl  was 
adopted  by  his  uncle.  Albert  P.  Hurd.  when  but 
a  child  and  by  him  was  reared  upon  a  farm,  while 
in  the  district  schools  he  acquired  his  preliminary 
education.  Later  he  attended  the  high  school  in 
Wellington  and  in  Milford,  and  subsequently  the 
Onarga  Seminary,  thus  being  well  fitted  for  life's 
practical  and  responsible  duties  by  a  thorough 
education.  He  remained  with  his  uncle  until  the 
latter's  death  and  cared  for  his  uncle  and  aunt 
during  their  last  days,  thus  requiting  them  for 
the  attention  and  love  which  they  had  bestowed 
upon  him  in  his  bo_\'hood  and  youth.  He  early 
became  familiar  with  the  work  of  the  farm,  as 
he  assisted  in  the  labors  of  the  fields  and  was 
thus  well  prepared  to  manage  a  farm  when  he 
started  out  in  life  for  himself. 

^Ir.  Pruitt  was  married  in  Sheldon,  Illinois, 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1896,  to  Miss  Alartha 
B.  Smalley,  a  native  of  Iroquois  county  and  a 
daughter  of  David  Smalley,  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers who  came  to  Iroquois  county  in  1873  and 
opened  up  a  farm  on  section  3,  Prairie  Green 
township,  where  he  carried  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  for  some  years,  after  which  he  re- 
moved to  Sheldon,  where  he  now  resides,  having 
retired  from  active  business  life.  Airs.  Pruitt 
w'as  born  and  reared  here  and  was  educated  in 
the  home  schools  and  in  the  college  at  Eureka, 
Illinois. 

Following  his  marriage  Air.  Pruitt  resided 
with  his  uncle  for  a  year  and  then  located  on  his 
own  farm,  wdiich  adjoined  his  uncle's  place.  He 
had  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land 
there  and  he  resolutely  undertook  the  task  of  its 
further  development  and  improvement.  He 
added  to  and  remodeled  the  house,  built  a  good 
barn  and  large  corn  crib  with  elevator  and  made 
a  neat  place.  In  the  spring  of  1906  he  returned 
to  the  old  Hurd  farm,  where  he  now  has  a  com- 
fortable home.  There  is  a  fine  walnut  grove 
on  the  place,  together  with  much  fruit  and  all 
of  the  equipments  and  accessories  of  a  model 
farm  of  the  twentieth  century.  In  connection 
with  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  he  also  raises 
good  cattle  and  hogs.  He  is  very  successful, 
owing  to  his  capable  management  and  his  long 
experience. 

Mr.  Pruitt  is  a  stalwart  advocate  of  rcpulilican 
principles,   being   thoroughly    in    sympathy    with 


the  party  and  its  platform.  He  was  elected  and 
served  as  township  school  trustee  for  three  years 
while  in  Milford  township,  has  likewise  been 
commissioner  of  highways  for  three  years  and 
yet  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the  sense  of 
office  seeking.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church  at  Alilford  and  Air.  Pruitt  at- 
tends its  services  and  contributes  liberally  to  its 
support.  He  is  identified  through  membership 
relations  with  Alilford  lodge.  No.  211,  K.  P. 
In  a  review  of  his  life  it  will  be  seen  that  his 
years  have  been  fraught  with  earnest  toil  and  he 
early  came  to  a  realization  of  the  fact  that  in 
America  "labor  is  king."  He  knew  that  to  win 
success  he  must  work  diligently  and  persevering- 
ly  and  because  of  the  qualities  he  has  thus  mani- 
fested he  has  gained  a  place  among  the  most 
pros]jerous  agriculturists  of  this  part  of  the  state, 
his  landed  interests  being  very  extensive  and 
valuable. 


SAIITH  S.  SIAIPKINS. 

Smith  S.  Simpkins,  a  son  of  .-Vbsalom  S.  and 
Elizabeth  (Bond)  Simpkins  and  a  native  of 
Alontgomery  county,  Pennsylvania,  is  living  on 
section  26,  Fountain  township,  where  he  owns 
and  operates  eighty-two  acres  of  land  and  he  is 
also  cultivating  a  tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  which  he  rents.  He  was  born  July  ly, 
1853,  and  was  therefore  a  _\'oung  man  of  twenty- 
five  years  when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  in 
1886.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of  the  Key- 
stone state  and  the  father,  who  was  reared  in 
Alontgomcrv  county,  was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 
With  his  family  he  removed  to  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  in  1855,  and,  purchasing  land  there,  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred when  he  was  fifty-five  years  of  age.  His 
wife  survived  him  for  ten  years  and  died  at  the 
age  of  fifty-seven. 

Smith  S.  Simpkins,  the  youngest  of  their  fam- 
ily of  nine  children,  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  had  good  common-school  advantages. 
When  fourteen  years  of  age  he  began  earning 
his  own  livelihood  and  was  employed  at  farm 
labor  up  to  the  time  of  his  marriage,  which  w"as 
celebrated  December  17,  1875,  the  lady  of  his 
choice   being   Aliss    Sarah    E.    Fr\-,    a   native    of 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


499 


llrowii  county,  Oliio.  and  a  daiigliUr  of  Julm 
Frv,  wlio  was  also  born  in  that  state,  lie  after- 
ward worked  by  tbe  month  for  ciijhl  years,  wlien 
he  removed  to  Irocinois  county,  where  he  rented 
land  and  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits 
for  fifteen  years.  When  he  had  acijuireil  capital 
sufficient  to  justify  his  purchase  of  a  farm  he  in- 
vested in  eighty-two  acres  on  section  2(>.  1-oun- 
tain  township,  where  he  now  resides,  and  he  has 
since  improved  the  buildings,  put  up  good  fences, 
laid  tiling  and  otherwise  developed  a  good  farm. 
I'or  the  last  tliree  years  he  has  also  leased  and 
cultivated  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  and  hi; 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  thoroughbred  Poland 
China  hogs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simpkins  have  become  the  par- 
ents of  two  sons.  Emmet  married  Tabitha  Judv. 
a  daughter  of  Jehu  Judy,  and  they  have  a  daugh- 
ter, Ldith.  They  live  upon  a  farm  in  Fountain 
township.  Charles,  who  married  Sylvia  Reed, 
is  also  an  agriculturist  of  I'ountain  townshijj. 
The  parents  are  members  of  the  United  IJrethren 
churcli,  of  which  Mr.  Simpkins  is  a  trustee,  and 
he  has  never  missed  an  election  since  casting  his 
first  presidential  vote  for  Grant.  He  docs  not 
seek  office,  preferring  his  farming  interests. 


GEORGE  RI\'.\RU. 


George  Rivard,  in  former  years  identified  with 
farming  interests  but  now  living  retired  in  Clif- 
ton, yet  owns  lw<>  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
land  in  .\shkum  township,  together  with  other 
properly  interests  that  rank  him  with  the  sub- 
stantial residents  of  Iroquois  county.  He  was 
the  ninth  in  order  of  birth  in  a  family  of  ten 
children  whose  parents  were  .\.  C.  and  ( Icneva 
(Ern'l  Rivard.  and  was  born  in  Montreal.  Can- 
ada, on  the  iCt[h  of  .September,  1835.  His  edu- 
cational i)rivileges  were  somewhat  limited  but 
experience,  reading  and  observation  have  added 
greatly  to  his  knowledge.  He  came  to  the  I'nited 
States  in  1845.  when  a  youth  of  ten  years,  and 
took  up  his  abode  at  P.ourbonnais  Grove  in  Kan- 
kakee county,  Illinois. 

There  he  remained  until  185 1,  when  at  llie 
age  f)f  sixteen  years  he  went  to  California  to  take 
up  a  mining  claim.     Making  his  w.tv  ■•  k! w.nil 


to  New  York,  he  thence  proccced  by  boat  <lown 
the  .\tlantic  coast  and  crossed  the  isthnuis  by 
the  Nicarauga  route.  While  on  the  ship  an  epi- 
demic of  yellow  fever  broke  out  on  board  and 
alxjut  twenty  of  the  passengers  died.  When  the 
vessel  reached  the  San  I'rancisco  wharf  Mr. 
Rivard  was  laid  out  in  one  of  the  warehouses  for 
dead,  but  some  one  discovered  that  life  was  not 
extinct  and  lie  was  taken  to  the  government 
hospital,  where  he  was  later  laid  out  a  second 
time  for  dead.  Again  he  revived  and  his  strength 
gradually  returned,  .\fter  three  and  a  half 
months  spent  in  the  hospital  he  went  to  Placer 
county,  California,  where  he  staked  out  a  claim 
and  for  five  years  he  had  the  varied  ex]x"riences 
of  a  frontier  miner  of  that  period.  In  1857  he 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Kankake  county,  Illi- 
nois, but  in  1858  he  again  suffered  an  attack  of 
gold  fever  and  went  to  Pike's  Peak,  thus  start- 
ing west  a  second  time  to  try  his  fortune  as  a 
miner.  On  reaching  his  destination,  however,  he 
did  not  like  the  looks  of  the  place,  so  made  his 
way  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  He  was  no  bet- 
ter suited  there  and  returned  to  Kansas,  where 
he  homesteaded  a  quarter  section  of  land,  .\fter 
acquiring  a  title  to  that  property  he  returned  to 
Kankakee  county,  Illinois,  in  1859.  The  follow- 
ing year  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Ashkum  town- 
shi]).  which  he  still  owns  and  which  he  contin- 
uously and  successfully  ci])crated  until  1896, 
bringing  the  fields  under  a  high  state  of  cultiva- 
tion and  adding  many  modern  improvements.  In 
1896  he  put  aside  the  arduous  duties  inciflcnt  to 
cultivating  the  farm  and  removed  to  Clifton, 
where  he  now  resides.  Here  he  has  three  and  a 
half  acres  of  land  and  a  comfortable  residence 
built  in  modern  style  of  architecture.  He  also 
owns  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Lvon  county,  Kansas,  in  addition  to  his  valuable 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Ashkum 
township. 

(  )n  the  2''>th  of  July.  1862,  Mr.  Rivard  was 
united  in  marriage  at  St.  .\nne.  Illinois,  to  Miss 
.\dclaide  Drolet,  and  unto  them  have  been  born 
twelve  children :  Ferdinand,  Leona,  Willie, 
Lena,  .\da,  Josephine,  Phillip,  .Xdolph.  Laura, 
.\nita,  Lizzie  and  .\ima.  His  own  lack  of  edu- 
cation and  the  disadvantages  from  which  he 
snlterod  thereby  led  Mr.  Rivard  to  provide  his 
children    with   ixiclli  iit   opiiortniiilies   in   th;it    di- 


;oo 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


rection   and   all    have   had    the    privilege   of   at- 
tending good  schools. 

Since  coming  to  the  United  States  Mr.  Rivard 
has  been  loyal  in  his  attachment  to  the  country 
and  its  interests  and  in  1862  he  made  application 
for  enlistment  in  the  Union  Army  but  was  re- 
jected on  account  of  physical  disability.  In  1858 
he  was  employed  as  teamster,  hauling  government 
supplies  on  the  frontier  for  a  few  months.  He 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  James  Buchanan 
and  has  always  been  a  stalwart  advocate  of  de- 
mocracy, and  while  on  the  farm  he  served  as 
pathmaster  at  various  times  but  has  not  been 
active  as  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seek- 
ing. Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Catholic   church  of  Clifton. 


JAMES  I.  GORDON. 

James  I.  Gordon  is  a  retired  farmer  who  re- 
sides on  section  21,  Ashkum  township,  where 
he  owns  one  hundred  and  forty-four  acres  of 
land.  He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Jennie  Gordon, 
who  were  of  English  and  Scotch  descent,  and  his 
birth  occurred  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  July 
29,  1829.  He  was  the  eldest  in  a  family  of  four 
children,  the  others  being  Henry  and  Joseph, 
twins ;  and  Nancy. 

James  I.  Gordon  remained  in  his  native  coun- 
try until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when,  on  the 
20th  of  June,  1850,  he  sailed  from  England  and 
after  a  seven  weeks'  voyage  landed  at  New  York. 
He  lived  in  Livingston  and  Genesee  counties, 
that  state,  until  1857,  when  he  came  to  Illinois, 
settling  in  Kankakee,  where  he  resided  until 
1865.  He  then  removed  to  Ashkum  township. 
Iroquois  county,  and  has  since  lived  in  this  lo- 
cality. His  life  has  been  devoted  to  general 
agricultural  pursuits  and  as  the  years  have  passed 
he  has  gained  a  good  financial  return  as  the 
reward  for  his  enterprise  and  diligence. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  married  to  Miss  Olive  Hough- 
ton, at  Rockvillc,  Illinois,  November  18,  i860, 
and  they  have  become  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children :  Nelson  J.,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  living 
in  South  Dakota ;  Herrick  J.,  who  follows  farm- 
ing in  Danforth  township,  Iroquois  county; 
Henry,  deceased ;  Frank  E.,  an  nttnrncv  of  Osce- 


ola, Iowa;  George  S.,  who  has  departed  this  life; 
Lizzie  I.,  the  wife  of  Frank  A.  Johnston,  a  resi- 
dent farmer  of  Ashkum  township ;  Wilmer  A., 
deceased ;  Minnie  I.,  the  wife  of  Charles  Dusing, 
of  Pocahontas,  Iowa ;  Lillie  B.,  the  wife  of 
Alfred  Bernard,  a  carpenter  of  Atlanta,  \\"iscon- 
sin;  Clarence  L.,  who  married  Viola  Peters  and 
is  a  telegraph  operator  on  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  located  at  Irwin,  Illinois ;  Newton  E., 
who  married  ^liss  Lizzie  Houghton  and  is  a 
farmer  of  Ashkum  township ;  Walter  E.,  who 
married  Anna  Neubewer  and  is  a  farmer  of  Ash- 
kum township ;  and  Fred  A.,  who  wedded  Anna 
Jacobs  and  operates  his  father's  farm. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gordon  is  a  very  emphatic  re- 
publican, having  supported  the  party  throughout 
his  entire  life.  He  has  served  as  school  director 
for  the  past  ten  years  and  the  cause  of  education 
finds  in  him  a  warm  friend.  He  belongs  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  the  village  of 
Ashkum  and  his  life  has  been  in  harmony  with 
his  professions.  Mr.  Gordon  has  now  passed  the 
seventy-seventh  milestone  on  the  journey  of  life 
and  since  attaining  his  majority  has  been  a' resi- 
dent of  America.  No  native  son  is  more  loyal  to 
the  interests  of  the  country  and  in  the  new  world 
lie  foimd  good  business  opportunities  and  is  today 
enabled  to  live  in  comfort  and  ease,  leaving  to 
others  the  arduous  cares  of  the  farm  and  its 
business  management. 


GEORGE  SOWERS  IIU.MMER. 

George  Sowers  Hummer  is  the  leading  hard- 
ware merchant  of  Sheldon  and  one  of  the  prom- 
inent Masons  of  this  part  of  the  state.  Since 
1 881  he  has  been  continuously  connected  with 
the  commercial  interests  of  the  town,  and  in  Shel- 
don his  name  has  become  known  as  a  syuduym 
for  business  enterprise  and  integrity.  A  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  he  was  born  in  York  county, 
[uue  ,^0,  1845,  li's  parents  being  John  and  Julia 
Ann  (Sowers)  Hummer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  while  the  mother  came  of  Holland 
ancestry.  John  Hummer  was  a  merchant  and 
also  followed  farming  for  a  time.  He  died  in 
Pennsylvania,  where  four  of  his  children  are  yet 


MR.  AXI)  MRS.   lAMKS  I.  GORDON'. 


Li:     iHt 

urgivERsnv  of  Illinois 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


503 


living.  Tlicrc  wore  six  in  tlic  family,  .nnd  five 
still  survive. 

Cieor^c  J^mviTS  llnmmer.  the  only  ri-i>reM.nta- 
tivc  of  the  family  in  Illinois,  was  eilucaled  in  the 
Keystone  state  and  in  early  business  life  spent 
one  year  in  a  hardware  store  at  York,  remisyl- 
vania.  Later  he  attended  the  Cumbcrlaml  In- 
stitute and  afterward  OJiuinued  his  education  in 
the  York  County  Academy  in  rennsylvania.  He 
then  went  upon  the  railroad  as  conductor  for 
si.x  years  on  a  freight  and  traffic  line,  but  think- 
ing to  enjoy  still  better  business  oi)portnnities  in 
the  middle  west  he  came  to  Sheldon  in  A])ril, 
1881,  and  established  a  hardware  store,  which 
he  has  since  conducted.  He  is  now  the  oldest 
business  man  in  the  city  in  years  of  continuous 
connection  witii  mercantile  interests.  He  carries 
a  complete  line  of  shelf  and  heavy  hardware,  and 
his  store  is  located  in  the  central  i)art  of  the 
business  district.  All  of  tiie  time  he  has  con- 
tinued in  one  building  save  for  about  three  years, 
when  he  occupied  the  adjoining  building,  and  he 
is  known  as  the  leading  hardware  merchant  in 
Sheldon. 

Mr.  Hummer  was  married  in  Pennsylvania  to 
Miss  I-'rances  A.  Myers,  who  was  born  in  .\dams 
county,  that  state,  and  was  a  sister  of  Mr.  Myers, 
a  shoe  dealer  of  Sheldon.  They  had  no  children 
but  reared  an  ado])ted  son  from  the  age  of  seven 
years.  He  is  now  a  young  man  and  has  for  some 
years  been  associated  with  Mr.  Hummer  in  busi- 
ness. His  proper  name  is  P.  Ingles  Darnell  but 
he  is  everywhere  known  by  the  name  of  I.  1). 
Hummer.  He  married  ^liss  Dora  McKccver. 
of  .'^heldon,  and  they  have  one  child.  Mr.  Hum- 
mer lost  his  wife  July  31.  i<)0^.  She  was  a  de- 
vout member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a 
lady  of  many  excellent  traits  of  heart  and  iiiind. 
so  that  she  endeared  herself  to  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 

Politically  Mr.  Hummer  is  a  republican  and 
for  two  years  has  served  as  supervisor  of  Shel- 
don tfiwnship.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
town  board  of  .Sheldon  since  May  2,  H;oO,  and 
is  now  clerk  of  the  Ixjard.  He  is  also  city  clerk 
of  .^hcldon  and  his  eflforts  in  behalf  of  comnnmity 
interests  are  far-reaching  and  bineficial.  More- 
over, he  is  one  of  the  distinguished  Masons  of 
this  part  of  the  state,  having  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  the  Scottish  rite.     He  belongs 


to  Sheldon  lodge,  No.  Gcxj,  .\.  F.  &  .\.  M.,  \an 
Rensselaer  lodge  of  Perfection,  at  Chicago  and 
the  Ciiicago  council  of  the  Princes  of  Jerusalem, 
(lorgas  cha|)ter  <.)f  the  Rose  of  Croix,  at  Chicago, 
and  Oriental  consistory  S.  P.  R.  S..  at  Chiaigo. 
He  is  likewise  identified  with  W'atseka  cha])ter, 
Xo.  114.  R.  .\.  M..  Watseka  council,  R.  & 
S.  M..  Mary  commandery,  No.  67,  K.  T., 
at  Watseka.  and  .Sheldon  chapter.  No.  485.  O. 
!•'.  .^.,  together  with  the  National  \'eteran  .\sso- 
ciation.  at  Chicago.  He  has  held  many  offices 
in  the  blue  lodge  at  Sheldon  and  was  worshipful 
master  for  six  years.  He  has  also  been  district 
deputy  grand  master  from  this  district  and  has 
also  been  grand  steward  of  the  grand  lodge.  He 
was  one  of  the  members  of  Fraternal  C<iurtesy 
commandery  for  four  years.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  the  organization  of  the  Eastern  Star  chap- 
ter at  Sheldon,  to  which  his  wife  also  belonged, 
and  he  has  always  been  nnich  interested  in  lodge 
work,  being  one  of  the  best  posted  Masons  in 
the  county,  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the 
teachings,  tenets  and  purposes  of  the  craft.  He 
holds  membership  in  the  Presbyterian  church  and 
his  life  displays  those  traits  which  work  for  hon- 
orable, upright  character  and  which  render  the 
life  of  the  individual  of  benefit  to  his  fellowmen. 


FRANK  M.  CR ANCLE. 

Frank  M.  Crangle.  a  lawyer  ])racticing  at  the 
bar  of  lro(|uois  county  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Crangle  &  \"cnnum.  one  of  the  strongest  law 
firms  of  Watseka.  was  born  in  ( irundy  county. 
Illinois.  January  3.  1861.  His  father.  James 
Crangle.  now  living  retired,  at  (iilman,  was  for 
many  years  identified  with  agricultural  interests 
in  .\sh  Grove  township.  He  was  Ixirn  in  Coimty 
Down,  Ireland.  March  17,  1832,  on  the  farm 
where  his  father,  James  Crangle.  was  born  and 
reared.  His  mother  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Mary  I'.rennan.  and  in  1840  the  family  sailed  for 
.\merica,  the  vessel  on  which  they  t<wk  passage 
weighing  anchfjr  at  \\'arren  Point,  on  the  23d 
of  .\])ril.  and  reaching  the  harbor  of  New  York 
on  the  28th  day  of  May.  With  his  wife  and 
children  James  Crangle,  Sr.,  m.ide  his  way  to 
(irundv  countv,  Illinois,  ami  worked  <in  the  canal, 


504 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


but  his  death  occurred  about  1843,  after  which 
his  widow  returned  to  Ireland.  Both  were  iiieni- 
bcrs  of  the  Catholic  church. 

James  Crangle,  Sr.,  was  only  eight  years  of 
age  at  the  time  of  the  emigration  to  the  new 
world,  and  when  a  youth  of  ten  he  began  earning 
his  living  as  a  farm  hand,  being  in  the  employ 
of  one  man  for  seven  years.  He  carefully  saved 
his  earnings  during  that  period,  and  at  length 
his  capital  justified  his  purchase  of  eighty  acres 
of  land,  whereon  he  engaged  in  farming  in 
Grundy  county  until  1869,  save  for  the  period 
of  his  services  in  the  Civil  war.  On  the  loth  of 
August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  support  of  the  Union 
cause,  becoming  a  member  of  Company  D,  Sev- 
enty-second Illinois  Infantry,  which  was  organ- 
ized at  Chicago,  Colonel  Fred  .Starring  being 
in  command.  The  troops  were  sent  south  to 
Cairo,  thence  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  to  Oxford, 
Mississippi,  and  afterward  to  ^lemphis,  Tennes- 
see, where  the  winter  was  passed.  In  the  spring 
they  started  from  Wilkin's  Bend  for  \'icksburg 
by  way  of  Grand  Gulf,  participating  in  the  battle 
of  Champion  Hill  under  (jeneral  Grant.  In  a 
charge  of  \'icksburg  Company  D  lost  half  of  its 
number  but  continued  to  participate  in  the  siege 
until  the  surrender  of  the  city  on  the  4th  of 
July.  With  his  regiment  .Mr.  Crangle  went  to 
Natchez  and  spent  the  following  winter  in  \'icks- 
burg  on  provost  duty.  Jjecause  of  impaired 
health  he  was  brevetted  to  the  \'eteran  Reserve 
Corps  and  for  two  or  three  months  was  stationed 
at  Fort  Lincoln  in  Washington,  while  the  re- 
mainder of  his  service  was  in  guarding  prisoners 
at  Rock  Island,  where  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July   17,    1863. 

When  the  country  no  longer  needed  his  aid  Mr. 
Crangle  returned  to  his  home  in  Grundy  county 
and  was  there  extensively  engaged  in  raising 
stock.  In  1869  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county 
and  purchased  a  farm  of  two  hundred  acres  on 
section  6,  Ash  Grove  township,  which  he  im- 
proved and  made  his  home  until  1893,  when  he 
retired  to  Gilman,  where  he  is  now  residing  in 
the  enjoyment  of  the  fruits  nf  his  former  toil. 

On  the  29th  of  November.  1855,  James 
Crangle  was  married  in  Pirookfield  townshiii.  La 
Salle  county.  Illinois,  to  Miss  Bridget  O'Farrcll. 
a  native  of  (Ottawa,  and  a  daughter  of  Frank  and 
Marv  CCarev')  O'Farrell.      Unto  tliem  were  born 


thirteen  children,  of  whom  ten  are  now  living. 
The  seven  youngest  were  natives  of  this  county 
and  the  others  were  born  in  Grundy  county. 
James  Crangle  and  his  family  are  all  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  church  and  he  has  been 
president  of  the  Farmers  Mutual  Benevolent  As- 
sociation. In  former  years  he  held  membership 
with  Williams  post.  No.  25,  G.  .\.  R..  at  Wat- 
seka,  and  later  became  connected  with  Crescent 
post.  No.  717,  G.  A.  R.,  and  now  the  post  at  Gil- 
man.  With  the  exception  of  the  \ear  1864, 
when  he  supported  Lincoln  at  the  polls  Mr. 
Crangle  has  been  a  stalwart  democrat  since  cast- 
ing his  first  presidential  ballot  for  James 
Buchanan.  He  has  held  some  local  ofiices  and 
has  frequently  attended  the  conventions  of  his 
partv,  and  is  now,  and  has  been  for  several  years 
alderman  of  his  city.  His  residence  in  the  state 
covers  a  period  of  two-thirds  of  a  century  and 
he  justly  merits  the  rest  which  he  is  now 
enjoying. 

Frank  M.  Crangle  was  reared  upon  his  father's 
farm.  He  early  gave  evidence  of  the  trend  of 
his  mind  toward  intellectual  pursuits  and  logical- 
ly entered  upon  a  professional  career.  After 
attending  the  district  schools  he  spent  one  year 
in  Grand  Prairie  Seminary,  at  Onarga,  and  after 
passing  an  examination  in  the  spring  of  1876 
was  awarded  a  teacher's  certificate  and  taught  his 
first  school  in  the  following  autumn  in  the  Search 
Underwood  district,  although  not  then  seventeen 
years  of  age.  During  the  succeeding  six  years 
he  taught  school  and  at  intervals  attended  the 
Grand  Prairie  Seminary.  In  1886,  he  entered 
u]K)n  the  service,  which  continued  four  years, 
as  principal  of  the  graded  schools  of  Crescent 
City,  and  in  i8i)o,  after  three  months  spent  as 
teacher  of  the  Buckley  schools,  he  resigned  to 
acce])l  the  office  of  couiUy  su])erintendent  of 
schools,  to  which  he  was  then  elected.  While  the 
usual  republican  majority  in  the  county  had 
lirevinusK-  been  more  than  seven  hundred,  upon 
the  democratic  ticket  he  received  a  majority  of 
five  himdred  and  ninety-one  votes,  which  indi- 
cated his  |)ersonal  ])iipularily  and  the  cunfidence 
of  his  fellow  townsmen  reposed  in  his  professional 
aliility.  \\'hile  engaged  in  teaching  his  leisure 
hours  were  devoted  to  the  study  of  law.  and  after 
securing  admission  to  the  bar  he  practiced  for  a 
year  alone  in  Watseka.     He  then  formed  a  part- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


505 


nershii)  with  Robert  Doyle,  tin.-  sajjc  of  tlic  Im- 
qiiois  county  bar  and  this  tirin  was  continued  for 
three  years  when  Mr.  Doyle  went  to  California. 
He  then  became  the  senior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Crangle  &  \'cnnum,  which  is  still  in  existence. 
Thev  have  been  comiectetl  with  litii;ated  interests 
in  all  the  ditferent  courts,  includinji  various 
cases  in  the  supreme  court  and  Mr.  Craiifjle  is 
recognized  as  a  man  who  has  dis|ila\eil  broad 
and  accurate  knowledge  concerning  the  |)rincii)les 
of  jurisprudence,  and  is  logical  in  his  deductions 
ami  sound  in  his  argument.  He  has  won  a  ])osi- 
tion  of  niore  than  local  distinction  at  the  bar  and 
his  clientage  is  constantly  increasing. 

Mr.  Cranglc's  jKilitical  affiliations  have  always 
been  with  the  democracy,  and  he  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  leaders  of  the  party,  having  been  elected 
in  i&X).  aud  again  in  i8<;4.  to  represent  his  dis- 
trict in  the  state  legislature  and  is  at  this  ilate 
chairman  of  the  Irocpiois  county  democratic  cen- 
tral committee.  Fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  ( )rder 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Wocxlmen,  while 
his  religious  faith  is  that  of  the  Catholic  church. 
He  is  a  ready  and  fluent  speaker  and  is  the  orator 
for  many  fraternal  meetings  held  in  IriHiuois 
county  and  elsewhere.  Endowed  by  nature  with 
strong  mentality,  possessing  a  laudable  ambition 
to  win  success,  he  has  so  directed  his  labors  that 
he  has  made  constant  advancement  in  those  lines 
of  life  demanding  honesty,  intellectuality  and  un- 
faltering activity.  His  life  motto  is.  ".Never  do 
anything  for  which  you  have  to  apologize." 


II.   N.  T.XLnERT. 


H.  N.  Talbert,  who  is  now  living  retired  in 
Onarga,  was  for  many  years  an  active  and  pros- 
perous fanner  and  stock-raiser  of  Onarga  town- 
shi])  and  is  still  the  owner  of  a  well  improved 
and  valuable  farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty 
acres.  Moreover,  he  is  a  native  son  of  the  coun- 
ty, his  birth  having  occurred  on  the  old  home 
farm  I'ebruary  29.  1856,  and  as  the  years  have 
come  and  gone  he  has  kept  pace  with  the  general 
|>rogress  which  has  converted  a  wild  and  un- 
broken   district    into   one    of   the    riilii-»l    .isjriciil- 


tural  counties  of  this  great  state.  His  father, 
( leorge  Talbcrt,  came  to  Illinois  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  was  married  in  liuliana  and  located 
in  (  >narga  township,  where  he  secured  a  tract  of 
wild  land  and  transformetl  it  into  a  fertile  farm. 
When  the  country  became  involved  in  civil  war 
and  needed  the  aid  of  her  loyal  sons  he  joined  the 
army  as  a  member  of  the  Ninth  Illinois  Cavalry 
and  died  in  the  field  hospital  in  Missouri  in  1862, 
thus  giving  his  life  as  a  ransom  for  the  cause 
of  the  Union.  His  wife  had  died  about  i8<Jo. 
Their  family  numbered  three  sons,  of  whom 
Fdward  died  when  a  xouml;  man  of  eighteen 
years. 

From  early  youth  II.  .\.  lalbert  has  been 
dependent  uyinn  his  own  resources.  He  was  left 
an  ori)han  when  only  six  years  old  and  his  early 
education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools, 
while  later  he  attended  a  seminary  at  Onarga 
for  five  terms.  When  he  reached  manhood  he 
sought  a  companion  and  hel])mate  for  the  jour- 
ney of  life  and  was  married  in  Onarga  township, 
Januar)  7.  iS/t).  to  Miss  .\nna  Lyman,  who  was 
born  in  Illinois  and  was  reared  here.  She  is  a 
lady  of  culture  and  refinement,  having  been  pro- 
vided with  gixid  educational  privileges  and  siir. 
rounded  in  her  girlhood  days  with  the  environ- 
ments of  a  ])leasant   home. 

Following  his  marriage  Mr.  Talbert  resolutely 
t(X>k  up  the  work  of  cultivating  and  improving 
his  farm  and  as  the  years  passed  he  ailded  many 
modern  e(|uipments.  He  rected  a  gtKxl  residence 
and  in  the  rear  jiut  up  substantial  barns  and  corn 
cribs.  He  also  added  stock  scales  and  a  wind 
pump  to  the  ])lace,  together  with  the  latest  im- 
proved machinery  for  the  work  of  the  fields. 
Many  rods  of  tiling  were  jilaced  upon  his  land, 
thus  draining  it  of  the  superlluous  moisture  and 
rendering  it  much  more  productive.  Fences  ap- 
portione<l  the  farm  into  fields  of  convenient  size 
and  in  connection  with  the  work  of  raising 
cereals  Mr.  Talbert  engaged  in  raising  and  feed- 
ing stock,  finding  this  a  profitable  source  of  in- 
come. He  bred  and  raised  a  colt  that  won  third 
premium  at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition. 
He  made  a  specialty  of  standard-bred  horses  and 
also  good  hogs,  which  he  fattened  for  the  mar- 
ket. His  time  and  energies  were  thus  given  to 
general  agricultural  interests  until  1901,  when 
he  left  the  farm  and  removed  to  ( )narL'a.  where 


5o6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


he  purchased  a  fine  residence  that  he  now 
occupies. 

The  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Talbert  has, been 
blessed  with  four  children.  Lyman,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  operates  the  old  home  farm,  has  two 
children,  Helen  and  Ralph.  Clara  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Gray,  a  farmer  of  Onarga  township,  and 
they  have  one  son.  Nelson.  Jessie,  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  is  at  home.  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Talbert 
also  lost  one  child,  Z^Iyrtle,  in  infancy. 

Politically  !Mr.  Talbert  is  a  stalwart  republican. 
He  served  as  a  member  of  the  school  board  but 
otherwise  held  nor  desired  public  office.  He  filled 
all  of  the  offices  in  the  Onarga  lodge  of  Odd 
Fellows,  of  which  he  is  now  a  past  grand  and 
also  the  treasurer,  and  for  two  years  he  repre- 
sented the  lodge  in  the  grand  lodge,  while  he  and 
his  w^ife  are  connected  with  the  Rebekah  degree. 
Investigation  into  his  life  history  shows  much 
that  is  commendable.  Left  an  orphan  at  an  early 
age,  without  the  guiding  influence  of  a  good 
home  to  shape  character  and  set  an  example  for 
business  activity  and  upright  living,  he  neverthe- 
less has  made  good  use  of  his  opportunities  and 
with  firm  and  unfaltering  purpose  he  resolutely 
accomplished  the  task  which  he  set  for  himself 
and  gained  a  place  among  the  substantial  resi- 
dents of  his  community.  His  business  methods, 
too,  have  been  thoroughly  reliable  and  trust- 
worthy, and  he  is  greatly  esteemed  in  Onarga  and 
throughout  the  countv  bv  all  who  know  him. 


WILLIAM 


[IMISOX. 


William  H.  Jimison,  a  resident  of  Iroquois 
county  since  1872,  is  well  known  as  an  exten- 
sive buyer  and  shipper  of  stock,  shipping  on  an 
average  of  about  forty  carloads  per  year.  He 
lives  in  Onargo  township,  owning  a  good  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  on  sections 
35  and  36.  His  close  application  to  his  business, 
his  keen  foresight  and  sagacity,  have  been  the 
salient  features  in  his  success  and  his  life  record 
is  one  that  might  be  profitably  followed  by  others. 

Piorn  in  Missouri,  he  first  opened  his  eyes  to 
the  light  of  day  in  Schuyler  county,  September 
lo,  1858.  His  father,  James  C.  Jimison,  was 
likewise  a  native  nf  that  state,  born  in  Pike  coun- 


i\,  where  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
were  passed.  There  he  wedded  Mary  Ashworth, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  and  subsequently  he  removed 
to  Schuyler  county,  where  he  carried  on  farm- 
ing for  a  number  of  years.  In  1872  he  took  up 
his  abode  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  making 
the  journev  across  the  countrj-  with  a  team.  He 
located  on  a  farm  at  Ash  Grove,  where  he  carried 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  for  several  years, 
but  he  is  now  li\'ing  retired,  his  home  being  at 
\\'atseka.  Through  a  long  period  he  carried  on 
the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and  harvesting  his 
crops  and  as  the  years  passed  he  added  annually 
to  his  income  until  his  competence  is  now  suffi- 
cient to  enable  him  to  rest  from  further  labor. 

William  H.  Jimison  was  a  youth  of  fourteen 
years  when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their 
removal  from  Missouri  to  Illinois.  He  was 
afl^'orded  good  common-school  advantages  and 
he  received  ample  and  practical  training  at  farm 
laljor,  aiding  his  father  in  the  improvement  and 
cultivation  of  the  homestead  property  until  after 
he  had  attained  his  majority  and  started  out  in 
life  on  his  own  account. 

He  was  married  in  ( )narga  township,  on  the 
2r)th  of  January,  1881,  to  ]\Iiss  Luary  Crumrine,  a 
native  of  Ohio,  who  was  reared,  however,  in  this 
ciiunty.  where  her  father,  Peter  Crumrine,  lo- 
cated at  a  very  early  day,  coming  from  Ohio. 
Following  their  marriage  the  young  couple  set- 
tled upon  a  rented  farm  in  Ash  Grove  township, 
where  they  lived  for  three  years.  They  after- 
ward rented  the  Grove  place  in  Onarga  town- 
ship for  four  years  and  during  that  period  lived 
economically  and  frugally.  The  financial  return 
from  the  crops  which  they  harvested  was  care- 
fully put  away  for  the  purpose  of  some  day  in- 
vesting in  land  and  about  seven  years  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  Jimison  purchased  one  hundred 
and  fortv-fivc  acres  of  the  Boswell  place  in 
Onarga  township.  Here  he  has  since  resided, 
and  with  characteristic  energy  he  began  the  task 
of  further  developing  and  improving  the  prop- 
erty. He  keeps  in  touch  with  modern  progress 
along  agricultural  lines  and  a  glance  at  his  place 
indicates  his  careful  supervision  and  practical 
methods.  In  the  midst  of  richly  cultivated  fields 
stand  good  farm  buildings,  which  include  not 
only  a  comfortable  residence  but  barns,  cribs  and 
sheds  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.     He  also 


W.  H.  JBIISOX. 


I 


ILLIMOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


5oy 


has  stock  scales  and  inaii_\  nuKlcrii  «|uij)incnls 
and  much  of  tlic  latest  iinprnvcil  macliiiury. 
Since  liis  orifjinal  purchase  was  made  he  has 
added  cijjhty  acres  to  the  farm,  so  tliat  he  now 
has  an  excellent  property  of  about  two  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  acres.  Tiie  tiling  that  he 
has  done  has  draineil  his  land  and  made  the 
fields  very  productive.  He  has  also  built  fences 
which  divide  the  farm  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  or  into  pastures  whereon  his  live  stock 
grazes,  for  he  raises  and  feeds  both  cattle  and 
hops,  shipping  about  a  carload  of  cattle  and  the 
same  i>f  hogs  each  year.  In  connection  with  his 
brother.  E.  L.  Jimison,  he  owns  residence  prop- 
erty in  W'atscka.  Mis  business  is  carefully  man- 
aged and  his  diligence  and  jjerseverancc  havv 
resulted  in  gaining  for  him  a  desirable  place 
among  the  substantial  residents  of  the  county. 
In  i8t>8  he  suffered  an  accident,  falling  and 
breaking  his  ankle.  I'Vom  this  injury  he  has 
never  fully  recovered. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jimison  lias  been  born  one 
son.  l^arl  H..  still  at  home.  Mr.  Jimison  is 
prominent  in  their  ranks  of  the  (  )dd  I'elows  so- 
ciety and  has  passed  all  the  chairs  in  the  local 
lodge  at  Onarga  and  is  now  a  past  grand.  He 
has  also  been  one  of  the  representatives  to  the 
gran<l  lodge  of  the  state  and  is  a  member  of 
Paxton  camp,  while  he  and  his  wife  are  C'ln- 
nected  with  the  Rebekah  degree.  .Mr.  Jimison 
likewise  affiliates  with  the  Modern  W'ooilmen  of 
.\merica  and  the  Code  of  Honor.  Politically  he 
is  a  democrat.  He  believes  in  good  schools  and 
the  eniphnnient  of  competent  teachers  and  dur- 
ing fifteen  years'  service  on  the  school  board  has 
put  forth  effective  effort  in  behalf  of  the  system 
of  ])iiblic  education. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  imder  the  pressme 
of  a<lversity  and  the  stimulus  of  necessity  the 
best  and  strongest  in  men  are  brought  out  and 
developed  and  it  is  therefore  natural  that  the  rec- 
ord which  the  .\merican  citizen  holds  in  greatest 
hcjiior  is  the  record  of  a  self-made  man.  Mr. 
Jimison  deserves  all  the  praise  which  that  term 
implies,  for  on  attaining  his  majority  he  had  no 
capital  save  a  strong  determination  and  willing 
hands.  He  eagerly  embraced  every  opportunity 
that  was  oflFcred.  however,  and  as  the  years  have 
gone  by  has  gained  a  creditable  position  in  the 
business   world,   where   he   is  widelv  known    for 


his  activity  and  reliability.  Through  struggles 
to  success  seems  to  have  been  his  watchword  and 
at  all  events  it  is  the  epitome  of  his  life  reconl. 


M.NRTIX  IIEXKi:. 


Martin  Henke.  living  on  section  1.  .\lillord 
township,  possesses  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and 
determination  that  brooks  no  obstacles  but  car- 
ries forward  to  successful  completion  whatever 
he  undertakes.  He  has  been  a  resident  of  the 
county  since  1873  and  was  born  in  Prussia,  (ier- 
many.  on  the  3d  of  November,  1854.  so  that  he 
was  about  nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  t(X)k 
up  his  abode  here.  His  father,  John  Henke,  was 
also  a  native  of  (iermany.  where  he  livetl  and 
died.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  thus 
provided  for  his  family.  His  wife.  Caroline 
Kopinski.  was  also  a  native  of  (iermany.  and 
they  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  of 
whom  Martin  is  the  youngest. 

Martin  Henke  earned  his  own  livelihood  when 
quite  young  in  (Germany,  learning  and  following 
the  carpenter's  trade.  He  had  good  school  ad- 
vantages and  when  in  his  twentieth  year  he  came 
to  .\merica.  sailing  from  Hamburg  to  Hull,  h'ng- 
land.  thence  proceeding  to  Liverpool,  where  he 
embarkeil  on  a  westward  Imund  steamer  that 
dro])]X'd  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Philadeliihia. 
Making  his  way  westward  to  Chicago  he  after- 
ward came  to  Inxpiois  county,  where  he  began 
work  as  a  farm  hand,  remaining  in  the  service 
of  one  employer  for  eight  years — a  fact  which 
indicated  his  capability  and  trustworthiness;  but 
desiring  that  his  labors  should  more  directly 
benefit  himself  he  rented  a  farm  and  has  since 
engaged  in  farming  on  his  own  account.  He 
was  on  the  Logeman  farm  for  fourteen  years, 
on  the  e.Ni)iration  of  which  ])criod  he  took  up  his 
abode  on  the  farm  belonging  to  J.  ("lolrlstein. 
where  he  lived  for  five  years.  In  1890  he  rented 
the  Julia  Scott  farm  of  tiiree  hundred  and  thirty- 
nine  acres,  which  he  has  since  conducted,  and 
in  addition  to  tilling  the  .soil  he  has  engaged  in 
breeding  and  dealing  in  hor.ses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

.Mr.  Henke  was  married  r)ctober  8.  1882.  to 
Miss  Mary  .Ann  Tiborski.  a  native  of  Germany 
and  a  daughter  of  Felix  Tilwr.ski.  who  was  like- 


;io 


PAST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


wise  born  in  tlic  fatherland  and  who  came  to 
Iroquois  county  in  i88o.  He  died  here,  leaving 
a  wife  who  still  survives  him.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Henke  are  the  parents  of  ten  children :  John, 
who  married  Emma  Xatschke  and  is  living  in 
Milford;  Anna  M.  and  Frank,  both  at  home; 
Martha,  who  occupies  a  position  in  Chicago; 
Lena  ;  Mary  ;  Carrie  ;  Justina  ;  Julia  ;  and  ^lartin. 
Mr.  Henke  is  a  republican  and  has  served  as 
school  director  but  has  never  sought  office  as  the 
reward  of  party  fealty.  He  belongs  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  camp  at  ilillord  and  also  to 
the  Masonic  lodge  there,  and  he  and  his  wife 
attend  the  Lutheran  church.  He  has  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  his  determination  to  seek  a 
home  in  America,  for  he  has  had  good  business 
opportunities  here  and  has  made  steady  progress, 
winning  a  goodly  measure  of  success  as  a  farmer 
and  breeder  of  stock. 


WirJJAM  MURPHY. 

William  Murphy,  living  on  section  20,  Che- 
banse  township,  has  extensive  landed  possessions, 
owning  and  cultivating  four  hunded  acres.  He 
was  born  in  Hinsdale,  Massachusetts,  November 
27,  1856,  and  is  a  son  of  James  IMurphy,  a  native 
of  Ireland,  in  which  country  he  was  reared.  He 
there  married  Catherine  Kirk,  and  in  the  '40s 
they  came  to  the  United  States.  They  were  the 
parents  of  four  children.  In  1857  they  became 
residents  of  La  Salle  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  followed  farming  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1859,  when  he  was  thirty-two  years 
of  age.  Later  Mrs.  Murphy  was  married  in  La 
Salle  county  to  Frank  Cooley,  and  they  remained 
in  that  locality  until  1867,  when  they  removed 
to  Iroquois  county.  Here  Mr.  Cooley  purchased 
a  quarter  section  of  land  and  turned  his  attention 
to  farming,  spending  his  subsequent  \ears  in 
Chebanse  township,  his  last  days  being  passed 
in  the  village  of  Chebanse.  wJurc  his  death  oc- 
curred in  1896.  His  wife  had  died  the  previous 
year  when  seventy-four  years  of  age.  There 
was  but  one  child  of  that  marriage. 

William  Muri)hy  remained  with  his  mother 
and  came  with  her  and  his  stepfather  to  Iro- 
quois   county    in     1867.     The    common    schools 


afforded  him  his  educational  privileges  and  he 
was  reared  to  farm  life,  early  gaining  practical 
knowledge  of  the  best  methods  of  tilling  the  soil. 
He  was  twenty-one  years  of  age  when  he  took 
charge  of  the  home  farm,  renting  the  land  from 
Mr.  Cooley.  His  first  purchase  made  him  owner 
of  eighty  acres,  and  five  years  later  he  bought 
eighty  acres  more. 

Having  made  arrangements  for  having  a  home 
of  his  own  ^Ir.  Murphy  was  married  un  the 
15th  of  January,  1882,  to  Miss  Alary  Lynch,  a 
native  of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter  of 
Philip  Lynch,  one  of  the  old-time  settlers  of  Che- 
banse township.  In  1892  Mr.  Murphy  built  a 
two-story  house  and  barn  and  has  added  all  other 
equipments  and  accessories  necessary  to  a  model 
farm.  He  has  a  large  crib  forty  by  forty-two 
feet,  with  sixteen  foot  posts  and  this  has  an  ele- 
vator, he  being  one  of  the  first  in  the  county  to 
])ut  in  an  elevator.  He  has  done  a  great  deal  of 
tiling  and  the  farm  is  lacking  in  none  of  the 
modern  accessories.  He  raises  good  grades  of 
stock  and  feeds  his  grain. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murphy  are  the  parents  of  five 
children,  William  J.,  Louis  Arthur.  Burt  J., 
Frank  and  Irene,  all  of  whom  are  still  under  the 
parental  roof.  Mr.  ]\Iurphy  votes  independently 
at  local  elections  but  where  national  issues  are 
involved  supports  the  principles  of  democracy. 
For  twenty  years  he  has  served  as  school  director 
but  otherwise  has  filled  no  public  offices.  He 
affiliates  with  the  Knights  of  Columbus  and  he 
and  his  family  attend  the  Catholic  church  at 
(."heljansc.  His  years  have  been  characterized 
b\-  an  unfaltering  diligence  and  perseverance  and 
through  this  means  he  has  acquired  the 
property  which  classes  him  with  the  substantial 
agriculturists  of  the  countv. 


J.  D.  HAWK. 


J.  D.  Hawk,  of  Pittwood,  formerly  a  member 
of  the  firm  of  Gregory  &  Hawk,  is  now  local 
representatives  of  the  R.  F.  Cummings  Grain 
Company,  which  company  operates  a  number  of 
elevators  in  this  locality  with  the  head  office  at 
Clifton.  Mr.  Hawk  is  the  eldest  son  of  William 
S.   and  Harriet    (Reed)    Hawk  and   was   born 


MR.  AND  MRS.  J.  D.  HAWK. 


30 


(_■:■  .riE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTV.  ILLINOIS. 


5'.? 


June  3.  1H04,  ill  Loda  li>\vnslii|).  bin  wliilf  Ik- 
was  quite  youiifj  his  parents  rcnioveil  to  .Middle- 
|)i)rl.  sii  lliat  almost  his  entire  life  has  been  passed 
in  Ir(H|nois  couiit\.  lie  had  one  brother,  Ld- 
ward,  and  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Clara  ( iiltillan  and 
.Mi.ss  .\land  Hawk. 

J.  1).  llawk  was  at  one  time  a  resident  farmer 
of  Middleport  township  and  has  a  wide  ac(|naint- 
ance  in  the  vicinity  of  Watseka.  I'or  a  Ion,!.; 
|)eriod  he  has  Ix-en  connected  with  the  jjrain 
trade,  jmrchasinp  grain  in  several  localities.  Ik- 
was  for  a  short  time  in  .\ttica.  Indiana,  but  has 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Illinois,  lie 
.served  as  i)ostmaster  for  two  years  while  locate<l 
at  Lodge,  Illinois,  and  he  was  also  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  there.  He  located  a  second 
time  in  i'ittwood  in  December,  1905.  and  now 
occni)ies  a  cozy  home  in  this  town  near  the  ele- 
vator where  he  is  em|)Ioyed.  .\s  a  reiirescntative 
o(  R.  1'".  Cnminings  he  hamlles  a  large  grain  trade 
in  this  locality  and  is  thoroughly  conversant  with 
the  grain  business,  so  that  his  efforts  are  of  value 
to  his  employers  and  al.so  a  source  of  good  income 
to  himself. 

.Mr.  Hawk  was  married  on  the  141I1  of  .\pril. 
n>oo.  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Wealthy 
Canady.  who  was  born  May  23,  1880,  and  their 
children  are  Winifred  May,  who  was  born  July 
2j.  i</)2:  ( )ral  Louise.  l)orn  .\])ril  11.  ii)(J3:  and 
lulward   Sydney,  born    l-'ebrnary    17,   HjoCt. 

.\Ir.  Hawk  has  a  wide  circle  of  ac(|uaintances 
and  enjoys  the  confidence  of  the  jniblic  in  a 
business  way.  He  votes  the  re])nblic:m  ticket 
and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  (|neslions  and 
issues  of  the  day.  I  le  is  also  a  member  of  the 
(  )dd  I'ellows  lodge  ami  of  Iroquois  encampment. 
.\o.  81,  at  Watseka.  He  has  great  respect  for 
the  institutions  of  the  country  and  possesses  in 
marked  <legrec  all  of  the  elements  of  gootl  cit- 
izenship and  of  honorable  manhood. 


•".Ill W   ALLl-:.\.  M.  n. 


I  Jr.  I.tjian  Allen,  who.  jjracticing  along  modern 
scientific  lines,  has  been  classed  with  the  cajiable 
physicians  and  surgeons  of  Sheldon  since  i8<w. 
was  born  in  I'ort  Wayne.  Indiana.  .September 
2.  1S71,  his  |>areiit-.  being  ( "\  rus  W.  ami  ("vnthia 


.M.  (  l-"erris )  .Mien.  The  father  was  born  near 
I'.angor.  Maine,  ami  was  a  S(jn  of  Lsaac  .\llen, 
also  a  native  of  the  Cine  Tree  state.  C\r\is  W  . 
.\llen  became  a  contractor  and  builder  and  in 
1838  removed  westward  to  I'ori  Wayne,  Indiana, 
where  he  s])ent  his  remaining  days,  passing  away 
in  i8<>8,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-one  years. 
His  wife,  who  was  a  native  of  .\'ew  \'ork.  died 
in  i8<ji,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  years.  In  tlieir 
family  were  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  now 
living:  hrank  !•"..  an  architect,  who  resides  in 
I'Drt  Wayne,  Indiana:  ( ieorge  I.,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  in  .Mapleville,  .Mabaina: 
Albert,  who  is  living  in  (,'hicago:  Jennie  M.. 
who  resides  in  l^irt  \\a\ne,  Indiana:  and  Dr. 
Allen,  of  this  review. 

Reared  in  the  cit\  of  his  nativitx  Dr.  .Mien 
pursued  his  more  specifically  literary  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  I-"ort  Wayne  and  then 
l)repared  for  his  professionaj  career  in  l-Ort 
Wayne  .Medical  College,  from  which  he  was 
graduated  in  the  class  of  18(^7.  l*"or  two  years 
thereafter  he  was  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Sol- 
diers' Home  in  Lafa_\ette.  Indiana,  and  thus 
gained  a  fair  e.\|)erience.  In  i8»;(;  he  came  to 
Sheldon,  where  he  has  since  been  practicing,  and 
in  1903  he  pursued  a  ])ost-gra<luate  course  in 
Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  and 
County  .Medical  .Societies  and  t)f  the  .\merican 
-Medical  .Association,  and  has  been  a  contributor 
to  medical  journals.  He  has  his  office  with  Dr. 
Horace  ( libsoii,  with  whom  he  is  associate<l  in 
practice,  and  he  is  regarded  as  an  able  young 
physician,  while  in  his  chosen  field  of  labor  he 
is  making  steady  advancement. 

Dr.  Allen  was  married  in  i8i;8  to  .Miss  Le- 
iiora  Hoard,  of  \\  hitle\  count).  Indiana,  aiul 
they  have  two  children,  Helene  and  Catherine. 
Theirs  is  a  beautiful  residence  two  stories  in 
height,  the  interior  finishings  being  in  hard 
wiMid.  It  is  one  of  the  attractive  homes  of  .Slul- 
doii,  situated  in  the  northern  ))art  of  the  town, 
and  it  is.  moreover,  justly  celebrated  for  its  pleas- 
ing social   functions. 

Politically  Dr.  Allen  is  ,1  republican,  serving 
at  the  present  writing  as  president  of  the  school 
board  of  .Sheldon.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Knights  of  I'ythias  and  Ma.sonic  fraternities  and 
of  the  .Modern  Woodmen  camp.  Xot  so  abnor- 
inallv  developeil   in  .iii\    rlinrli.m  ,1^  to  become  a 


514 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


genius,  he  is  nevertheless  a  young  man  of  well 
rounded  character,  giving  due  consideration  to 
the  social  as  well  as  the  business  ide  of  life,  and 
to  the  political  questions  which  effect  the  welfare 
of  state  and  nation.  In  fact  he  looks  at  life  from 
a  broad  standpoint  and  through  reading  and  in- 
vestigation keeps  in  touch  with  the  thinking  men 
of  the  age. 


JOHN  BARD. 


John  Bard  is  one  of  the  worthy  citizens  that 
Germany  has  furnished  to  Iroquois  county,  his 
birth  having  occurred  in  the  fatherland  in  1840. 
He  was  but  a  small  boy  when  brought  by  his 
parents  to  the  new  world,  the  family  home  being 
established  in  Pennsylvania,  where  the  father  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  shingles  in  order  to 
provide  a  living  for  himself  and  family.  In  the 
Keystone  state  the  son  was  educated  and  there 
remained  to  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when, 
believing  the  west  would  ofTer  better  advantages 
to  young  men  of  ambition  and  determination,  he 
accordingly,  in  1858,  made  his  way  to  Illinois, 
being  employed  in  Will  county  for  four  years, 
subsequent  to  which  time  he  came  to  Iroquois 
county,  purchasing  one  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  in  Beaver  township.  This  was  an 
unimproved  tract  when  it  came  into  his  posses- 
sion but  he  resolutely  set  to  work  to  break  the 
land,  which  he  divided  into  fields  of  convenient 
size  by  building  fences.  He  ditched  antl  tiled 
his  fields  and  thus  made  them  very  productive. 
As  time  passed  and  he  accumulated  a  compe- 
tence he  added  to  his  original  purchase  until  he 
now  owns  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  con- 
stituting one  of  the  valuable  farm  properties 
of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  erected  a  house, 
two  barns,  granary,  corn  crib,  and  other  out 
buildings  usually  found  upon  a  model  farm,  and 
he  has  through  a  long  period  been  engaged  here 
in  general  agricultural  pursuits,  in  addition  to 
which  he  raises  live  stock,  having  at  the  present 
time  thirty  head  of  registered  Hereford  cattle, 
and  he  likewise  raises  the  best  draft  horses  to  be 
found  in  this  locality.  He  has  placed  his  stock 
on  exhibition  at  various  times  and  frequently 
wins  premiums.  He  is  progressive  in  his  farm 
work,  using  only  the  latest  improved  machinery 


in  carrying  on  the  work  of  the  fields  and  he  is 
accounted  one  of  the  up-to-date  and  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Beaver  township. 

In  1858  Mr.  Bard  established  a  home  of  his 
own  by  his  marriage  in  Pennsylvania  to  Miss 
Barbara  Allman,  who  was  likewise  born  in  Ger- 
many but  was  brought  to  this  countr\-  when  two 
years  of  age.  They  have  reared  a  family  num- 
bering eleven  children,  of  whom  they  have  every 
reason  to  be  proud,  the  record  being  as  follows : 
Joe,  John,  George,  Fred,  \Mlliam,  Mrs.  Mary 
Emmert,  Mrs.  Barbara  Johnson.  Mrs.  Anna 
Freeburg,  Mrs.  Kate  Freeburg.  Maggie  and 
Mrs.  Abbie  \\'eiger. 

Although  coming  to  the  new  western  country 
when  a  young  man.  IMr.  Bard  adapted  himself  to 
the  pioneer  conditions  which  here  existed  and 
allowed  no  obstacle  or  difficulty  to  deter  him  in 
his  efforts  toward  advancement,  so  that  he  soon 
worked  his  way  upward  and  is  now  in  posses- 
sion of  a  valuable  property  which  supplies  him- 
self and  family  with  all  the  comforts  of  life 
and  permits  him  to  be  classed  with  the  leading 
citizens  of  Iroquois  county. 


DIRK  H.  MONK. 


Dirk  H.  Monk  is  the  junior  partner  of  the  firm 
of  IMonk  Brothers,  who  own  and  cultivate  one 
hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  section  28, 
Ashkum  township.  He  is.  moreover,  one  of  the 
native  sons  of  this  township,  his  birth  having  oc- 
curred here  in  1872.  He  comes  of  German  an- 
cestry, his  parents  being  Henry  and  Cassie  Monk, 
who  crossed  the  Atlantic  from  Germany  to  the 
United  States  in  the  early  '50s  and  established 
their  home  in  Illinois. 

Reared  under  the  parental  roof.  Dirk  H.  Monk 
acquired  a  good  common-school  education  in 
.\slikum  township,  and  when  not  busy  with  his 
text-books  he  received  thorough  training  in  the 
work  of  the  farm,  early  becoming  familiar  with 
the  task  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting. 
He  was  the  youngest  in  a  family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, the  others  being:  Anna,  the  wife  of  John 
Bushman,  a  resident  farmer  of  Douglas  town- 
ship; Maggie,  the  wife  of  Ben  Shoneman,  a 
farmer  of  Ashkum  township;  Richard,  who  is 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


o'.-> 


the  senior  partner  of  tlie  fimi  of  Monk  Brothers ; 
Hirani,  a  farmer  of  Ashkum  township ;  Atthic, 
the  wife  of  David  Alberts,  a  resilient  farnuT  of 
Aslikuni  townsiiip;  and  Cora,  the  wife  of  Pliil 
Hilpert.  who  follows  farniinj;;  in  Ashkum  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Monk  of  this  review  was  reared  under  llie 
parental  roof  and  has  always  remained  at  home, 
his  mother  now  nianasjingf  tlie  household  afTairs. 
Joining  his  eliler  brother  in  the  formation  of 
the  firm  of  Monk  Brothers  they  have  since  con- 
ducted farminy:  interests  totjether  and  are  the 
owners  of  one  liundred  and  twenty  acres  of  good 
land  on  section  28,  Ashkum  township,  whicii 
they  have  greatly  improved,  the  fields  being 
most  highly  cultivated,  while  all  the  accessories 
of  a  model  farm  of  the  twentieth  century  are 
here  seen.  Dirk  H.  Monk  is  a  natural  mechanic 
and  is  an  expert  on  engines  and  threshing  ma- 
chines. He  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
democracy  and  is  a  member  of  the  German 
Lutheran  church.  He  has  a  wide  acquaintance 
in  the  locality  in  which  his  entire  life  has  l)ecn 
passed  and  is  recognized  as  a  good  business  man. 
enterprising  and  of  keen  discrimination. 


ALB1-:X  I..  Br-K^UGHEI-i. 

Progressive  in  all  of  his  farming  methods  and 
with  a  laudable  ambition  that  is  the  stimulus  for 
active  and  untiring  labor,  Alben  L.  Bnniglier 
now  owns  and  cultivates  four  hundred  and  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  section  20  and  21,  Prairie  Green 
township.  The  farm  presents  an  excellent  ap- 
pearance, being  well  improved  with  two  sets  of 
good  buihlings.  while  the  fields  are  highly  culti- 
vated and  bring  forth  rich  crops.  .\  resident 
of  the  eountv  since  1871,  Mr.  Brougher  has 
been  a  witness  of  various  changes  that  have  been 
wrought  in  business  metiiods  and  in  life  here, 
for  Iroquois  county  has  ever  kept  in  touch  with 
the  trend  of  general  improvement  and  is  today 
one  of  the  rich  agricultural  sections  of  this  great 
state. 

Mr.  Brougher  is  a  native  of  Penusylv;inia,  his 
birth  having  occurred  near  Harrisburg  on  the 
fith  of  August,  1846.  His  father,  John 
Brougher.  was  born  in  the  same  county  <>f  IVnn- 
sylvania.   and    tlu-    uT.uuli.itlici-.    T'llin    BnniLrber. 


Sr.,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Keystone 
state.  John  Brougiier,  Jr..  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried there,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Mrs. 
Rleanor  Ann  Lutz,  nee  (jregory.  lie  was  a 
fariuer  and  mechanic,  in  early  life  learning  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  which  he  followed  for  some 
time.  Later  his  energies  were  more  largely 
given  to  farm  work  and  thus  he  provided  for  his 
family.  He  spent  his  entire  life  in  Pennsylvania, 
passing  away  tlicrc  in  1876,  having  for  about 
two  years  survived  his  wife,  who  died  in  1874. 
Their  family  numbered  four  sons  and  four 
daughters  and  all  are  yet  living  save  the  eldest 
son,  Oliver,  who  after  his  marriage  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  died  in  Chicago. 

Alben  L.  Brougher  was  reared  in  the  usual 
maiuier  of  farm  lads  upon  the  old  homestead  in 
Pennsylvania.  His  education  was  largely  ac- 
quired in  the  common  schools  and  when  eight- 
een years  of  age  he  was  married  in  the  Keystone 
state  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Messinger,  who  later 
died  in  Pennsylvania  when  but  a  young  woman 
of  eighteen  years.  There  was  one  child  of  that 
marriage.  Miles  Brougher,  who  is  now  a  busi- 
ness man  of  Stephenson,  Pennsylvania. 

In  the  year  1871  .\lben  L.  P.rougher  made  his 
way  westward  to  Indiana,  locating  first  at  AUer- 
ton,  where  in  1872  he  married  his  present  wife, 
who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Nancy  E.  Brown. 
She  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Fountain 
county,  and  pursued  her  education  there.  Fol- 
lowing his  marriage  he  located  where  he  now 
resides  in  Prairie  Green  township,  his  wife  hav- 
ing inherited  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 
This,  however,  was  wild  and  uncultivated,  but 
Mr.  Brougher  broke  the  sod  and  carried  forward 
the  work  of  improvement  until  he  transformed 
the  once  wild  land  into  ])ro<luctive  fields.  He 
opened  up  the  farm  and  bought  an  adjoining 
tract  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  1888. 
It  was  also  raw  land  but  he  soon  brought  it  un- 
der the  plow  and  he  likewise  broke  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  of  prairie  sod.  The  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  pioneer  life  fell  to  his 
lot  but  were  liravely  met  and  in  the  course  of 
years  they  were  no  longer  experienced,  fcir  the 
comforts  of  an  advanced  civilization  were  intro- 
duced. Mr.  Brougher,  by  ditching  and  tiling, 
drained  his  land  and  he  enclosed  it  with  a  hedge 
fence,  which  has  since  been  replaced  with  a  w<-iven 


;i6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


wire  feiici.-.  lie  also  bought  more  land,  invest- 
ing in  one  Innulred  and  sixty  acres  adjoining 
the  original  tract,  and  he  now  has  a  valuable 
and  well  improved  farm  comprising  four  hun- 
dred and  eighty  acres  of  very  rich  and  productive 
land.  He  has  ])laced  good  buildings  u])on  it  and 
uses  the  latest  improved  machinery  in  the 
care  of  the  farm  and  the  cultivation  of  the  crops. 
He  likewise  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
sixty-six  acres  in  X'ermilion  county.  This  is 
also  well  equi])ped  with  modern  accessories  and 
the  fields  have  been  brought  under  a  high  stale 
of  cultivation. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  i '.rougher  have  been  born 
si.x  children:  John  R.  and  Merwin  W  ..  who  are 
twins  and  are  now  married:  .\lbeii  J.,  at  home: 
\"elera  .\nn.  the  wife  of  David  Ilazner.  a  farmer 
of  Prairie  (ireen  township:  Leah,  the  wife  of 
Edward  I_)uiican,  of  Ellis  Station,  Illinois :  and 
Mary,  the  wife  of  George  Dobson,  of  Stockland 
township. 

The  parents  attend  the  iMethodist  Episcopal 
church.  In  Masonry  Mr.  Hrougher  has  attained 
the  Knight  Templar  degree,  belonging  to  the 
blue  lodge  and  chapter  at  Hoopeston  and  to  the 
commandery  at  Watseka.  although  he  took  the 
degrees  of  chivalric  Masonry  in  I'axton.  Mis 
political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  democracx 
and  although  he  keeps  well  informed  on  the 
questions  and  issues  of  the  day  he  has  never 
sought  or  desired  office,  preferring  to  concentrate 
his  time  and  energies  upon  his  business  inter- 
ests. .\t  an  earlier  dale  he  engaged  in  breeding 
and  dealing  in  Aberdeen  .\ngns  cattle  and  he 
has  also  raised  good  horses,  one  team  bringing 
seven  hundred  and  fifty  dnllars,  anoiiur  live  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dnllars  and  a  tiiird.  five  hundred 
and  thirty-five  dollars,  lie  has  thus  raised  some 
of  the  best  horses  in  the  county  and  has  gained 
more  than  local  re|)utatinn  as  a  stock  dealer. 
.AltluHigh  he  had  no  money  at  the  outset  of  his 
career  but  was  dependent  upon  his  own  resources 
and  labors  for  success,  he  has  so  directed  his 
work  by  sound  judgment  tiiat  he  is  now  owner 
of  seven  lumdred  and  forty-si.x  acres  of  tine  land 
in  three  well  improved  farms.  llis  name  is 
synonymous  with  business  integrit\  as  well  as 
enter|)rise  and  in  all  of  his  life  he  has  never  been 
known  to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  his 
fi'llowmen  in  an\    trade  transaction.     In   m;nuier 


he  is  genial  and  cordial  and  liis  good  qualities 
are  such  as  have  endeared  him  to  those  with 
whom  he  has  come  in  contact  and  brought  him 
warm    friendships. 


ORREX  GEORGE  XOSKER. 

(  )rren  ( ieorge  Xosker  was  a  resjjected  business 
man  of  Sheldon,  whose  genuine  worth,  aside 
from  his  industrial  interests,  was  widely  ac- 
knowledged, and  it  is  therefore  mete  that  men- 
tion be  made  of  him  in  this  volume.  He  was 
born  in  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  on  the  27th  of 
.-\ugust,  1858,  and  his  death  occurred  in  Paris, 
Texas,  on  the  3d  of  November,  UJ04.  when  he 
had  passed  the  age  of  forty-six  years.  His  par- 
ents, (ieorge  and  Mary  Jane  (Markley)  Xosker. 
came  to  Illinois  from  (  )hio  and  for  some  time 
lived   in   Iroquois  county. 

The  son  was  a  student  in  the  public  schools 
of  .Sheldon  and  there  acquainted  himself  with 
the  common  branches  of  learning,  but  early  in 
life  was  obliged  to  leave  school,  owing  to  the 
death  of  his  father  which  made  it  incumbent  that 
he  provide  for  his  own  support.  He  became  a 
painter  and  decorator  and  did  a  contracting  busi- 
ness in  that  line.  Many  a  business  house  in  Shel- 
don, together  with  many  of  the  fine  homes  of  the 
town,  bear  evidence  oi  his  artistic  work  in  this 
direction.  The  interior  of  his  own  home  shows 
his  li;m<liwork  and  indicates  that  he  possessed 
much  artistic  ability  and  originality,  the  wood- 
work and  mantel  being  carved  by  himself  after 
bis  own  designs. 

Mr.  .Xosker  was  not  only  an  excellent  work- 
man in  t!ie  line  of  painting  and  decorating,  but 
also  possessed  nnieh  inventive  genius  and  look- 
out four  patents,  the  latest  obtained  in  1902. 
He  was  the  founder  of  tlie  business  which  for  a 
time  was  conducted  under  the  name  of  the  Per- 
fection I'.ag  Holder  Comjiany,  and  which  later 
was  incorporated  under  tlie  name  of  the  Slu-1- 
dnii  .Xnwlty  Works.  The  business  has  since 
been  moved  to  Kankakee,  Illinois,  where  it  is 
still  carried  on.  Mr.  Xoskcr's  last  jiatenl.  ob- 
tained Xovember  11,  1902,  was  an  im]irovement 
on  the  Perfection  I'.ag  Holder,  and  was  patented 
under  the  name  of  the  Xosker  P.asr  Holder. 


( »KKi;.\  ti.  M  >ski-:k. 


liNIVERSllY  Qi  iLL!^30IS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


S«9 


On  the  24th  of  May,  1883,  Mr.  Noskcr  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mvalinc  Livionia 
Mitclull.  <lauv;litcr  of  Ix'wis  and  Ixal)  Mitclicll. 
and  they  liad  two  children,  Irnia  lla/cl  and 
Kenneth  William.  Following  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Xoskcr  continued  to  reside  in 
Sheldon  until  June.  iix>'.  when  they  moved  to 
Paris,  Texas,  where  he  continued  actively  in 
business  as  contractor  and  painter  until  his  death. 
The  remains  were  brought  back  to  SluMon  for 
interment. 

Mr.  Xosker  was  a  charter  mcmlur  ui  iJavy 
Crockett  camp,  Xo.  532.  M.  \V.  .\.,  of  Sheldon. 
Illinois.  Politically  he  was  a  democrat  in  the 
broadest  sense  of  the  word.  Me  was  thoroughly 
trustworthy  in  all  business  transactions,  his  com- 
mercial integrity  being  alx)vc  question.  To 
those  who  knew  him.  he  was  warm  hearted  an<l 
generous  and  held  friendship  inviolable,  but 
while  he  was  a  faithful  and  progressive  citizen 
and  a  true  friend,  his  lK"st  traits  of  character 
were  reserved  for  his  own  home  and  fireside, 
where  he  was  a  devoted  husband  and  a  kind  and 
loving  father. 


ROBERT  SAXrORD  SIIRIMI'LIX. 

Robert  Saiiford  Slirimi)lin.  actively  engaged  111 
general  agricultural  pursuits  in  Concord  town- 
ship, was  born  in  Knox  county,  (^hio,  in  1879 
and  is  a  descendant  of  an  old  southern  family. 
His  paternal  great-grandfather.  John  .Slirimplin, 
traveled  on  foot  with  gim  and  dog  from  Mary- 
land to  Knox  county,  ("^hio,  in  1790.  He  foun<l 
that  the  Indians  were  very  numerous  there  but 
this  did  not  deter  him  from  becoming  a  pioneer 
resident  of  the  state  and  in  contributing  to  its 
substantial  improvement  aM<l  development  at  an 
early  day.  In  1801  he  built  the  first  mill  in  Ohio, 
making  the  machinery  for  its  operation.  He 
traded  and  dealt  with  the  Indians  and  became  one 
of  the  extensive  lamlowners  of  the  comity,  hav- 
ing several  thousand  acres.  He  also  had  a  boat- 
yard and  owned  a  mnnl)er  of  flat  lioats.  on 
which  he  shipped  produce  liought  from  the  In- 
dians to  the  Xew  ( )rlcans  market.  His  log  cabin 
was  supplied  with  a  trap  door  and  he  used  every 
precaution    for   protection    such   as   was   nee<letl 


in  those  days,  yet  he  had  little  trouble  with  the 
red  men.  He  belonged  to  that  class  of  repre- 
.sentative  pioneer  citizens  whose  lalnirs  are  still 
manifest  in  the  beneficial  influences  which  fol- 
lowed their  efTorts  in  planting  the  seeds  of  civ- 
ilization in  a  new  district. 

Hannibal  W.  Slirimplin,  father  of  our  subject, 
was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  in  1852  and 
came  to  Iro<|uois  comity  in  May,  1S84,  at  which 
lime  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  ninety-three 
acres  of  land  in  Concord  township  from  11.  J. 
East.  This  was  not  improved  and  with  charac- 
teristic energy  he  began  its  cultivation  and  de- 
velopment. In  n>o4  he  built  a  barn,  sixty  by 
forty  feet,  with  twenty  foot  posts.  He  has  put 
in  twenty-five  hundred  rods  of  tile,  has  fence<I 
his  place  an<l  arlded  all  of  the  modern  ec|uipments 
and  accessories.  He  also  purchased  the  I'rown 
farm,  containing  eighty-six  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 31,  Concord  townshij).  and  from  Jacob 
Strickler  bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres 
on  section  10.  He  has  tiled  and  fenced  his  land, 
built  a  new  corn  crib  and  added  other  evidences 
of  progressive  fanning.  In  connection  with  the 
cultivation  of  the  soil  he  has  also  extensively 
raised  cattle  and  hogs  but  he  now  rents  much 
of  his  land  to  his  sons.  Hannibal  .Slirimplin  w-as 
married  to  Miss  Riene  Keliren  Happy,  of  I'eiin- 
Nvlvania.  and  unto  them  were  born  three  chil- 
ilren.  of  whom  all  are  yet  living.  The  daughter. 
Kehren.  is  at  home.  In  his  political  views  the 
father  has  long  been  a  stalwart  democrat  and 
for  three  years  he  served  as  road  commissioner. 
His  time  and  attention,  however,  have  been  prin- 
cipally given  to  his  farming  interests,  in  which 
he  has  pros|>ered.  Hn  the  lotli  of  June,  1884,  he 
purchased  his  present  farm  with  a  cpj])  on  it  for 
thirty-five  dollars  per  acre  and  tixby  it  is  worth 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  acre. 

RolxTt  .Sanford  Slirimplin,  c<iming  to  IriKjuois 
county  with  his  father  in  1884.  lived  at  home  until 
about  seven  years  ago  ,ind  in  the  jniblic  sclii«ils 
acquired  his  education,  while  in  the  summer 
months  he  worked  in  the  fields  aiul  became  fa- 
miliar with  all  the  duties  of  farm  life.  Alxiut 
i8<j<>  he  removed  to  a  farm  belonging  to  his  fa- 
ther on  section  12,  Concord  township,  where 
he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  has  helped  put 
in  a  half  mile  of  tiling  on  the  place  and  made 
other    substantial     improvements.      He    Ixnight 


;2o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


lliirty-unc  acres  fur  himself  in  Concortl  townsliii) 
adjoining  his  father's  land,  and  throughout  his 
entire  life  he  has  carried  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  and  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty 
of  Poland  China  hogs.  Durham  cattle  and  driv- 
ing horses.  I'luth  brandies  of  his  business  are 
proving  profitable. 

.Mr.  Shrim])lin  was  married  in  Kentland,  In- 
diana, in  .\i)ril.  i8y8,  to  Miss  Sarah  V.  Drnny. 
who  was  born  in  that  state  in  .Vugust,  1SIS3. 
They  have  four  children;  Manfred.  CliiUon. 
Clayton  and  Frank  Lester.  The  family  are  well 
known  in  the  county  and  .Mr.  Slirimplin  and  his 
wife  have  many  warm  friends  who  esteem  them 
for  their  genuine  worth  and  man\'  good  (|ualities. 


JK  tX.   IRA  1-.  TAL.MKR. 

Hon.  Ira  F.  Palmer,  who  for  eight  consecutive 
years  has  been  mayor  of  Onarga  and  since  1872 
has  been  an  active  practitioner  of  medicine  in 
this  city,  has  performed  for  his  fellow  lownsmeti 
a  work  scarcely  ec|ualled.  for  in  both  professional 
and  official  circles  his  labors  have  been  of  the  ut- 
most benefit.  (  )narga  owes  her  modern  improve- 
ments largely  to  his  labors  and  inllnence,  for 
those  interests  and  ])nblic  utilities  which  are  a 
matter  of  civic  virtue  and  of  civic  jiride  had  their 
inception,  in  great  measure,  in  the  progressive 
spirit  and  ])ractical  plans  of  i)r.    Palmer. 

.\  native  of  St.  Lawrence  cmmty,  .\'ew  York, 
he  was  born  on  the  23d  of  .May,  1845.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Moses  Palmer,  was  a  native 
of  Connecticut,  but  Ins  parents,  Gordon  and  Lel- 
sey  (Kelley)  Palmer,  were  born  in  the  F.mpire 
state.  The  father,  whose  birth  occurreil  Septem- 
ber I'l,  181  I,  arrived  in  Chicago  with  his  family 
on  the  first  juissenger  train  tliat  ran  over  the 
.Michigan  Central  Railroad  into  Chicago  arriv- 
ing on  the  2ist  of  .May,  1852,  and  went  bv  rail 
to  .-\nrora,  Illinois,  which  was  then  the  terminus 
of  the  Chicago,  llurlington  &  Ouincx'  Railroad, 
[•'riini  there  the  faniih'  jiroceeded  to  .Xewark.  Ken- 
dall count}-,  by  stage,  the  father  having  i)urcliased 
a  farm  of  two  lumdred  acres  at  llollenback's 
( irove.  Upon  the  place  was  a  log  cabin  trom 
which  the  former  occupants  had  been  driven  at 
the  time  of  the  iilack  Hawk  war.     While  livinc;- 


m  this  cabin  the  Palmers  were  often  visited  by 
.•-^hahbona.  a  chief  of  the  Pottawattamies.  who 
notified  the  white  settlers  of  Fo,\  river  valley  of 
their  danger  so  that  they  were  enabled  to  seek 
safety  at  the  forts  of  Joliet  and  Ottawa.  .A.  coun- 
cil of  war  was  held  b\-  the  Indians  under  Black 
Hawk  at  a  point  across  the  river  and  about  three 
miles  from  Hollenback's  Grove,  and  Shabbona 
proved  his  friendliness  to  the  white  settlers  by 
warning  diiTerent  families,  including  the  Hollen- 
backs  of  their  danger. 

The  log  cabin  which  became  the  home  of  the 
Palmer  family,  had  not  a  piece  of  iron  in  it.  It 
was  a  tvpical  structure  of  pioneer  times,  such 
as  is  utterly  unknown  to  the  younger  generation. 
Here  the  family  lived  from  1852  to  1853,  when 
they  moved  into  a  commodious  frame  house.  In 
1864  they  removed  to  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres  at  Yorkville,  Illinois,  on  the  north  side 
of  Fox  river,  where  Gordon  Palmer  built  a  fine 
brick  farm  house,  which  is  now  owned  and  oc- 
cupied bv  b'recl  (].  Palmer,  ;i  brother  of  the 
Doctor. 

Gordon  Palmer  was  the  father  of  three  sons  and 
five  daughters  and  the  family  was  among  the  early 
pioneers  of  this  ])art  of  the  state.  The  Palmers 
came  originall)-  from  Xew  Lngland  ancestry, 
while  in  the  maternal  line  they  were  descended 
frnm   the    F.astmans.   of   Hopkinton.   Xew   York. 

Dr.  Palmer,  the  eldest  of  eight  children,  was 
only  seven  years  of  age  when  brought  b\  bis 
l)arents  to  Illinois.  He  began  his  education  in  a 
log  schoolhouse  near  his  father's  home,  his 
teacher  being  the  Hon.  George  .M.  HoUenljack.  of 
.\nrora,  novv  judge,  who  was  the  first  white  child 
born  in  Kendall  counl\.  Dr.  Palmer  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  when  not  in  school.  Later  he 
became  a  student  in  the  l-'owler  Institute.  Xewark. 
Kendall  cnunty.  lllir.nis.  Whin  eighteen  \ears  of 
age  he  respondeil  to  his  country's  call  for  troops, 
enlisting  in  January,  1864.  He  joined  the  ariuy 
at  Chattanoog-a,  Tennessee,  and  w  as  mustered  out 
in  l-'ebruary,  1866,  Soon  after  he  went  to  the 
front  he  was  transferred  to  the  medical  service, 
with  which  he  was  cunnected  during  the  cam- 
paign of  that  year,  and  later  became  a  member  of 
Company  C,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-seveiUh  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  :n  the  close  of  the  war  was 
in  the  Cnited  States  mail  .service  with  head- 
(|narters   at   .Macon,  Georuia. 


y^4y\  s .  J^<^.  ■  a".  f'Zjtt^i.tuyL 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


:>■':> 


.Vt'tcT  his  return  inuu  the  war  Dr.  I'aliiK-r  1m- 
came  a  stiuknt  in  tlic  I'liivcrsity  of  Chicajji).  He 
was  always  a  thonnij^h  stiident  and  possessed  an 
unfailing  nicmory.  These  qualities  made  a  pxid 
foundation  for  the  study  of  medicine  which  he 
l)ej;an  in  Chica.tro.  and  afterward  was  ;,^raihiated 
fmm  the  Cincinnati  (()hio)  Medical  School  in 
I87J.  He  first  l«x-ateil  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin, 
hut  in  .\u}j;ust  of  the  same  \ear  remove<l  to  (  )nar- 
fja.  illinoi.s,  where  he  has  since  remained  in  the 
active  and  successful  practice  of  medicine.  This 
covers  a  period  of  more  than  a  third  of  a  century, 
and  almost  from  the  hesinnin};  he  has  been  ac- 
corded a  ]josition  of  prominence  as  one  of  the 
most  able  and  learned  members  of  the  ])nifession 
in  the  county.  He  has  been  the  recii)ient  of  an 
extensive  patronage,  which  he  has  well  merited 
because  lie  has  kept  in  touch  with  the  onwanl 
mardi  oi  the  profession. 

(  )u  the  27th  of  .November.  1S72.  Dr.  Palmer 
wedded  Miss  Emma  A.  W'ooil,  a  dauj^hter  of 
Charles  K.  and  .\L-iry  .\.  ((lilbcrt)  Wood.  They 
have  two  children:  I'aul  I.,  burn  December  27. 
1874:  and  Clifford  liordon.  Ixirn  .March  7.  1880. 
The  I>ictor  and  .Mrs.  Palmer  are  members  of  the 
.Methoilist  Episco])al  church  and  .Mrs.  Palmer  is 
a  la<ly  of  culture  and  refinement,  and  an  enthusi- 
astic Chautau(|uan.  Slie  has  I)een  president  nf  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps  of  ( )nar},fa.  and  was  a 
memlK.-r  for  nine  years  of  the  board  of  education 
of  (  tnarjja  |)ublic  schools. 

Dr.  Palmer  exercises  his  riijht  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  re- 
publican party,  and  has,  in  fact,  been  one  of  its 
stalwart  advocates  since  castiu},'  his  first  presiden- 
tial vote  for  (ieneral  (jrant  in  18^18  in  the  city 
of  Chicajjo.  His  father  was  a  republican  before 
him,  and  Dr.  Palmer,  tlicn  a  small  boy,  accomjja- 
nicd  him  when  he  cast  his  vote  in  1856  for  John 
C.  I'Vemont,  the  first  presidential  candidate  of  the 
party,  lie  also  ren:eml)ers  the  Lincohi-Dnu^las 
debate  in  1858.  This  was  a  year  never  to  be 
forjjotten  in  the  political  histi>ry  of  the  state  and 
nation.  Then  occurred  the  most  memorable  cam- 
]>aign  in  the  annals  of  Illinois.  Dr.  Palmer,  who 
rejjfards  Lincoln  with  all  the  admiralinn.  love,  and 
venerati(jn  which  are  piven  to  the  martyred  presi- 
dent by  those  who  liave  been  close  students  of 
the  history  of  the  nation.  attende<l  the  joint-de- 
Iwte  Ix-tween  Linculn  and  Dou>,das  held  in  (  )tta- 


wa.  He  was  then  a  lad  in  his  early  teens  but  the 
iK-casion  made  an  indelible  impression  upon  his 
mind,  l-nvu  the  time  when  he  heard  the  debate 
mentioned.  Dr.  Palmer  became  a  slronj^  advocate 
of  Lincoln  and  years  hav;  not  dimmed  his  preat 
admiratiiin  for  the  man  who  seemed  destined  by 
a  superior  puwer  for  the  place  that  he  filled. 

Dr.  Palmer  has  been  honored  with  several  Uxal 
otiices.  havinj;  filleil  the  office  <if  sujiervisor  al- 
t<if;ether  for  twenty  years,  beinj;;  first  elected  in 
1877  and  in  1879  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
Ixiard.  His  incumbency  at  that  time  continued 
for  five  years  and  in  1888  he  was  ajjain  chosen  for 
the  office.  He  was  pension  examiner  for  four  and 
a  half  years,  from  1889  to  i8<>,v  duriu},'  the  Har- 
rison administration.  He  has  been  mayor  of  the 
city  for  eijrht  consecutive  years  and  his  retention 
in  office  is  the  bijj^lHst  ]roof  of  his  ca|)ability  au<l 
fidelity.  The  modern  improvements  in  the  city 
largely  owe  their  existence  to  him.  While  in- 
cumbent in  a  county  office,  he  took  no  i)art  in  mu- 
nicipal affairs  but  after  his  election  to  the  mayor- 
alty he  made  a  close  study  of  the  needs  of  the  city 
and  o])|)ortunities  for  advancement  and  develop- 
ment. During  his  second  term  he  installed  on  a 
paying  basis  the  waterworks  and  made  other  pub- 
lic im])rovcments.  both  while  acting  as  supervisor 
and  as  mayor,  and  while  his  administration  has 
lK;en  void  of  all  useless  or  extravagant  expendi- 
ture of  the  ijublic  funds,  he  has  nevertheless  stood 
for  substantial  improvement  and  a<lvancement  and 
that  his  course  receives  uniform  endorsement 
from  the  Ix-st  citizens,  is  evidencetl  by  the  support 
given  him  at  the  |X)IIs. 

Dr.  Palmer  is  a  menibtr  of  P.abcock  post.  .\'<». 
416,  t;.  A.  R..  and  has  been  jjost  surgeon.  He  is 
also  a  number  of  the  Palmer  I'amily  Rcuiu'on 
of  .Stonington.  Coiniecticut.  He  came  to  ( )narga 
a  young  man  of  limiteil  means,  just  out  of  col- 
lege, but  h\:  had  e<|uipped  himself  thoroughly 
for  his  profession  and  .S(H>n  demonstrated  his  abil- 
ity in  that  direction.  Patrons  came  to  him.  and 
as  the  years  [wssed  he  prospered.  .\s  his  financial 
resources  increased  he  maile  investments  in  prop- 
erty and  is  now  owner  of  several  fine  farms  in 
Illii:ois,  besides  land  in  Dakota.  Missouri.  Iowa 
and  Montana,  while  his  home  is  one  of  the  fine 
residences  of  the  coimty,  supplied  with  all  the 
modern  conveniences  and  tastefully  and  richly 
furnished,  but  its  chief  attraction  is  its  gracious 


526 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


and  cordial  hospitality.  Dr.  Palmer  is  a  gentle- 
man of  genial  disposition.  The  poor  always  find 
in  him  a  friend  ready  and  glad  to  give  his  time 
and  effort  for  the  assistance  of  those  in  trouble. 
These  qualities,  combined  with  his  native  intel- 
lectual force,  have  gained  for  him  the  position  of 
leadership  which  he  now  occupies  in  professional, 
business  and  political  circles  in  Iroquois  county. 


WILLIAM  C.  ESHLEMAN. 

William  C.  Eshleman  is  one  of  the  prominent 
business  men  of  Thawville,  where  he  is  conduct- 
ing a  wholesale  and  retail  meat  market.  He  is 
also  a  public-.spirited  citizen,  whose  efforts  have 
been  of  direct  benefit  in  support  of  those  meas- 
ures which  tend  to  promote  the  general  welfare, 
and  he  is  the  present  assessor  of  Ridgeland  town- 
ship. He  has  made  his  home  in  Illinois  since 
March,  1866,  and  in  1869  took  up  his  abode  in 
Iroquois  county.  He  was  born  in  Green  Milage 
in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  3, 
1847.  His  father,  J.  W.  Eshleman,  was  also  a 
native  of  the  Keystone  state,  where  he  was  reared 
to  manhood.  He  reared  his  own  family  there. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  ]Mary 
Clark,  was  likewise  a  native  of  Franklin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  daughter  of  William 
Clark,  a  pioneer  settler  of  the  Keystone  state. 
J.  W.  Eshleman  became  a  business  man  of  (ireen 
Village  and  of  Liverpool,  Perry  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  sold  goods  for  manv  years 
and  was  thus  a  pnimincnt  factor  in  the  com- 
mercial interests  of  those  places. 

^Villiam  C.  Eshleman  of  this  review  was  one 
of  a  family  of  three  chil(h\'ii  and  was  reared  to 
manhood  in  the  county  of  his  nativity.  Good  edu- 
cational privileges  were  afforded  him  but  he  left 
school  in  order  to  join  the  army  when  si.xtecn 
years  of  age,  enlisting  at  Chambersburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, as  a  member  of  Company  E.  Twent\'- 
first  Volunteer  Cavalry,  with  which  he  served  for 
two  years.  He  served  under  General  Sluridan 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  nut  the  usual 
experiences  and  hardsliiiis  mclcd  out  to  llu' 
soldier. 

After  the  war  he  came  west  t<i  lUu-eau  C'luntw 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming,  being  em- 


ployed in  that  way  for  a  year.  He  spent  the 
vear  1867  in  western  Nebraska  on  railroad  work, 
assisting  in  the  construction  of  the  Cnion  Pa- 
cific Railroad.  He  then  returned  to  Illinois  and 
in  1869  became  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county, 
where  he  invested  his  earnings  in  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Ridgeland  townshii).  He  at  once  be- 
gan to  improve  this  tract  and  built  thereon  a 
good  residence  and  substantial  barn.  He  owned 
and  cultivated  that  farm  for  about  four  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  bought  where  he  now 
resides,  having  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres 
in  his  tract.  He  has  since  built  a  good  house, 
has  also  put  up  substantial  barns  and  outbuild- 
ings for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock,  and  has 
a  flowing  well  upon  his  ]5lace  one  hundred  feet 
deep. 

In  the  fall  of  1872  was  celebrated  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Eshleman  and  Miss  Emma  Dier- 
couff,  a  native  of  Germany  and  a  daughter  of 
William  H.  Diercouff,  who  on  coming  to  .Amer- 
ica settled  in  ^\'oodford  county.  Illinois,  and 
subsequently  became  residents  of  Iroquois  coun- 
tv.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eshleman  now  have  five  chil- 
dren: William  J.,  who  married  Miss  Gertrude 
Gorley  and  is  a  business  man  of  Thawville ;  Kate, 
the  wife  of  Walter  Lee,  of  Sheldon,  Illinois; 
John  H.,  who  is  married  and  lives  upon  the  old 
home  farm  about  four  miles  north  of  Thawville: 
Lewis  E.,  who  is  married  and  resides  in  the 
village :  and  Bert,  who  is  also  married  and  lives 
in  the  village. 

The  ])arents  continued  to  reside  upon  the 
home  farm  until  1902.  when  they  took  up  their 
abode  in  ■riiaw\ille.  where  Mr.  Eshleman  is  con- 
ducting a  meat  market  in  connection  with  his  son 
P.ert.  Throughout  his  business  career  he  has  been 
watchful  of  opportimities.  which  he  has  im- 
proved, and  owing  to  his  business  discernment 
and  keen  enterprise  he  has  advanced  steadily  to 
a  ])osition  among  the  prosperous  ;uid  enterpris- 
ing business  men  of  the  county.  In  politics  he 
is  an  earnest  republican,  having  stanchly  snp- 
l)orted  the  partv  since  he  cast  his  first  presiden- 
tial l)allot  for  I'.  S.  Grant.  He  has  never  failed 
to  v(^te  at  a  presidential  election  since  that  time 
ami  in  community  affairs  he  has  been  active  and 
influential.  For  some  years  he  served  as  road 
commissioner  and  has  been  school  director  and 
president   of  the  school  board.     In   1903  he  was 


Or  I  HE 
UNIVEKStiV  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUN'TV.  H.F.INois. 


5^> 


cli-ctol  to  the  office  of  assessor  and  lu>  iiuinn- 
Ik'iic\  in  that  position  will  continue  for  two  year> 
longer.  I  loth  he  ami  his  wife  are  nieinher.-  ot 
the  I'reshylerian  church  and  Mr.  l-"shlenian  is  a 
past  jirand  of  Thawville  Iniif^e.  1.  (  >.  (  ).  I"., 
while  both  he  and  his  wife  are  i<lentified  with  the 
Kebekah  liulfje.  lie  also  holds  membership  in 
llabcock  post.  (i.  A.  R..  of  (  )iiarf;a.  His  interest 
in  the  public  life  of  the  communit\  is  the  mani- 
festation of  a  public-spirited  citi/.en:.hi]i  and  at 
all  times  his  ai<l  and  co-operation  can  be  counted 
upon  to  further  jjrojjressive  public  movements. 
What  he  has  accomplished  in  the  business  world 
is  an  indication  of  stroiij;  purpose  and  keen  dis- 
crimination and  his  record  is  one  that  has  ijained 
him  uniform  admiration  and  res|)ect. 


|(>H.\    .\KI.S().\". 


John  Nelson  is  a  self-made  man  dcservinj;  of 
much  credit  for  the  success  that  he  has  accom- 
plished. He  came  to  the  L'nited  States  when  a 
youni;  man  of  twenty  years  with  limited  ca|)ital 
but  an  unboimded  su])ply  of  enerjiy  and  determi- 
nation, and  upon  those  qualities  to  serve  as  a 
foundation  he  lias  builded  the  su]xTstructure  of 
his  present  prosperity.  He  is  now  enjja.ijed  in 
the  grain  trade  in  Donovan,  where  he  owns  an 
elevator,  and  since  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent (iarfield  has  continuously  servc<l  as  ])ost- 
njaster  of  the  town  save  for  the  periods  of  dem- 
iK.Tatic  rule   under    President   (Icveland. 

.\  native  of  Sweden.  Mr.  Xelson  was  born  in 
.\ugust.  1844.  and  is  a  son  of  .S.  and  Amia 
(Johnson)  Xelson,  who  were  farminj,'  |)eo|)le  of 
Sweden,  where  they  spent  their  entire  lives.  In 
his  native  land  John  Xelson  ac<piired  his  educa- 
tion and  the  favorable  re)K)rts  which  he  heard 
concerning  the  new  worhl  intluenced  him  to  seek 
his  fortune  in  this  country.  .\ccordingl\  he 
crossed  the  .Atlantic  in  i8f>4  and  made  his  way  at 
once  to  Iroquois  county.  Having  no  capital  with 
which  to  purcha.se  land  he  hrst  renle<l  a  farm  in 
I'eaver  township,  which  he  operated  for  two 
years,  subsequent  to  which  time  he  engaged  in 
clerking  in  a  store  in  Inxpiois.  He  ne.xt  re- 
move«i  to  Sheldon  and  was  in  the  employ  of  Mr. 
l-lager.    but    in     187,^    came    to    Donovan    and 


iiiuieu  _i;eiKiai  merchandising  a-'  a  niember  ol 
the  firm  of  John.son  &  .Xelson.  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  1878.  He  has  been  itlentitied  with 
the  grain  trade  since  i8<y).  and  in  l8<;i>  he  built 
an  elevator  with  a  cai)acity  of  fifty  thousand 
bushels.  He  also  built  an  office  and  other  biiilil- 
ings.  The  elevator  is  e(piip|)ed  with  steam  power 
and  all  modern  accessories  and  in  fact  is  one  of 
tile  best  of  the  kind  in  tbi>  part  of  tlie  state. 
.Mr.  .Xelson  buys  and  ships  all  kin<ls  nf  grain, 
handling  about  three  hundred  thousand  bushels 
ainnially.  His  business  has  thus  steadily  grown 
imtil  he  now  handles  a  large  part  of  the  grain 
raised  in  this  district  and  as  the  years  have 
passed  his  name  has  become  a  most  honored  one 
on  commercial  i)aper.  In  addition  to  his  man- 
agement of  the  elevator  and  grain  trade  Mr. 
.Xelson  has  long  served  as  postmaster,  receiving 
appointment  to  the  office  imder  Presidents  ( iar- 
tield.  Harrison.  .McKinley  and  koosevelt.  This 
is  a  fourth  class  office  and  has  three  rural  mail 
routes  in  comiection  therewith.  sn|>|)lying  one 
thousand  ])eople  daily  with  their  mail.  His  ca- 
pable management  of  the  office  is  indicateil  by  the 
fact  that  he  has  so  long  been  continued  in  the 
jiosition. 

.Mr.  Xelson  was  niarried  in  W'atseka.  in  1874. 
to  .Miss  Anna  .*^.  Johnson,  who  was  burn  in 
(  )stania.  Sweden.  June  24.  183,^  I  hey  became 
the  parents  of  five  children:  John  \\".,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  Hardware  business;  C.  A.  Ernest, 
who  is  depiit\  ]iostmaster;  (  Iscar  I...  who  is  con- 
nected with  the  operation  of  the  elevator:  Xeva 
-S..  who  is  attending  the  Champaign  L'niversity  : 
and  .\lmeda  C.  at  home.  The  family  residence 
is  a  large  eleven-room  dwelling,  which  was 
erected  by  Mr.  .Xelson  and  which  he  has  sup- 
plied with  a  hot  water  heating  ])lant  and  many 
other  nio<lern  accessories  and  conveniences,  mak- 
ing it  a  model  home.  .Mr.  .Xelson  has  been  called 
upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  estim:ihle  wife, 
who  after  a  nine  ilays'  illness  ])assed  to  her 
heavenly  home  January  4.  KjO/.  at  the  age  of 
tiftv-lhree  years,  si.\  months  and  ten  days.  She 
was  prepared  to  meet  her  Heavenly  h'ather  and 
during  iter  illness  she  sweetly  hummed  and  sang 
those  beautiful  hymns:  "Peace.  Wonderful 
Peace"  and  "'Tis  so  Sweet  to  Trust  in  Jesus." 
In  1872  she  became  a  memlK-r  of  the  Swedish 
church   in    lieaver.  to   which   she  belonged   imtil 


530 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  Angel  of  Death  called  her.  Her  last  words 
were  to  her  son,  asking  if  she  was  home  yet. 
She  was  tenderly  laid  to  rest  in  the  Swedish 
cemetery  at  Beaver,  Monday,  January  7,  1907. 
As  his  long  continuance  in  the  office  of  post- 
master indicates,  Mr.  Xelson  is  a  republican  in 
his  political  views  and  is  recognized  as  one  of 
the  stalwart  champiions  of  the  party  in  Donovan. 
Various  officials  honors  have  been  accorded  him 
and  in  the  different  positions  which  he  has  filled 
he  has  always  been  recognized  as  one  who  well 
merits  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  For  two  terms 
he  served  as  supervisor  of  Beaver  township  and 
he  has  also  been  town  clerk,  collector  and  as- 
sessor, while  since  1877  he  has  been  school 
trustee.  He  is  a  member  of  O.  H.  Miner  lodge, 
No.  506,  A.  F.  &  A.  AL,  to  which  his  three  sons 
also  belong,  and  his  religious  faith  is  indicated 
by  his  membership  in  the  Methodist  church.  His 
life  exemplifies  his  belief,  for  he  has  ever  made 
it  his  purpose  and  effort  to  follow  closely  the 
golden  rule.  A  residence  of  more  than  forty 
years  in  this  county  has  made  him  widely  known 
and  his  enterprise  in  business,  his  fidelity  in  cit- 
izenship and  his  loyalty  to  those  with  whom  he 
is  associated  have  gained  Iiim  high  regard  and 
warm    friendship*. 


AUGUST  KAUFMANN. 

Loda  township  has  its  full  quota  of  wide- 
awake, alert  and  enterprising  farmers,  whose 
efforts  have  contributed  to  the  reputation  that 
Iroquois  county  has  gained  as  one  of  the  richest 
agricultural  districts  of  this  great  state.  Mr. 
Kaufmann,  following  farming  on  section  2,  Loda 
township,  owns  and  operates  two  hundred  acres 
of  land,  having  here  a  well  improved  property 
upon  which  are  two  sets  of  farm  buildings. 
Everything  about  the  place  is  kept  in  a  state  of 
good  repair  and  the  work  is  carried  forward 
along  lines  of  modern  progress.  A  native  of 
Germany,  he  lost  his  father  in  that  country,  after 
which  he  and  his  mother  came  to  the  new  world 
in  1854.  locating  in  Cook  county,  where  they 
joined  the  brothers  of  our  subject,  who  had 
already  crossed  the  Atlantic.  August  Kaufmann 
was  afiforded  good  school  privileges,  being  edu- 


cated in  both  the  German  and  English  tongues. 
He  was  reared  in  Cook  county  and  in  1873  came 
to  Iroquois  county,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand  by  the  month  until  the  following  spring, 
when  he  rented  land  and  thus  engaged  in  farming 
on  his  own  account  for  five  years. 

On  the  5th  of  Alarch,  1875,  was  celebrated  the 
marriage  of  August  Kaufmann  and  Miss  Fred- 
erecke  Schoenfeld,  a  German  lady.  With  re- 
newed impetus  he  took  up  the  burdens  of  busi- 
ness life  and  his  first  purchase  of  land  made 
him  owner  of  eighty  acres  where  he  now  resides. 
He  had  formerly  rented  the  place,  had  broken 
prairie  and  had  improved  the  farm,  working  it 
for  six  years  prior  to  the  time  when  he  acquired 
the  ownership  thereof.  At  a  later  date  he  added 
forty  acres  adjoining  and  subsequently  another 
tract  of  eighty  acres,  so  that  his  farm  now  com- 
prises two  hundred  acres  on  section  2,  Loda 
township.  He 'has  erected  a  comfortable  dwel- 
ing,  a  large  barn,  cribs  and  a  granary,  has  put 
in  a  wind  pump  and  stock  scales,  also  a  feed 
mill  and  the  latest  improved  machinery.  He  has 
likewise  planted  fruit,  has  fenced  and  tiled  the 
land  and  made  the  farm  what  it  is  today — valu- 
able and  productive  property.  He  has  also  put 
up  a  set  of  farm  buildings  for  his  son  Fred,  who 
likewise  lives  on  this  farm.  The  father  also 
owns  another  tract  of  land  of  eighty  acres  on 
section  12,  Loda  township.  It  was  all  new  and 
wild  when  it  came  into  his  possession  and  is  now 
well  improved.  He  has  still  another  tract  of 
land  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-two  and  a  half 
acres  on  section  11  and  sixty-four  acres  adjoin- 
ing the  town  of  Buckley,  so  that  his  landhoklings 
are  now  quite  extensive  and  their  value  has 
been  greatly  increased  by  the  modern  equipments 
and  improvements  he  has  placed  upon  them. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kaufmann  have  been  born 
eleven  children :  Fred,  who  is  married  and  fol- 
lows farming ;  Lizzie,  the  wife  of  Gus  Koschnick, 
a  farmer  of  Loda  township ;  William,  a  business 
man  of  Buckley ;  Clara,  at  home ;  Allie,  the  wife 
of  Fred  Preisel,  of  Kankakee ;  Pauline,  George, 
Eddie  Lillie,  Alma  and  Martine,  all  at  home. 

The  parents  were  reared  in  the  Lutheran  faith 
and  are  now  members  of  the  German  Lutheran 
church  of  Buckley,  in  which  Mr.  Kaufmann  is 
serving  as  an  officer.  Politically  he  is  inde- 
pendent, supporting  the  best  men  regardless  of 


IRUQroIS  COUN'TV.   11.1  I\(il< 


5.^' 


jwrtv  artilialion.  lie  has  served  as  lii,i;li\\a\  cmmi- 
inissioiKT  lor  four  and  a  half  years  but  has  never 
desired  office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  en- 
ergies n|iiin  jiis  business  alTairs.  He  is  truly  a 
self-made  man.  starting  out  in  life  empty-handed, 
yet  working  his  way  steadily  u]nvar<l  \n  the 
j)lane  of  afiluence.  "ICarn  thy  reward;  the  gods 
give  naught  to  sloth,"  was  said  by  a  (ireek 
philosopher  centuries  ago,  and  the  truth  of  the 
admonition  has  been  verified  with  the  passing 
ages.  Realizing  this  Mr.  Kaufmann  has  worked 
with  the  persistency  of  purpose  and  a  strong 
dctennination  that  has  enabled  him  to  overthrow 
the  obstacles  and  difficulties  which  are  always 
encountered  in  a  business  career  and  gain  a  place 
among  the  jirosperous  residents  and  farmers  of 
Loda  township.  He  has  not  only  won  a  gix)dly 
little  fortune  but  has  also  gained  an  honored 
name,  and  the  methods  which  he  has  employed 
in  seeking  success  constitute  an  example  which 
is    well    wortliv    of   emulation. 


IIEXRV  W.  wL-i.Fiq-:. 

Henry  W.  W'ulffe.  a  representative  of  com- 
mercial interests  in  Chebanse  as  a  member  of  the 
finn  of  Porch  &-  W'ulflfe.  general  merchants,  was 
born  in  Kankakee.  Illinois.  .'~;ci)tember  17,  187S. 
and  is  a  son  of  C.  J.  and  Katherine  (Walter) 
WulfTe.  who  were  farming  people  of  Rib  Lake. 
Wisconsin.  In  their  family  of  nine  children 
Henry  W.  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  Those 
older  were  Charles,  a  contractor,  located  in  Iowa ; 
and  George  G..  who  follows  farming  at  Rib 
Lake.  Wisconsin.  The  younger  members  of  the 
family  are  John  J-,  a  resident  farmer  of  rabir\ . 
Illinois;  Mary  .\.  and  Lena  1'...  both  at  Rib  Lake, 
Wisconsin;  Lillian  E..  who  is  a  school  teacher  of 
Chebanse  townshi])  and  makes  her  home  with 
her  brother  Henry;  William  (_).  and  Walter,  who 
are  still  in  school  and  reside  with  their  parents. 

Henry  W.  WulfTe  largely  acfpiired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  scIkkjIs  of  Kankakee,  yet  in  the  school 
of  experience,  where  all  eventually  become 
students,  he  has  learned  many  valuable  lessons. 
He  started  in  business  life  as  an  employe  of 
R.  F.  Cummings,  a  grain  dealer,  whom  he  reiire- 
sented  at  Chebanse  and  at  Clifton  for  six  years. 


['.\  llie  careful  husbanding  of  his  resources  dur- 
ing that  period  he  was  then  enabled  to  embark 
in  business  on  his  own  account  and  in  1893 
entered  into  partnership  with  Carl  I'orch  under 
the  firm  style  of  Porch  &  WullTe.  opening  a 
general  mercantile  store  at  Chebanse.  They  have 
since  remained  ])roprietors  of  this  enterprise, 
their  business  relation  proving  mutually  pleasant 
and  profitable,  and  as  the  years  have  gone  by 
they  iiave  developed  a  small  business  into  one  of 
gratifying  proportions,  carrying  a  good  stock 
and  tinding  a  ready  sale  for  those  things  which 
they  handle. 

At  Chebanse.  on  the  17th  of  June.  1903.  was 
celebrated  the  marriage  of  Mr.  WidtTe  and  Miss 
Xellie  M.  Porch,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Effie 
Porch  of  this  city.  Her  father  is  a  banker  and 
general  merchant  and  menti(jned  elsewhere  in 
this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  WullTe  have  two 
children.   Katherine    Effie  and    Winifred    Mable. 

The  parents  hold  membership  in  the  Congrega- 
tional church  of  Chebanse  and  are  prominent  so- 
cially. In  political  circles  Mr.  WulfTe  is  a  re- 
publican and  fraternally  he  is  connected  with 
Chebanse  lodge,  No.  429,  A.  F.  &  .\.  M..  and 
with  the  Modern  Woodmen  cam]),  Xo.  c/)^.  His 
progress  has  been  made  continuously  and  in  safe 
lines  and  his  business  record  has  at  all  times  been 
in  harmony  with  that  of  one  whose  commercial 
honor  is  in  like  relation  to  his  enterprise  and 
laudable  ambition.  Moreover,  he  is  a  public 
spirited  citizen  and  co-operates  in  those  move- 
ments that  advance  the  general  welfare  and  pros- 
perity of  the  city  which  he  makes  his  home. 


LCCIVX   P.OXAPARTE  KKi  )WX.  M.  D. 

Lucian  Ponaparte  Brown,  a  i)h\sician  whose 
professional  ability  was  widely  recognized,  was 
born  at  Jamacia.  \'ermont,  on  the  7th  of  June, 
1S34.  and  died  at  Sheldon  on  the  24th  of  August. 
1S80.  His  parents  were  David  lirainard  and 
Louise  (Barry)  Brown,  and  his  father  as  a  life 
work  followed  the  occupation  of  farming.  Both 
parents  were  natives  of  Xcw  luigland  and  the 
ancestral  history  of  the  Doctor  numbers  several 
distinguisiied  names.  To  the  family  belonged 
John  S.  Barry,  governor  of  Michigan  from  the 


53^ 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


years  1842  to  1846;  also  the  late  General  Wil- 
liam R.  Shafter,  prominently  known  as  a  leader 
in  the  Spanish-American  war.  His  grandfather, 
Samuel  R.  Barry,  an  early  pioneer  from  his  Xew 
England  home  to  northern  Indiana,  was  a  pro- 
nounced leader  in  the  anli-slavery  cause  and  the 
])olitical  issues  of  the  time.  His  labors  in  that 
direction,  together  with  the  upbuilding  of  educa- 
tional measures,  filled  his  active  life. 

Dr.  Brown,  whose  name  introduces  this  rec- 
ord, acquired  his  literary  education  in  his  native 
town,  while  his  medical  course  was  pursued  at 
the  Rush  Medical  College  in  Chicago,  from 
which  he  was  graduated  in  the  year  1858  and 
entered  at  once  upon  the  practice  of  medicine, 
in  which  connection  he  did  a  most  important  ser- 
vice for  his  fellow  townsmen.  He  remained 
actively  in  the  practice  of  his  chosen  calling  until 
1862,  when  he  put  aside  all  business  and  per- 
sonal considerations  and  offered  his  services  to 
his  country.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  and  was 
commissioned  first  assistant  surgeon  of  the  One 
liundred  and  Thirteenth  Illinois  Regiment.  In 
1864  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major  sur- 
geon of  the  regulars  and  on  the  8th  of  March, 
1865,  was  detached  and  assigned  to  the  position 
of  surgeon  in  chief  of  the  post  of  defense  at 
Memphis.  Returning  home  on  the  19th  of  June, 
1865,  he  located  in  Sheldon,  where  he  resumed 
the  practice  of  medicine,  so  continuing  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1866,  at  Moore's 
Hill,  Indiana,  Dr.  Brown  was  married  to  Miss 
Ella  Soper,  who  survived  him  four  years,  dying 
]\Iarch  8,  1884.  They  lost  two  children,  Harry 
Mamie,  while  the  living  are:  Nellie,  Louise, 
Grace   Lee  and   Blanche   Luella. 

Dr.  Brown  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  in  which  he  attained  the  Knight  Tem- 
plar degree.  l)eIonging  to  Ivanhoe  commandery. 
No.  33.  He  was  prominent  in  commtmity  affairs 
and  did  much  for  the  welfare  of  the  village  in 
which  he  lived.  When  Sheldon  township  was 
organized  on  the  7th  of  April,  1868,  he  was 
elected  its  first  supervisor.  For  five  consecutive 
years,  from  1874  to  1879,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  village  of  Sheldon, 
most  of  the  time  officiating  as  chairman,  while 
at  all  times  he  proved  himself  a  careful  and  hon- 
est member.     .\t  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 


a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  Chi- 
cago, St.  Louis  &  Cincinnati  Railroad.  The  L, 
B.  Brown  post  at  Sheldon  is  named  in  his  horor. 
Wherever  known  Dr.  Brown  was  respected  be- 
cause his  life  was  in  harmony  with  high  ideals 
of  mental,  professional  and  civic  virtue.  He 
was  a  most  loyal  advocate  of  his  country  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  and  in  days  of  peace  was 
as  loyal  to  his  nation  as  when  he  followed  the 
stars  and  stripes  on  southern  battle-fields.  In 
his  profession  he  made  advancement  by  continued 
reading,  study  and  investigation  and  discharged 
his  professional  duties  with  the  utmost  sense  of 
conscientious  obligation.  In  his  family  he  was 
devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his  wife  and  children 
and  counted  no  personal  sacrifice  on  his  part  too 
great  to  promote  their  welfare  and  happiness. 


lOHX  H.  LIXDGREX. 


John  H.  Lindgren,  who  has  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Beaver  township 
throughout  his  entire  business  career,  comes  of 
Swedish  parentage.  He  is  a  son  of  A.  P.  and 
Louise  (Sandell)  Lindgren,  who  were  bom  in 
Sweden,  where  they  were  reared  and  married, 
after  which  they  emigrated  to  the  United  States 
in  1851,  making  their  way  to  Lafayette,  Illinois, 
where  the  son  was  born  February  14,  1864. 
When  he  was  six  weeks  old  his  parents  took  up 
their  abode  in  Iroquois  county,  where  the  father 
])nrcliased  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  raw 
land  on  section  25,  Beaver  township,  developing 
and  improving  this  until  he  made  it  a  good  jirop- 
crtv.  He  followed  farming  throughout  liis  re- 
maining davs  and  died  on  the  farm  in  January, 
1895. 

John  H.  Lindgren  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  in  the  winter  months  attended  the  coun- 
try schools.  Following  his  father's  demise  lie 
remained  with  his  mother  for  one  year,  assist- 
ing her  in  the  operation  of  the  home  farm.  He 
then  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  on  section  25, 
Beaver  township.  He  has  added  many  improve- 
ments to  the  place,  has  tiled  the  land,  .set  out  trees, 
remodeled  and  Iniilt  to  the  house,  while  in  IQOI 
he  erected  a  good  barn,  thirty-fom-  by  thirty-six 
feet.     Tie  is  liere  engaged  in  farming  and  stock- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  1I.I.1NH)1S. 


533 


raisintr.  anil  in  addition  to  tlic  cultivation  of  his 
■\vn  projjcrty,  he  likewise  operates  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  belonging  to  his  mother.  She 
also  owns  eighty  acres  on  section  i.  Concord 
township,  which  she  rents.  He  is  practical  and 
progressive  in  the  methods  which  he  follows, 
using  only  the  latest  improved  machinery  to  fa- 
cilitate the  work  of  the  fields,  and  through  the 
rotation  of  crops  and  the  proper  cultivation  of 
his  land  he  annually  harvests  abundant  crops. 

Mr.  J-indgren  established  a  home  of  his  own  in 
189O  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  I'arnlund, 
who  is  a  native  of  the  t(iwnshi])  in  whicli  she  still 
makes  her  home.  Their  marriage  has  been 
blessed  with  two  sons.  Lloyd  and  Harold.  Ixith  of 
whom  are  now  attending  sch(X)l.  Mr.  Lindgrcn 
'(■serves  great  credit  for  what  he  has  accom- 
|ilished  for  he  started  out  without  ca])ita],  and 
through  his  industry  and  economy  has  workeil 
his  way  steadily  upward  until  he  is  now  in  ])os- 
session  of  valuable  property  interests.  In  his 
political  views  and  affiliations  he  is  a  republican, 
iiid  he  has  served  as  constable  of  Deavcr  town- 
ship. His  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his 
membership  in  tiie  Methodist  church. 


r.  w.  n A\  1.^. 


I".  W.  Davis  is  one  of  the  active  and  up-to- 

'.ite  farmers  of  <  )narga  township,  living  on  sec- 
tion 30.  where  he  owns  and  operates  two  lutndrtd 
and  seventy-four  acres,  constituting  a  well  ini- 
jirovcd  and  valuable  farm  that  is  known  as  the 
old  Davis  liomestead.  He  is  f)ne  of  the  native 
sons  of  the  county,  having  been  born  upon  the 
farm  where  he  now  resides  October  9.  1859.  His 
father.  W.  A.  Davis,  was  a  native  of  Dutchess 
county.  Xew  York,  born  in  1818.  and  was  there 

lared,  after  which  he  wedded  Susan  M.  West- 
lall.  also  a  native  of  that  county.  He  followed 
merchandising  in  the  lunpirc  state  for  a  number 

t  years,  later  in  the  south  and  afterward  in 
Xew  York  city.  In  1856,  however,  he  removed 
westward  to  Illinois,  taking  up  his  abode  at 
Onarga.  He  came  originally  for  the  benefit  of 
'his  health,  but.  being  pleased  with  the  country 
and  its  prospects,  he  later  bought  one  hundred 

ind  fifty  acres  of  land  and  opened  up  a  farm. 


Only  two  buildings  stood  in  ( )narga  at  that  time. 
.Mr.  Davis  continued  the  work  of  developing  and 
improving  the  property  and  successfully  carried 
on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  1886,  He 
is  now  living  retired  at  the  home  of  his  son.  F. 
W.  Davis,  his  wife  having  passed  away  I'eb- 
ruary  13.  1892. 

The  subject  of  this  review  is  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  their  family  of  four  children  and 
was  reared  on  tlie  old  homestead  farm,  acquiring 
a  common-school  education  when  winter  brought ' 
a  respite  from  the  active  duties  of  the  fields. 
From  the  time  of  early  spring  planting  until 
crops  were  harvested  in  the  late  autumn  he 
aided  in  the  farm  work  and  eventually  took 
entire  charge  of  the  place.  He  has  since  pur- 
chased more  land  and  now  has  two  hundred  and 
seventy-four  acres,  all  in  one  body.  It  is  im- 
proved with  a  good  residence  which  stands  in 
the  midst  of  a  neat  and  well  kept  lawn,  sur- 
rounded by  a  wire  fence.  Ornamental  trees  and 
shrubs  adorn  the  place  and  there  is  also  a  good 
orchard  upon  the  farm.  The  fields  pr<xluce  ri'h 
crops  and  in  addition  to  the  cultivation  of  cereals 
he  also  raises  and  feeds  stock  for  the  market  and 
is  widely  known  as  a  successful  stockman.  In 
addition  to  his  property  in  Illinois  he  owns  a  half 
section  of  land  in  Nebraska  and  a  small  orange 
grove  in  Florida,  so  that  his  interests  are  not  con- 
centrated in  one  place. 

On  the  i6th  of  March,  1880.  Mr.  Davis  was 
married  in  Onarga  to  Miss  Jennie  Ford,  who  was 
born  in  Columbia  county,  Xew  York,  but  w'as 
reared  and  educated  in  Iroquois  county.  They 
now  have  four  living  children,  Chester  II.,  Palm- 
er X'..  Frank  T.  and  Amy  L..  all  at  home.  They 
also  lost  three  children:  Susie,  who  died  when 
about  six  months  old :  I.aura,  at  the  age  of  four 
years :  and  Frankic,  at  the  age  of  four  months. 

Mr.  Davis  has  followed  in  the  political  foot- 
steps of  his  father  and  is  a  stanch  democrat,  al- 
though he  cast  his  last  presidential  vote  for 
Roosevelt.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Grover 
Cleveland.  He  has  been  elected  and  served  on 
the  school  hoard  and  has  been  clerk  for  fifteen 
consecutive  years.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
township  central  committee  for  a  number  of 
years,  has  been  on  the  election  board  and  has 
served  as  a  delegate  to  various  county  and  state 
conventions.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of 


534 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Onarga,  and 
he  belonjjs  to  Onarga  lodge.  No.  208,  I.  O.  O. 
F..  in  which  he  has  filled  all  of  the  chairs  and 
is  a  past  grand.  He  has  likewise  been  district 
grand  dei-nity.  has  been  representative  to  the 
grand  lodge  of  the  state,  while  he  and  his  wife 
are  connected  with  the  Rebekah  degree  of  Odd 
Fellows.  Mr.  Davis  has  always  lived  in  the 
county  which  is  yet  his  place  of  residence  and 
upon  the  farm  which  is  now  his  home,  and  his 
-life  record  has  been  honorable  and  upright,  win- 
ning him  the  respect  of  his  fellowmen  and  gain- 
ing for  him  a  measure  of  prosperity  that  now 
classes  him  with  the  substantial  farmers  of  his 
communitv. 


M  )ll\    1).    ASH. 


John  D.  Ash,  a  resident  farmer  of  Middle- 
port  township,  came  to  the  Lyman  settlement  of 
Iroquois  county  fifty  years  ago  and  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  time  when  he  served  in  the  Civil 
war  and  a  \'ear  spent  in  travel  he  has  lived  con- 
tinuously in  one  communitv  and  has  been  identi- 
fied with  all  of  its  interests  for  a  full  half 
century. 

Mr.  .\sli  was  born  in  Clark  county.  (  )lii().  June 
8.  1834,  and  soon  after  attaining  his  majority 
came  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  on  a  prospect- 
ing expedition.  He  thought  he  would  not  re- 
main three  months  but  on  the  contrary  he  has 
"grown  up  with  the  country"  and  now  nothing 
would  induce  him  to  leave  it.  He  has  been 
prosperous  and  owns  some  of  the  best  farming 
land  in  Middle])ort  townshijj.  When  he  could 
no  longer  do  the  active  work  on  the  farm  he 
did  not  retire  to  town  but  built  another  house 
for  himself  where  he  could  oversee  the  fai^m  and 
work  as  he  wanted  to,  with  the  result  that  he  is 
always  busy  and  there  is  something  to  show  for 
his  industry.  When  he  came  to  Illinois,  Middle- 
port  was  the  county  seat  but  while  he  was  in  the 
army  he  had  instructions  from  his  friends  to  ad- 
dress  all    letters   to   Watseka.      "Old    Town"    is 

* 

very  familiar  territory  to  him  and  among  the 
family  keepsakes  is  a  ribbon  badge  bearing  date 
of  October  6  and  7,   1858,  given  to  him  at  the 

first  annual  meeting  of  the  Iroquois  Countv  .\gri- 


cultural  Society,  which  was  held  in  the  bend 
of  the  Iroijuois  river  in  tJld  Town.  The  location 
of  the  county  seat  was  shifted  a  little  when  the 
name  changed.  Mr.  Ash  has  not  missed  a  vote  in 
the  township  for  fifty  years  and  has  been  a  con- 
tinuous reader  of  the  Iroquois  County  Times- 
Democrat  throughout  the  period  of  its  existence. 

In  June.  1857,  was  celebrated  the  marriage  of 
Mr.  .\sh  and  Miss  Sarah  Buck.  The  date  of 
their  wedding  had  been  delaxed.  however,  on 
account  of  high  water,  for  the  minister  lived  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Iroquois  river  and  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  cross  the  stream.  The  son.* 
born  of  this  marriage  were  Noah.  John  and  Wil- 
liam, and  their  daughters  were  Mary  and 
Doretta.  A\'illiam  and  Doretta  died  in  early  life 
and  the  others  are  all  now  settled  in  homes  ot 
their  own.  The  wife  and  mother  passed  away 
in  1876.  and  on  the  27th  of  ^larch,  1878.  Mr. 
Ash  was  again  married,  his  second  union  being 
with  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Buck,  to  whom  he  had  be- 
come related  through  his  first  marriage.  Five 
children  were  born  of  this  union  but  George. 
Lena  and  Charles  died  in  childhood.  The  sur- 
viving daughters,  Eva  .and  Effie.  twins,  were 
born  November  10.  1885,  and  with  their  parent? 
constitute   the    family   circle. 

A  pioneer  of  the  community.  Mr.  .\sh  undtr- 
weut  all  of  the  hardships  of  frontier  life  and  did 
much  to  reclaim  the  wet  land  and  develop  the 
agricultural  resources  of  the  locality.  He  has 
more  than  one  mile  of  tile  drainage  and  his  farm 
is  all  under  cultivation.  He  dealt  in  live  stock 
extensively  and  made  a  success  of  both  branches 
of  his  business.  He  always  handled  a  few  car- 
loads of  cattle  each  _\ear  and  was  a  most  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  stock-dealer.  He  still  resides 
upon  the  old  homestead  and  expects  to  end  his 
days  where  his  active  life  has  been  passed.  There 
is  a  cemetery  on  one  corner  of  his  farm  where 
members  of  the  family  find  their  last  resting 
place. 

\\'hile  leading  an  active  business  life  Mr.  A.*li 
put  aside  all  agricultural  interests  and  personal 
dealings  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
in  the  L'nion  army  on  the  9th  of  .August.  1862. 
when  the  first  call  was  made  for  volunteer  sol- 
diers from  Iroquois  county.  Eighteen  months 
later  he  was  discharged  from  the  service  in  St. 
Louis  on   account  of  phvsical   disability,  aTul  M'' 


^A  /7  d^  c  ^xl 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


537 


iiiiw  draws  a  pt-iisioii  from  tlic  govfnimciit  bi- 
C.1USC  of  disease  wliicli  he  contracted  while  serv- 
inj;  tlic  j.;overnmciit  as  a  sohher.  He  lias  always 
been  recoj;ni?ed  as  a  good  and  worthy  citizen 
and  he  and  his  family  enjoy  the  r(.si)cct  of  the 
entire  conminnitv. 


I'JIII.I.Il-   11.11  XKi.kl-  WF^. 

I'hillip  II.  llargrcaves  is  the  owner  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  excellent  farm  land 
uii  section  31.  .Vshkuni  township,  and  with  the 
exception  of  two  years  spent  in  the  grain  and 
elevator  business  lias  always  been  engaged  in 
agricultural  inirsuits.  He  is  the  oldest  member 
of  the  family  of  John  and  -Margaret  (Clifton) 
Hargreavcs.  and  was  born  in  W'aterfoot.  Lng- 
land,  .\ngust  14.  1864.  He  was  brought  to  Illi- 
nois by  his  parents  in  1865,  the  family  settling 
in  Kendall  county,  where  they  remained  for  two 
years  and  then  removed  to  Iroquois  county. 
There  were  four  children,  the  two  brothers  and 
sister  of  our  subject  being:  (ieorge  II..  who 
is  now  in  the  grain  and  elevator  business  at 
Manhattan.  Illinois:  Mary,  the  wife  of  David 
Nichols,  proprietor  of  a  furniture  store  in  Kan- 
kakee: and  James,  now  deceased,  who  was  for- 
merly a  member  of  the  firm  of  Hargreaves  Mroth- 
ers,  in  which  connection  he  was  associated  with 
his  brother  (ieorge  in  the  grain  and  elevator 
trade  at  Manhattan  and  at  Cullom,  Illinois. 

Phillip  II.  Hargreaves  was  only  a  year  old 
when  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  United  States 
and  was  but  four  years  of  age  when  the  family 
liome  was  esta1)lished  in  Iroquois  county.  The 
work  of  the  farm  early  became  familiar  to  him. 
as  he  assisted  in  the  task  of  plowing,  planting 
and  harvesting,  and  his  etlucational  i)rivilcges 
were  those  aft'orded  by  the  public  schools.  Be- 
sides his  farm  in  this  county  he  no\v  owns  one 
lunvlrcd  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Hughes  coun- 
ty. South  Dakota. 

Mr.  Hargreaves  was  married  in  Clifton.  Illi- 
nois, on  the  28th  of  January.  i8<)i.  to  Miss  Clara 
Chapman,  a  daughter  of  C.  C".  and  .\nna 
(  Sturdy)  Chapman,  of  .\shknm  township.  Mrs. 
Hargreaves  was  the  eldest  daughter  in  a  family 
of   till   .-liildren.   the  others   being:      Mal)el.   the 


wife  of  Theodore  Anderson,  a  mail  carrier  of 
Aslikum  township;  Fainice.  the  wife  of  George 
I'.  Deiter,  a  weighniaster  connected  with  the 
board  of  trade,  at  Chiaigo ;  Charles,  who  is  train 
dispatcher  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  at 
Kankakee.  Illinois;  Mark,  who  is  adjuster  for 
the  Tobey  I'lirniture  Com])any,  at  Chicago;  Guy. 
auditor  for  R.  I".  Cummings,  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  at  Clifton,  where  he  owns  an  eleva- 
tor; ( )ra,  the  wife  of  Henry  Rcken.  a  farmer  of 
Aslikum  townshi]! ;  Fern,  Geneva  and  Olive,  all 
at  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hargreaves  have  seven  children: 
Mabel,  born  November  22.  1891  ;  Harry.  May 
22.  1894;  Ada.  June  i.  1896;  Gilbert.  May  i. 
i8<)9:  Margaret.  March  5.  1901;  I'hillip.  Feb- 
ruary 5.  1903;  and  llernice.  June  21.  IC)05. 

Mr.  Hargreaves  supports  the  republican  jiarty 
and  has  served  as  school  director  for  four  years, 
while  at  the  present  writing  he  is  a  school  trustee. 
Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  at  Asli- 
kum. and  he  supports  the  Congregational  church. 
Almost  his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this 
county  and  for  about  four  decades  he  has  been 
a  witness  of  its  growth  and  (levelo])nient,  while 
since  attaining  man's  estate  he  has  borne  his  full 
share  in  the  work  of  public  improvement  and 
progress.  At  the  same  time  he  is  carefully  con- 
ducting his  business  interests  and  in  the  opera- 
ti(jn  of  the  farm  has  gainetl  a  very  desirable 
competence. 


SILAS  BROCK. 


I^ilas  r.rock  has  for  about  seven  years  been 
a  |)rominent  business  man  at  Cissna  Park,  and 
his  career  clearly  illustrates  the  possibilities  that 
are  open  in  this  country  t"i  earnest,  persevering 
young  men  who  have  the  courage  of  their  con- 
victions and  are  determined  to  be  the  architects 
of  their  own  fortunes.  When  judged  by  what 
he  has  accomplished,  his  right  to  a  first  i)lacc 
among  the  representative  residents  of  Cissna 
Park,  and  this  jiart  of  Iro<|uois  ci">unty  cannot 
be  questioned. 

Born  in  this  county.  December  12,  1841.  he 
is  the  son  of  Lewis  R.  and  Mary  .\nn  (Bishop) 
Bnx'k.     His  paternal  grandfather  who  also  bore 


538 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  name  of  Lewis  Brock,  was  one  of  the  lirst 
settlers  of  Indiana,  and  in  the  '30s  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  cast- 
ing in  his  lot  with  the  pioneers  who  were  just 
laying  the  foundation  for  its  later  growth  and 
improvement.  Few  settlers  had  penetrated  into 
the  forest  districts  or  established  homes  on  the 
prairie  and  many  years  went  by  ere  deer  ceased 
to  be  seen  in  the  locality,  while  other  kinds  of 
wild  game  were  to  be  had  in  abundance.  Lewis 
R.  Brock,  father  of  our  subject,  was  born  in 
Indiana  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois, where  he  was  reared  amid  the  wild  scenes 
and  environments  of  a  pioneer  existence.  Hav- 
ing reached  years  of  maturity,  he  wedded  ]\Iary 
Ann  Bishop,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  he  followed 
farming  in  Ash  Grove  township,  where  he  reared 
his  family  and  passed  away  in  1855.  when  in  the 
prime  of  life.  His  wife  long  survived  him  and 
devoted  herself  to  the  care  and  education  of  her 
children,  of  whom  Silas  was  the  eldest.  The 
others  are :  Charles,  now  living  in  Henrietta, 
Indian  Territory;  Mary  A.,  the  wife  of  John 
Cjilbert,  of  Onarga ;  and  Mrs.  Sarah  .\.  Ruley, 
also  of  Onarga. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  to  varv 
the  routine  of  farm  life  for  Silas  Brock  in  his 
boyhood  and  youth.  He  mastered  the  elementary 
branches  of  learning  in  the  common  schools  and 
afterward  had  the  advantage  of  study  in  Green- 
castle,  Indiana,  attending  what  was  then  known 
as  .\sbury  but  is  now  DePauw  University  for 
eighteen  months.  He  enlisted  in  1862 — the  year 
in  which  he  attained  his  majority — as  a  member 
of  Company  E,  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry  under  command  of  Colonel  A.  W. 
Mack,  and  later  under  Colimel  S.  T.  Busev.  Tiie 
regiment  was  attached  to  tlie  Western  .\rmv 
and  participated  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  \'icks- 
burg  and   the   batti.  "     '-■^on.      He   was   also 

with    various  scouting   p,....  '    '    'n    a   num- 

ber of  skirmishes  and  was  subsequently  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Blakely.  He  served  throughout 
the  war  and  on  one  occasion  was  slightlv  wound- 
ed. He  was  mustered  out  at  Galveston,  Texas. 
July  22,  1865,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Chicago,  having  made  a  creditable  military 
record  as  one  who  was  found  faithful  whether 
on  the  firing  line,  on  the  lonely  picket  line  or 
on  the  tented  field. 


Mr.  Brock  returned  on  the  7th  of  August, 
1865,  and  after  the  war  engaged  in  farming  sev- 
eral years.  He  then  worked  in  a  drug  store  and 
later  in  a  general  mercantile  establishment.  He 
next  embarked  in  the  drug  business  on  his  own 
account  and  conducted  a  general  store  at  Ash 
Grove  for  about  fifteen  years,  after  which  he 
closed  out  his  business  there  and  removed  to 
Cissna  Park,  opening  a  new  store.  Later  he 
bouglit  the  old  Bundy  store  and  a  stock  of  drugs 
and  he  now  carries  a  large  stock  of  drugs  and 
sundries,  paints,  oils,  books  and  stationery.  He 
has  built  up  a  nice  trade  and  his  patronage  has 
steadily  increased,  so  that  he  derives  from  his 
business  a  very  desirable  income. 

Mr.  Brock  has  always  been  interested  in  po- 
litical questions  and  issues  and  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  political  conditions  of  the  country, 
as  every  true  American  citizen  should  do.  He 
proudly  cast  his  first  vote  in  1868,  supporting  U. 
S.  Grant,  and  since  that  time  has  supported  each 
presidential  nominee  on  the  republican  ticket. 
He  filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  has 
been  township  treasurer,  township  clerk,  col- 
lector and  assessor.  In  these  various  positions 
his  duties  have  been  discharged  with  promptness 
and  fidelity.  He  believes  in  honesty  in  public 
office  and  efficiency  in  public  service  and  has 
thtis  proven  himself  worthy  of  the  trust  reposed 
in   him   in   his   election   to   office. 

On  the  7th  of  August,  i860,  at  Ash  Grove, 
Mr.  Brock  was  united  in  marriage  to  ]\Iiss  ^laria 
L.  Aye,  who  was  born  in  Indiana,  and  reared 
in  Vermilion  county,  that  state.  They  now  have 
three  living  children :  ]\Iary  L.  is  the  wife  of 
Austin  Pierce,  of  Milford.  Illinois.  Bertha  A. 
died  in  early  womanhood,  in  September,  1904. 
'Sirs.  Rose  E.  Bishop,  a  widow,  is  living  with 
her  father.  She  has  five  children.  Clarence, 
A'irginia,  Eunice,  Dorothy  and  Buryl.  The 
youngest  is  ~Slavk  \.  Brock,  of  Cissna  Park,  who 
is  married  and  has  one  child. 

'Mv.  and  Airs.  Pirock  and  their  daugliter  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  is  a  valued  representative  of  the  Grand  .\rmy 
post,  in  which  he  has  served  as  commander  for 
five  or  six  years.  His  has  been  a  creditable  rec- 
ord, characterized  by  honesty  and  enterprise  in 
business,  by  loyalty  and  progressiveness  in  cit- 
izenship, and  by  fidelity  in  social  circles.     He  is 


IKOOLUliJ  LUUMV.   lI.l.lMil>. 


5.W 


interested  in  all  that  ]H.>rtains  to  the  general  wel- 
fare and  has  jjivcn  hearty  cii-'iperatinn  l<>  niaiiv 
movements  tenrlinj;;  tu  advance  the  material  up- 
building and  the  intellectual  and  moral  progress 
of  Cissna  I'ark. 


1.I:\.\1)I:K  StllNTKR. 

Leander  Schiiurr,  en;;a,ycil  in  laiiinnj;  and 
st(H'k-raisinjj  on  section  7.  Artesia  ii'wnsliip.  was 
born  in  Majlen.  ( iermany.  Dctober  14.  i><34.  His 
father.  Michael  Scl'.nnrr.  was  also  a  native  of 
that  land,  where  he  follnwetl  lanniiifj.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Rosa  Mintz,  who  was  also  of  licrman 
birth,  and  they  had  a  family  of  five  children. 
'I"heir  son  F-eander  was  reared  on  the  linnie  farm 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  When 
eifjhtcen  years  of  ajje  he  came  to  .\merica  with 
his  two  (jlder  brothers:  Ipnats.  now  of  Scott 
county.  Iowa:  and  Daniel,  who  is  living  in  N'ew 
llampton.  lnwa.  The  voyage  was  made  on  a 
sailing  vessel  frnni  Il;ivre.  h'rance.  and  they 
were  fifty-four  days  nn  the  sea.  enconnti-ring 
some  severe  storms.  They  lan<led  at  N'ew 
( )rleans  and  jiroceeded  In  -1.  ■•"•■r  up  the  .Missis- 
sippi river  to  St.  I^niis. 

Leaiuler  Schiuirr  at  unci-  fnuiid  work  in  a 
ciKiper  shop  and  was  thus  employed  fur  three 
years,  after  which  he  removed  t(<  \\'<Kidford  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  settling  at  ("ongerville.  There  he 
was  again  employed  as  a  cooper  for  a  year,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  secured  a  situation  as 
a  farm  hand  and  s|>ent  two  years  in  that  way. 
working  the  first  yiar  for  eleven  dollars  ami  the 
second  year  for  thirteen  dollars  i)er  month.  The 
attempt  of  the  s<julh  to  f)verthrow  the  I'liion 
awakened  his  patriotic  spirit  and  on  the  Sth  of 
May.  ift>i.  he  enlisted  at  luireka.  Illinois,  as  a 
niemlKT  of  Company  (j,  .Seventi-enth  Illinois  In- 
fantry. He  was  with  fiencral  (irant's  forces  |>art 
of  the  time  and  was  afterward  under  command  of 
(iiueral  .Slu-rman.  The  regiment  went  into  camj) 
at  IVoria  and  thence  procce<le<l  to  Alton.  Illinois, 
to  .St.  (."harles.  Missouri,  anfl  to  Warrenton.  Mis- 
souri, after  which  they  returned  to  St.  Ix)uis  and 
thence  to  r.irds  Point,  Missouri,  opposite  Cairo. 
Illinois.  The  next  move  took  them  to  .Sul|)hur 
Springs,    thence    to    Fre<leriekstown    and    rtitor- 


ward  to  Jackson.  The  first  engagement  in  which 
Mr.  Schnurr  jjarticipated  was  at  I'ort  Donelson 
and  later  he  was  in  the  battles  of  Sliilnh,  \  icks- 
burg  and  Vazoo  river.  Then,  after  several  small 
skirmi>hes,  he  returned  ti»  Springfield  and  was 
discharged  in  June.  lS<i4.  lii'i  thrtc  vear>'  term 
having  expired. 

.\lr.  Schnurr  then  enjuyed  a  bnel  >ea>.>n  <ii 
rest  after  his  arduous  military  experience  and 
sub-seijuently  took  up  farm  work,  being  employed 
in  that  wa\  for  a  year,  but  desiring  that  his  la- 
bors should  more  clirecil)  iK-nefit  himself  he 
rented  land  and  t<Tok  up  farming  on  his  own 
account. 

.Mr.  .*^chmirr  was  marrictl  (  (ctolK-r  1.  iS<>5.  to 
Miss  Mag<lalina  Meyers,  a  native  of  Lorraine, 
l-'rance.  tiow  (iermany.  and  a  diuighter  of  (.'hri-;- 
tian  -Meyers,  who  came  to  llli'iois  with  his  family 
and  settled  in  Woo<lford  comity.  After  his  mar- 
riage .Mr.  Schmirr  continued  to  operate  rented 
land  for  thirty  years  and  during  that  time  he 
also  reared  a  large  family.  I'rom  his  earnings 
he  accumulated  enough  to  come  to  InKjuois  , 
county  and  in  i8<>4  jiurchased  two  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Artesia  township.  whi*re 
he  now  resides.  There  were  no  improvemeiUs 
upon  the  place  at  the  time  but  he  has  since  erecte<l 
a  good  two-story  residence,  two  substantial  barns 
;ind  an  elevator.  He  has  also  fenced  and  tiled 
his  place  and  made  it  a  neat  and  valuable  prop- 
erty. He  likewise  has  a  young  orchard  of  fifty 
trees  and  in  ad<lition  to  his  horticultural  ])ursuits 
and  the  production  of  various  cereals  he  like- 
wise raises  good  grades  of  stock  and  also  feeds 
some   for  the   market. 

Cnto  Mr.  anci  .Mrs.  Schnurr  have  been  liorn 
ten  children:  \ictor  hjiianuel,  who  die<l  at  the 
age  of  sixteen  years:  I-Vank.  who  is  living  in 
.Montana;  .\nielia.  at  home;  William,  who  is  on 
a  j>lantation  in  Louisiana:  '..rd.  who  is  farm- 

ing in  Floyd  county,  Iowa;  Charles,  Albert. 
Julius,  Elina  and  Louis,  ail  of  whom  are  at  home. 

Mr.  .Schnurr  hi>lds  membership  with  the  (irand 
Army  post  at  <  )narga.  He  has  voted  continuous- 
ly with  the  republican  j)arty.  never  missing  a 
jiresidential  election  since  he  cast  a  ballot  for 
\braham  Lincoln.  His  present  abode  and  well 
improved  farm  are  the  visible  evidence  of  his  life 
of  \nniring  industry  and  thrift,  together  with 
the  assistance  rendered  him  bv  his  wife  ami  his 


540 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


children.  The  family  worked  together  stren- 
uously and  earnestly  in  order  to  gain  a  home  and 
are  now  comfortably  situated  in  life.  Mr. 
Schnurr  has  resided  in  Illinois  for  more  than  a 
half  century  and  while  he  found  that  in  America 
it  is  as  necessary  to  work  diligently  to  procure 
success  as  in  any  other  land  he  has  never  had  oc- 
casion to  regret  his  determination  to  seek  a  home 
in  this  country,  for  here,  where  labor  finds  its 
sure  reward  and  where  efifort  is  not  impeded  by 
any  class  or  caste  distinctions,  he  has  gradually 
advanced  and  the  years  have  at  length  crowned 
his  efiforts  with  prosperity.  He  has  recently  pur- 
chased a  home  in  Onarga,  where  he  will  soon 
move  and  live  retired  from  active  labor. 


JAMES  H.  EAST  BURN. 

James  H.  Eastburn  is  now  living  retired  in 
Sheldon.  His  is  an  honorable  record  of  a  consci- 
entious man  who  by  his  upright  life  has  won  the 
confidence  of  all  with  whom  he  has  come  in  con- 
tact. He  has  been  closely  associated  with  agricul- 
tural and  commercial  interests  and  is  justly  num- 
bered among  the  honored  pioneers  and  leading 
citizens  of  Iroquois  county.  In  fact  he  is  one  of 
the  oldest  native  sons,  having  been  born  in  this 
county,  January  2,  1838.  His  parents  were  Jesse 
and  Jane  (Smedley)  Eastburn. 

The  family  is  of  English  lineage  and  was  es- 
tablished in  America  by  the  great-grandfather  of 
our  subject  who,  on  coming  from  England,  took 
up  his  abode  in  jMaryland.  There  occurred  the 
birth  of  Jesse  Eastburn,  Sr.,  the  grandfather  of 
our  subject,  in  1770.  He  married  Abigail  Phil- 
lips, of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1833  they  removed 
westward  to  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  casting 
in  their  lot  with  its  earliest  settlers.  The  coun- 
try was  very  wild  at  that  time.  The  lands  were 
undr;iine<l.  the  streams  unbridged  and  the  tracts 
of  ])rairie  were  uncultivated.  Mr.  Eastburn  aided 
in  laying  broad  and  deep  the  foundation  for  the 
present  growth  and  iirosjieritN'  of  the  enunlN", 
maintaining  his  residence  here  until  his  death. 
He  served  his  country  as  a  soldier  of  the  war  of 
T(SiT  and  because  of  this  his  descendants  were 
given  a  land  warrant. 


His  son,  Jesse  Eastburn,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Ad- 
ams county,  Ohio,  January  28,  i8oy,  and  in  that 
state  was  reared  and  married.  On  the  7th  of 
April,  183 1,  he  wedded  Jane  Smedley,  who  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  18,  1809,  and 
was  a  daughter  of  George  J.  Smedley,  who  re- 
moved from  the  Keystone  state  to  Lawrence 
county,  Ohio,  in  which  county  was  celebrated  his 
daughter's  marriage.  In  1847  ^^^  came  to  Iro- 
quois county.  Illinois,  where  he  resided  for  two 
years,  and  then  returned  to  Ohio,  where  he  spent 
his  remaining  days.  The  year  1835  witnessed  the 
arrival  of  Jesse  and  Jane  (Smedley)  Eastburn  in 
Iroquois  county.  They  located  in  Concord  town- 
ship, on  the  25th  of  March  of  that  year,  and 
from  the  government  secured  land,  a  part  of 
which  is  now  in  possession  of  their  son  James. 
Prospering  in  his  business  undertakings,  .Mr. 
Eastburn  became  one  of  the  extensive  landowners 
of  the  county,  his  possessions  at  one  tinie  ag- 
gregating about  one  thousand  acres.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Concord  township,  al- 
though others  came  the  first  year.  Both  a  me- 
chanic and  farmer,  in  connection  with  the  culti- 
vation of  his  land,  he  carried  on  a  wagon  shop 
in  the  early  days  of  the  settlement  and  displayed 
a  spirit  of  industry  and  perseverance  that  prom- 
ised well  for  success.  He  was  reared  in  the  faith 
of  the  democrac}-  and  cast  his  first  presidential 
ballot  for  Andrew  Jackson  but  his  later  study 
and  investigation  of  this  important  question  led 
him  to  become  a  stanch  abolitionist,  and  in  1856 
he  voted  for  John  C.  Fremont,  after  which  he 
contiiiued  to  support  the  republican  party  until 
his  death.  He  was  the  first  supervisor  of  Con- 
cord townshi])  and  served  in  that  office  for  a 
number  of  terms.  A  leading  and  inlluential  cit- 
izen he  was  very  prominent  in  public  affairs  and 
left  the  impress  of  his  individuality  for  good 
uiirm  the  history  of  the  county.  In  1S40  lie 
united  with  the  iMethodist  Episcopal  cluirch, 
served  as  one  of  its  officers,  and  his  house  was 
the  recognized  home  of  the  circuit  rider.  He 
was  never  so  hajipy  as  when  entertaining  a  half 
dozen  ministers  and  he  did  all  in  his  jiower  to 
ailvance  the  cause  of  his  denomination.  P.otore 
his  deatli  he  removed  to  Sheldon  and  assisted  in 
building  the  IMethodist  church  at  that  place.  His 
educational  privileges  were  limited  but  by  cx- 
tensixT  reading  he  made  himself  a  well  informed 


IROQLDIS  COUNTY.  II.f.lNoIS. 


54  > 


III. in.  .111(1  while  serving  as  schoitl  diiiiu'i  a-i  a 
luiinhcr  of  vi-ars  he  did  effective  service  fur  the 
cause  of  education  in  this  community.  He  also 
did  much  to  aitl  in  the  ijrowth  uf  the  comity  and 
lived  to  sec  it  take  a  front  rank  amonij  the  coun- 
ties of  the  state.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noble- 
men and  his  death,  wliich  occurred  September  13. 
1873,  was  mourned  by  niaiiv  friends.  I  lis  wife 
passed  away  in  i8<>3. 

This  worthy  couple  were  llie  pareius  el  nine 
children,  three  of  whom  are  now  liviuij;,  the  eldest 
being  Isaac  II.  i-'astburn.  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 5.  1833.  in  Oiii(^  and  is  now  livinjjf  in  Kan- 
kakee. illiiKiis.  The  youngest  is  David  J.  ICast- 
burn.  who  was  born  in  this  county.  Mav  10,  1845. 
and  is  now  residing  in  Indiana])()Iis.  Indiana. 

Tlic  common  schools  aff'orded  James  H.  East- 
burn  liis  early  educational  privileges,  and  in  1856 
he  entered  Asbury  University,  at  Greencastle. 
Indiana,  wiiere  he  spent  two  terms  as  a  student, 
while  for  one  year  he  was  at  Battleground.  In- 
diana. The  f)utbreak  of  the  Civil  war  aroused 
liis  patriotism  and  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  Army, 
August  8,  1862,  as  a  member  of  Company  E. 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment  of  Illinois  \"olunteers. 
while  his  brother.  Isaac  II..  became  a  member  of 
the  same  company.  George  C.  Harrington  was  ma- 
jor of  the  regiment,  which  was  in  the  west  most 
of  the  time.  Mr.  Kastburn  served  for  three 
years,  was  advanced  from  tlie  ranks  to  sergeant, 
then  became  first  sergeant,  afterward  first  lieu- 
tenant and  acted  in  that  ca[)acity  mitil  nuistered 
out.  The  troops  went  into  cam])  at  Kankakee 
and  after  two  weeks  pr(Kee<led  southward  to 
Columbus.  Kentucky.  Later  they  were  sent  to 
Tennessee,  subsequentlv  to  Mississippi,  and  were 
afterward  attached  to  the  .\rmy  of  the  (Julf. 
They  were  in  several  skirmishes  but  Mr.  East- 
burn  was  first  regularly  under  fire  at  the  siege 
of  \icksburg.  On  the  7th  of  July.  1864.  In- 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Jackson  Cross 
Roads,  at  Jackson.  Mississippi,  where  his  brother 
Isaac  was  twice  slightly  wounded,  once  in  the 
right  arm  and  once  in  the  right  band.  The  com- 
man<l  was  later  sent  to  Morgan/.a  I'.eiul.  Louis- 
iana, and  with  his  company  .Mr.  I-'astburn  par- 
ticipated ill  the  slirmishes  at  W  ashington.  Louis- 
iana. White  Rivt'r,  and  Du vails  I'.luff,  proceed- 
ing tiience  to  Memphis,  Tennessee.  In  the  win- 
ter  of    jHCt^-G^,    the    Sevcntv-si.xth    Illinois    was 


iran-ierred  to  the  .\rmy  ol  liie  tiulf  and  went 
from  .Memphis  to  N'ew  ( Jrleans  and  thence 
started  by  Ixjat  to  Pensacola,  I'^lorida.  A  storm 
arising,  the  vessel  was  shipwrecked  and  they  had 
to  throw  overbi>ard  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
head  of  horses  and  mules  in  order  to  save  them- 
selves. They  then  marched  across  the  country 
from  Pensacola  to  I'ort  l'>lakely  and  took  jjart 
in  its  siege  and  capture,  the  Seventy-sixth  Illi- 
nois losing  over  one  hmulred  men  in  the  assault 
which  took  place  April  9.  1865.  Mr.  I'astbmii 
was  afterward  in  no  regular  battles  but  was  on 
duty  until  mustered  out  at  (iaivestou.  Texas. 
July  22,  1863,  when  the  regiment  was  brought 
to  Chicago  and  finally  discharged  and  paid  oft'. 

When  the  war  was  ended  James  H.  East- 
burn  returned  to  Iroquois  county,  where  lie  be- 
gan farming  and  soon  bought  land.  His  father 
gave  him  eighty  acres  and  he  purchased  an  ad- 
ditional tract  of  eighty  acres,  to  which  he  lias 
added  from  time  to  time  as  his  financial  re- 
sources have  permitted  until  he  is  now  the  owner 
of  three  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  valuable 
land  in  Concord  township.  He  followed  farming 
actively  and  successfully  until  1888.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Sheldon  and  embarked  in  the  lumber 
business  in  connection  with  J.  D.  W'atkins.  under 
the  firm  style  of  Eastburn  &  W'atkins.  This 
partnership  was  maintained  until  1895.  when 
Mr.  W'atkins  sold  his  interest  to  I*!vlan  Clark  and 
the  firm  name  was  then  changed  to  Eastl)urn 
&  Clark.  Mr.  l*!astburn  continued  in  the  lumber 
Ijusiness  for  fifteen  years  but  in  1903  sfild  out  and 
has  since  lived  a  retired  life  in  Sheldon.  I  le 
owns  one  of  the  most  beautiful  homes  in  the 
city,  which  he  erected  in  i88(j.  It  is  a  two-story 
residence,  finished  in  oak  and  liard  pine,  and  is 
richly,  yet  tastefully  furnished.  .Mr.  I'astburn 
has  one  of  the  largi-st  and  best  private  libraries 
to  be  found  in  this  part  of  the  state  and  has  been 
many  years  in  collecting  it.  His  b(«iks  are  all 
finelv  bound  and  embrace  the  best  writing  of  all 
ages.  With  the  contents  of  his  library  he  is  very 
familiar,  finding  jjleasant  comi)anionship  with  the 
master  minds  of  the  present  and  of  the  ])ast. 

t  >n  ilu-  2f>th  of  ( )ctober.  iW>3,  occurred  the 
marriage  uf  .Mr.  Eastburn  and  Miss  .Martha  I. 
W.itkins.  a  ilaughter  of  Jonathan  \\  atkins.  .She 
was  born  in  .Montgomery  comity.  Indiana,  in 
1847.     Since   1834  Jriualhan  W'atkins  has  been  a 


54^ 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


resident  of  Iroquois  county  and  is  now  one  of  its 
most  venerable  citizens,  liaving  passed  the  eighty- 
sixth  milestone  on  life's  journey.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Eastburn  had  two  children  but  lost  their  daugh- 
ter, Edna,  who  was  born  ^larch  14,  1870,  and 
died  on  the  24th  of  July  of  the  same  \ear.  The 
son,  Ernest,  who  was  born  September  21,  1869, 
is  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Eastburn  is  a  republican  and 
has  served  on  the  town  board  of  Sheldon  and  also 
as  school  director.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge  here  since  1875,  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  IMethodist  Ejiiscopal  church.  In 
manner  Mr.  Ea.«tburn  is  free  from  ostentation 
and  display,  but  his  intrinsic  worth  is  recognized 
and  his  friendship  is  most  prized  by  those  who 
know  him  best,  showing  that  his  character  will 
bear  the  scrutiny  of  close  acquaintance.  He  is  a 
generous-spirited,  broad-minded  man,  a  true 
type  of  the  American  spirit  and  the  embodiment 
of  that  progress  which  in  the  last  few  years  has 
brought  to  this  country  the  admiring  gaze  of  the 
nations  of  the  world. 


DR.  D.  L.  lEWETT. 


There  is  perhaps  no  one  who  comes  into  such 
close  contact  w-ith  humanity  as  does  a  physician 
and  if  he  be  able  and  honorable  in  his  chosen 
calling  and  possesses  sympathy  as  well  as  kindly 
courage  in  the  performance  of  his  duties,  there 
is  no  man  more  uniformly  respected  and  beloved. 
Such  was  the  case  with  I^r.  D.  L.  Jewett,  who 
was  ever  spoken  of  as  an  honorable  citizen  and 
physician  of  Watseka.  He  was  called  to  his 
final  rest  on  the  4tli  of  June,  1006,  and  the  news 
of  his  demise  was  received  with  (lee]3est  regret 
throughout  the  community  in  which  he  had  so 
long  made  his  home.  Mis  birth  occurred  at 
North  L_\-me,  Middlesex  county,  Connecticut,  on 
the  22d  of  December,  1840,  and  he  was  given 
the  name  of  Daniel  Lee  Jewett.  I  lis  ])arents 
were  Nathan  and  Eucretia  Jewett.  and  in  their 
home  upon  a  farm  his  earlv  life  was  ])asscd, 
while  his  literary  cducatif)n  was  obtained  at  .Suf- 
field,  Connecticut.  Determining  upon  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  as  a  life  wurk,  he  was  graduated 


in  1862  from  the  New  York  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  and  immediately  afterward 
offered  his  service  to  his  country  to  aid  in  the 
alleviation  of  suffering  caused  by  the  war.  He 
went  to  the  front  to  minister  to  the  wounded 
and  sick,  joining  the  Twentieth  Connecticut  \'ol- 
unteer  Infantrv  as  assistant  surgeon.  He  was 
with  that  regiment  in  some  of  the  greatest  bat- 
tles of  the  Civil  war  and  never  faltered  in  the 
performance  of  any  duty  that  devolved  upon  him 
in  a  military  way. 

\\"hen  the  war  was  ended  Dr.  Jewett  returned 
to  New'  England,  but  in  1866  came  to  Watseka, 
where  he  opened  an  office,  continuing  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  in  this  place  until  his  death. 
He  was  married  in  Jamaica.  A'ermont.  in  1871, 
to  Isabella  Prown,  who  survives  him.  He  re- 
turned to  the  east  for  his  wife  and  brought  her 
as  a  bride  to  his  new  home,  wdiere  she  shared 
with  him  in  the  regard  and  good  will  wliich 
were  so  uniformly  accorded  him. 

Dr.  Jewett  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs 
of  the  community  and  withheld  his  support  from 
no  movement  or  measure  that  he  believed  would 
prove  of  public  good.  He  served  as  a  member 
of  the  city  council  and  as  a  school  director  and 
was  for  some  }cars  trustee  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  acting  in  that  capacity  up  to  the  time 
of  his  death.  For  thirty-six  years  he  had  been 
Cnited  States  pension-examining  surgeon.  He 
was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, attaining  the  Knight  Templar  degree, 
being  in  thorough  sympathy  with  J.ic  teachings 
of  this  craft.  He  belonged  to  the  lii-Ctiunty 
^iledical  .\ssociation  and  his  prominence  in  his 
profession  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  was 
at  one  time  honored  with  its  jiresidency.  That 
society  at  its  meeting  ;it  (  iilman  following  his 
death,  passed  resolutions  extolling  bis  life  work. 
They  paid  the  highest  tribute  to  his  carer  as  a 
patriotic  citizen  who  faithfully  served  his  country 
in  w;ir  and  ]H'ace,  ;uid  who  \\;is  ;i  wortlu-  re|)rc- 
scntative  of  all  that  is  best  in  rhe  medical  jiro- 
fession.  They  gave  expression  to  their  great 
sorrow  and  their  deep  sense  of  ]-)ublic  loss. 

Perhaps  no  better  indication  of  the  life  and 
character  of  Dr.  Jewett  can  be  given  than  in 
the  words  of  M.  II.  Peters  who  said: — "'lie  had 
a  marked  indi\idualily.  sometimes  liordering  on 
eccentricity,  but  lu's  peculiarities  rather  added  to 


x)  /  A- 


'-x^-cZ\ 


"J 


IRoOfolS  COUNT V.  II.I.lXi  "IS. 


545 


his  personal  aitractiveness  than  otherwise,  in  that 
tliey  spranj;  from  the  earnestness  of  Iiis  cliar- 
acter  and  his  mental  ahsorptioii  in  his  i)rofession 
and  in  non-professional  snbjccts  which  interested 
him.  ilis  name  has  been  a  household  word  in 
hnniireds  of  homes  for  over  a  third  of  a  century, 
lie  united  with  the  hi}.jhcst  jirofessional  skill,  the 
tendirest  human  feelinjj.  He  was  always  the 
friend  and  symjjathizcr  as  well  as  the  jirofcssion- 
al  adviser  and  his  sjiirit  was  often  wrung  with 
anguish  at  the  suft'erings  he  was  called  to  wit- 
ness. His  heart  went  out  to  \onng  ])eoi)le,  many 
of  whom  he  had  attended  all  their  lives  and  some- 
times when  the  great  destroyer  claimed  one  of 
these  in  spite  of  all  that  human  skill  and  yearn- 
ing care  could  do.  he  sorrowed  and  would  not 
be  comforted.  Tie  was  retired  in  manner  and 
reserved  in  disposition  and  only  those  who 
learned  to  know  him.  understood  how  deep  and 
sweet  were  the  springs  of  hunian  sympathv  that 
lay  at  his  heart's  core. 

"The  death  of  his  only  son  some  years  ago. 
affected  him  intensely  and  he  was  never  quite 
the  same  man  afterward.  Yet  his  hold  on  life, 
its  recollections,  its  hopes  and  its  infinite  va- 
riety, never  flagged.  While  in  later  years  his 
interest  in  the  ])ast  deei)cned  and  he  loved  to  re- 
tail reminiscences  of  a  varied  experience  es- 
pecially in  connection  with  his  army  life,  he 
never  ceased  to  face  the  future  and  his  look  was 
still  forward  when  the  summon  came  and  he 
was  taken  while  yet  his  heart  was  young  and  his 
natural  ])owers  not  abated. 

"Ife  was  the  soul  of  honor,  meeting  life's 
problems  in  a  manly  and  unshrinking  way.  bear- 
ing his  full  share  in  the  labors  and  responsibil- 
ities of  life,  a  good  citizen,  a  man  whose  loss 
is  mourned  by  thousands  as  that  of  a  personal 
friend. 

".Another  comrade  has  fallen.  —  comrade, 
friend  and  brother.  He  has  heard  the  last  tattoo, 
nor  will  the  bugle  sounding  the  reveille  awaken 
him  from  his  shmibers.  to  mingle  again  with 
us,  to  share  the  tedium  of  the  camp,  the  weary 
march,  or  the  wild  tumultuous  shock  of  battle; 
his  services  to  his  country,  his  duties  to  his  fel- 
lowmen.  are  ended  and  O,  what  a  loss  has  the 
community  and  the  country  sustained.  Our 
hearts  are  rent,  our  tears  will  fall  as  we 
contemplate 


The  venerable  form  once  erect  and  so  bold, 
N'ow    lifeless   and    cold. 

"And  \et  how  it  S(X)thes  the  soul  to  feel  and 
know  that  as  in  life  he  was  true  and  brave,  he 
was  even  so  luito  death,  lie  feared  not  the 
King  of  Terrors,  his  only  solicitude,  as  the  dark 
angel  hovered  over  his  cmucIi,  was  for  the  dear 
comp;mion.  the  chosen  of  his  heart,  who  for  so 
many  ye;irs  has  walked  at  his  side,  and  today, 
the  thirty-fifth  anniversary  of  their  marriage, 
follows  her  beloved  to  the  grave.  (  lur  loss  is 
great  immeasurable,  irreparable ;  but  what  a 
loss,  ()  what  a  loss,  is  hers — how  oiu-  hearts 
bleed  in  sympathy  for  the  bereaved  wife — the 
Father  in  Heaven  alone  knows  her  sorrow  and 
He  alone  can  comfort  her.  May  He  abide  with 
her  anil  give  her  fortitude  and  strength  for  this 
terrible  crisis.  We  mingle  our  tears  with  hers, 
for  as  she  loved  the  Dr)ctor  as  a  husband,  so  we 
loved  him  as  a  comrade,  friend  :uid  brother. 

"Dr.  Jewett.  S.  C.  Munhall  and  I  came  to 
Watseka  abi>ut  the  same  time.  We  were  close 
friend.s — three  comrades  of  the  (irand  .\rmy. 
three  brothers  of  the  Mystic  Tie.  In  iSf)/  we 
had  our  pictures  taken  in  a  group.  Last  year 
on  Memorial  day  1  exposed  that  picture  in  my 
show  window.  Munhall  going  by  saw  it  and 
stopped  to  speak  al»ut  it.  .\s  we  stood  there 
Dr.  Jewett  came  along.  Here  we  were  together 
again  as  we  had  been  thirty-nine  years  before. 
I'lUt.  ( ).  how  changed,  and  the  remark  was 
l)assed.  "Who  will  be  the  first  to  break  the  trio?' 
Today  Dr.  Jewett  reposes  in  the  embrace  of 
death.  1  write  this  tribute  and  S.  C.  Munhall 
puts  it  into  print.  Munhall  a. id  I  must  follow 
soon — it  matters  not  who  will  be  the  next. 

"Dr.  Jewett  was  very  near  and  dear  to  me; 
we  served  in  the  same  army  during  the  last  two 
years  of  the  Civil  war — he  in  the  Twentieth  Con- 
necticut and  1  in  the  Seventy-fourth  (  )hio.  We 
first  met  at  Tantalon,  Tennessee,  in  the  early 
spring  of  1864.  served  together  through  the 
Atlanta  cam|)aign.  he  in  the  Twentieth  corps  and 
I  in  the  Fcjurteenth.  It  was  a  strange  co-inci- 
dent that  fate  or  goo<l  fortune  should  bring  us 
both  to  Watseka  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  here  we  have  dwelt  to  gcther  for  more  than 
forty  years  in  the  lx)nds  of  comradeship  welded 
in  the  fire  of  battle.  Dr.  Jewett  loved  the  old 
soldier ;  all  old  soldiers  were  dear  to  him.  and  as 


546 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


love  begets  love  he  won  the  hearts  of  all  who 
came  in  contact  with  him.  He  was  an  exemplary 
citizen,  he  held  an  exalted  idea  of  his  citizenship, 
of  his  duties  to  his  country  in  peace  as  well  as 
in  war.  He  ranked  high  as  a  physician  and 
was  very  conscientious  in  his  profession ;  many 
a  heart  will  grieve  for  the  lack  of  his  ministra- 
tion for  he  was  so  kind  and  tender.  He  has 
gone  to  his  reward,  all  is  well  with  him  :  the  sor- 
row is  ours — we  who  are  left  to  mourn  his 
departure." 


AMOS  L.  WHITE.MAX. 

.\mos  L.  Whiteman,  who  carries  on  general 
agricultural  pursuits  in  Concord  township,  was 
born  in  Aliddleport.  August  5,  1853,  and  is  a 
representative  of  one  of  the  old  pioneer  families 
of  the  county.  He  is  a  son  of  Amos  O.  and 
Lydia  (Thomas)  Whiteman.  The  father  was 
born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and,  journeying 
across  the  country  by  wagon  in  1838,  at  length 
arrived  in  Iroquois  county.  He  entered  land  on 
section  7,  Concord  township,  at  the  land  ofifice 
in  Danville,  Illinois,  and  began  transforming  the 
raw  land  into  productive  fields,  for  not  a  furrow 
had  been  turned  or  an  improvement  made  upon 
the  place  at  that  time.  His  first  home  was  a  pio- 
neer cabin,  sixteen  by  twenty-four  feet,  and  in 
1854  he  built  a  frame  house  there.  He  was 
closely  associated  with  the  early  pioneer  develop- 
ment of  the  county  and  further  mention  is  made 
of  him  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Harmon 
.\1.  Whiteman  on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Amos  L.  Whiteman  pursued  his  cducatiim  in 
the  district  schools  of  Concord  township  and 
early  became  familiar  with  all  tlie  duties  and 
labors  consequent  upun  the  cultivatinn  of  the 
fields  and  the  care  of  the  crops,  lie  was  married 
December  24,  1879.  to  ^liss  ]\Iarv  E.  Savage, 
of  Inilton  cmmly,  Indiana.  Their  unU  cliild. 
Sidney,  was  born  .May  25,  1S81.  and  died  on  the 
8th  of  tlie  following  Decem])er.  and  Mrs.  White- 
man's  death  occurred  April  20,  1882.  Mr. 
AMiiteman  then  returned  tn  his  father's  home. 
'  )n  the  2()lh  of  June.  i8()5,  lie  reiudved  to  Con- 
cinl  townshiix  settling  on  fractiniial  section  7. 
wliere  lie  bnill  a  liouse  and  l)ani.     lie  took  up  Ids 


abode  there  on  the  20th  of  August,  and  he  has 
thirty-one  acres  on  section  6  and  forty-eight  acres 
on  section  7.  which  was  part  of  his  father's 
estate.  He  has  put  three  hundred  rods  of  tiling 
on  the  farm,  has  fenced  the  land  and  otherwise 
improved  the  property. 

After  losing  his  first  wife  Mr.  \\  hiteman  was 
married  again  in  Concord  township  to  Miss 
Grace  C.  Strickler,  the  wedding  being  celebrated 
June  29,  1895.  She  was  born  in  1869.  Both 
^Ir.  and  iNIrs.  A\"hiteman  have  a  wide  and  favor- 
able acquaintance  in  this  county.  In  politics  he 
is  a  democrat  and  in  1889  he  served  as  assessor. 
His  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  Masons  and 
he  is  an  exemplary  representative  of  the  craft. 
For  more  than  a  half  century  he  has  lived  in  this 
county  and  has  therefore  witnessed  the  greater 
part  of  its  development  and  growth  as  time  and 
man  have  wrought  many  changes.  The  wet, 
swampy  lands  have  been  converted  into  rich 
farms  and  the  work  of  improvement  and  culti- 
vation has  been  carried  forward,  !Mr.  Whiteman 
bearing  his  part  by  leading  a  life  of  agricultural 
activity,  wherein  he  has  brought  land  under  his 
care  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation. 


WILLIAM  W.  ROSEXBERGER. 

^^'illiam  W.  Rosenberger,  who  is  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock-raising  in  Sheldon 
township,  was  born  in  Beaver  townsliip.  this 
county,  on  Christmas  day  of  1865.  His  father, 
\\'illiam  Rosenberger,  was  a  native  of  Germany, 
and.  coming  to  the  new  world,  cast  in  his  lot 
with  the  agricultural  population  of  Iroquois 
comity.  I'pon  the  home  farm  his  son,  W'illiam 
^^'.  Rosenberger,  was  reared,  and  in  his  youth  he 
attended  the  district  schools.  \\"hen  n(">t  busy 
with  his  text-books  his  time  was  largely  given 
to  assisting  his  father  in  the  work  of  the  home 
farm,  and  when  twenty  years  of  age  he  l)egan 
farming  on  the  Hoagland  place,  where  he  re- 
mained for  nineteen  years.  That  farm  comjirised 
twn  hundred  and  thirty-five  acres,  and  in  the 
nianagement  of  the  property  he  disi)la\ed  keen 
sagacity  and  marked  enterprise,  conducting  his 
luisiness  affairs  in  a  manner  that  brought  him  a 
g(ind   financial   reward.      In    11)03  'i^"  removed  lo 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.IXmIS. 


547 


liis  prociil  farm  on  section  30,  Slicliliin  town- 
-liip,  liaving  piirchascd  tliis  ])lacc  cijiht  years 
l)it'>ri'.  lie  lias  liere  a  splendid  tract  of  land  of 
three  luuidred  and  twenty  acres.  lie  iniilt  a 
house  in  11J03 — a  fine  residence  of  cifjlil  rooms, 
lie  has  also  built  a  corn  crib  and  fenced  the 
land  and  has  laid  one  thousand  rods  of  tile.  He 
has  likewise  i)laced  another  set  of  farm  liuild- 
infjs  nil  the  land,  inchidinjj  a  five-room  house. 
\\liich  he  rents  to  a  tenant,  lie  cultivates  one 
liundred  and  sixty  acres  of  the  laiul  whilt  liie 
remainder  he  rents  and  he  follows  buih  iieiieral 
farmin;^  and  stock-raisinsj.  his  business  interests 
olaiminji  his  undivided  time  and  atlentinn. 

Mr.  [■iosenberjjer  was  married  in  Sluldun 
lownshi]).  in  i8>>4.  to  Miss  Minnie  Webster, 
whose  birth  occurred  in  Concord  townshi]).  this 
i()unt\ .  in  1875.  a  dauj^hter  of  Jnlin  Webster. 
.Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rosenberger  have  two  children: 
luiima.  twelve  years  of  age:  and  Herman,  a  lail 
i>f  cis'it  years.  Mr.  Roscnberfjer  has  served  .is 
schoiil  director  and  is  interested  in  |)rovi(lin}j; 
iiood  educational  privilcjjes  in  his  home  district. 
His  ])olitical  alkfjianco  is  jjiven  to  the  democracy. 
\  review  of  bis  life  shows  that  he  lias  been  per- 
sistent in  purpose.  encr>;etic  in  his  actions  and 
determined  in  all  that  be  has  undertaken,  and  as 
the  \ears  have  passed  by  he  has  steadily  advanced' 
until  be  has  left  far  l)ehind  him  on  the  his;hway 
<">f  life  maiiv  who  started  out  ahead  nf  him. 


i-ri:i)i:rick  i.riiRsi:\". 

I'rcderick  Luhrsen.  livinj.;  on  a  farm  on  section 
J4.  ,\rtesia  township,  is  the  nwiier  of  one  hun- 
dred and  si.vty  acres  of  land  which  at  harvest 
season  f;ives  proof  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and 
the  care  that  has  been  bestowed  upon  it.  t'or  .Mr, 
Luhrsen  annually  jjathers  pood  cro|)s  and  <luriii}.j 
the  long  years  of  his  residence  in  this  locality 
has  |>rospered  from  year  to  year  until  he  is  now 
one  of  the  substantial  citizens  of  this  part  of  the 
state. 

He  came  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  to  lro(|uois 
county  in  1869,  being  then  a  young  man  of  twen- 
ty-five years.  He  was  born  in  Hanover,  (ier- 
niany.  April  2<).  1844.  a  son  of  I'rederick  I.ulir- 

Sfti.    Sr  .   ulio   \vri<   likiwisc-  born    in   tb;it    i-iiiiiilr\ 


The  father  was  a  stone-mason  by  trade  and  thus 
provided  for  his  family  in  (lermany.  He  wedded 
.Miss  Charlotte  Luhrsen  and  in  1837  came  with 
his  family  to  the  United  Slates.  .\  clnnge  of 
location  is  usually  made  with  the  hope  of  bettering 
one's  financial  condition  and  thus  it  was  in  the 
case  of  Mr.  Luhrsen.  who  hoped  to  be  able  to 
give  his  family  a  better  liome  and  broader  oppor- 
tunities on  this  side  of  the  .\tlantic.  He  landed 
at  Xtw  York  and  thence  made  his  way  to  the 
.Mississippi  valley,  settling  in  Dupage  county. 
Illinois,  where  for  twelve  \ears  he  farmed  rentnl 
land.  He  also  became  the  owner  of  a  small  tract 
ill  that  county  and,  selling  out  there,  he  removed 
to  lro(|Uois  county,  settling  about  two  miles  west 
of  Uuckley.  There  be  owned  eighty  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  resided  for  six  years,  when 
be  took  up  his  abode  in  the  village  of  lUickley 
and  made  it  bis  home  through  bis  remaining 
da  vs.  passing  away  in  i</)3,  at  the  very  venerable 
age  irf  ninety-five  years.  Me  had  long  survived 
his  wife,  who  <lie<l  in  1882.  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six  years. 

bVedcrick  Luhrsen.  Jr..  was  one  of  seven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  were  reared  on  the  home 
farm.  I  le  assisted  iiis  father  until  be  had  at- 
tained bis  majority  save  for  the  period  which  he 
spent  as  a  defentler  of  the  Union  cause.  When 
seventeen  years  of  age  be  joined  the  army,  en- 
listing at  r.ensenville,  Illinois,  .August  22.  1862, 
■IS  a  member  of  Coiii])any  1.  ( )iic  Hundred  and 
biflli  Illinois  X'oluiUeer  Infantry.  'I'lie  regiment 
joined  Cieiieral  Sherman's  force,  .\fter  being 
mustered  in  at  Dixon  in  September  the  command 
])roceeded  to  Chicago,  went  into  camp  there  and 
was  later  sent  to  Louisville.  Kentucky.  The  first 
battle  in  which  Mr.  Luhrsen  |)articipated  was  at 
Resaca.  1  Jeorgia.  on  the  13th  of  May,  1864.  He 
was  also  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek  and  in 
\arious  skirmislics  and  went  with  Sherman  on 
the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea  and  from  Raleigh. 
North  Carolina,  marched  to  Washington.  D.  C. 
when'  he  was  mustered  out  in  June,  i8r)3.  Ik- 
then  returned  to  Chicago,  where  the  regiment  dis- 
banded. In  the  years  whidi  have  since  come  and 
gone  he  has  ever  remained  loyal  to  the  stars  and 
stripes  which  he  followed  through  the  south  in 
.111  arduous  military  experience. 

<  )n  returning  home  Mr.  Luhrsen  worked  for 
Iiis  f.itbii"  on  ilic  f.irnt  for  four  vcars.  the  f.ilber 


548 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


doing  mason  work  during  that  period.  In  i86y, 
with  his  brother  August,  he  purchased  one  liun- 
dred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  west  of  Buckley, 
where  he  carried  on  farming  for  five  years.  He 
then  sold  his  interest  in  that  place  and  purchased 
his  present  farm  on  section  24,  Artesia  township. 
The  land  was  largely  wild  and  the  entire  place 
g-ave  little  evidence  of  modern  progress  or  de- 
velopment. All  of  the  improvements  which  are 
here  today  seen  are  the  work  of  his  hands  or 
the  evidence  of  his  progressive  spirit.  He  has 
erected  a  good  dwelling,  barns  and  outbuildings, 
and  modern  methods  of  tiling  have  been  used  in 
draining  the  place.  The  entire  farm  is  fenced 
and  the  property  is  altogether  a  valuable  one. 
attractive  in  its  appearance  and  giving  every  evi- 
dence of  the  care  and  supervision  of  a  practical 
owner. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1870,  ]\Ir.  Lulirscn 
was  married  to  I\Iiss  Emma  W'alberdine,  a  native 
of  Illinois,  and  a  daughter  of  Henry  Walberdine, 
who  was  born  near  Hanover,  Germany.  ]\Irs. 
Luhrsen  has  been  a  most  faithful  companion  and 
helpmate  to  her  husband  and  they  are  now  en- 
joying together  the  fruits  of  their  former  tod. 
Nine  children  have  been  born  to  them  but  George 
died  at  the  age  of  one  year  and  Fred  when  three 
years  old.  Those  still  living  are:  August,  now 
of  Minnesota ;  Martha,  the  wife  of  Fred  Rusk,  a 
farmer  living  near  Buckley :  Henry,  who  is  with 
the  Northwestern  Railroad  Company  in  Chi- 
cago; Paulina,  the  wife  of  Fred  Sprehe.  a  car- 
penter of  Buckley ;  George,  who  is  carrying  on 
the  home  farm ;  ^lartin  and  Regina,  at  home. 

Mr.  Luhrsen  has  led  a  life  of  activity  and  en- 
terprise and  has  thus  provided  a  good  living  for 
his  family.  In  connection  with  the  cultivation  of 
corn  and  other  cereals  he  has  been  raising  good 
stock  and  since  twenty-one  years  of  age  has  con- 
tinuously operated  a  threshing  machine  and  has 
been  the  owner  of  one  for  thirty-five  years.  He 
now  has  a  good  steam  outfit  and  does  work  all 
over  the  township.  His  sons,  George  and 
Martin,  now  take  charge  of  the  threshing  busi- 
ness. The  parents  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
church  of  Buckley  and  i)olitically  ^Ir.  Luhrsen 
has  been  a  democrat  since  1870.  He  has  served 
for  twelve  years  as  highway  commissioner  of 
Artesia  township  and  the  duties  of  the  office  have 
been    faithfully     .-nid    capably    performed.      Mr. 


Luhrsen  is  interested  in  political  questions,  as 
everv  true  .\merican  citizen  should  be,  and  while 
not  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking  he 
keeps  well  informed  on  the  issues  of  the  day. 
He  is,  moreover,  active  in  support  of  many  of 
the  movements  which  have  for  their  object  the 
promotion  of  the  county's  growth  and  improve- 
ment and  he  has  stood  for  progress  in  agricul- 
tural lines  and  exemplified  in  his  own  life  the 
fact  that  industry  and  perseverance  are  the 
measure  of  success. 


G.  C.  CURBY. 


G.  C.  Curby  is  a  factor  in  the  business  life  of 
Donovan  and  the  wise  system  of  industrial  eco- 
nomics that  he  has  followed  has  gained  him  a 
place  among  the  substantial  residents  of  the  town. 
He  has  for  several  years  engaged  in  blacksmith- 
ing  and  he  is  also  operating  a  feed  mill.  He  is 
one  of  the  younger  business  men  of  the  town, 
having  been  born  in  Beaverville.  April  25.  1878. 
His  father,  Joseph  Curby,  was  a  native  of  Can- 
ada and  in  1861  became  a  resident  of  Beaverville, 
since  which  time  he  has  followed  the  occupation 
of  farming  in  this  county.  He  married  Miss 
Matilda  Belair,  of  Canada,  and  they  are  now  well 
known  residents  of  the  county,  having  for  forty- 
five  years  made  their  home  within  its  borders. 

G.  C.  Curby  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
for  the  educational  advantages  he  enjoyed.  He 
lived  at  home  until  sixten  years  of  age  and  when 
a  young  man  of  nineteen  years  he  began  learn- 
ing the  blacksmith's  trade  at  Bradley.  He  after- 
ward spent  one  year  and  three  months  at  Papi- 
neau  and  five  months  at  Earl  Park  prior  to  lo- 
cating at  Beaverville,  where  he  conducted  a  shop 
in  connection  with  his  brother  until  about  three 
vears  ago.  He  then  came  to  Donovan,  where  he 
opened  a  smithy  on  his  own  account.  In  the 
spring  of  IQ06  he  built  a  shop  eighteen  by  fifty- 
six  feet  an:l  two  stories  in  height,  the  upper  story 
being  used  b\-  him  as  a  paint  shop.  He  does  gen- 
eral blacksmithing  and  repair  work  and  also  a 
p;iinting  business,  and  in  the  present  year  he  has 
been  engaged  in  the  grinding  of  feed  and  corn 
meal,  using  a  horse-power  gasoline  engine.  He 
is  a  man   of  unfaltering  industry,  not  afraid  of 


IROnUCMS  COUXTV.  ILLINOIS. 


549 


work    nor    tliat    close    application    to    iklails    su 
necessary  to  success. 

.Mr.  Lurby  was  marrieil  in  Watseka  in  the  year 
iyo2  to  Miss  Rosa  St.  John,  of  Beaver  town- 
ship, and  linring  their  residence  in  Donovan  they 
have  trained  many  warm  friends.  Mr.  Curby 
gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the  rei)ublicati 
party  and  although  without  aspiration  for  office 
is  interested  in  the  success  of  the  principles  wliich 
he  advocates. 


FRANK  V.  l!L"T/(  >W. 


Iraiik  1".  liutzow.  who  has  been  connected 
with  the  ( loodell  liank  at  Loda  for  twenty  years, 
was  born  near  \\"atseka,  Illinois,  July  14,  iShj. 
His  father,  Henry  .\.  Uutzow,  was  born  in 
Mecklenburg-Schwerin.  (iermany,  July  9,  1S34, 
and  was  a  son  of  Ludwig  and  Sophia  (Wille) 
P.utzow.  who  were  likewise  natives  of  the  fa- 
therland. Henry  .\.  llutzow  was  well  educaleil 
in  his  native  language  and  became  a  teacher  in 
Germany,  while  his  father  also  devoted  his  life 
to  that  profession.  In  1S54  the  fcirmer  crossed 
the  Atlantic.  landing  in  New  'SOrk,  and  from 
that  city  made  his  way  to  ( )neiila  county.  New 
York,  where  he  workctl  at  farm  labor  for  luore 
than  a  year.  He  then  came  to  Illinois  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  rented  land  in  Kankakee  coun- 
ty from  1S55  until  1H5S.  The  latter  year  wit- 
nessed his  arrival  in  IrcKpiois  county,  at  which 
time  he  took  up  his  abode  upon  a  farm  in  Che- 
bansc  township,  where  lie  carried  on  general  agri- 
cultural |)ursuits  until  iSdj.  In  March  of  that 
year,  with  ])atriotic  ardor,  he  offered  his  services 
to  the  government  and  joined  the  boys  in  blue  of 
Company  G.  Twcnty-fiftji  Illinois  Volunteer  In- 
fantry for  three  years'  service.  He  particijiated 
in  a  nuiuber  of  important  engagements,  includ- 
ing the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  and  was 
later  in  the  .\tlanta  canii)aign,  taking  part  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  the  city  of  .\tlanta.  He  sus- 
tained a  gunshot  wound  in  his  left  breast  at 
Peach  Tree  Creek  but  though  the  injury  was 
very  painful  it  was  not  serious,  .\fter  spending 
some  time  in  the  hospital  he  was  put  on  detached 
dutv  at  Louisville,  where  he  served  until  the  close 


of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged 
and  returiuil  hniiu-  with  .1  i-riilit:dili-  iiiililar\ 
record. 

Mr.  Hutzuw  then  visited  for  a  few  months 
with  a  brother  in  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois,  and 
in  18O6  returned  to  his  old  home  in  (jermany. 
While  there  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sophia 
I'fudel  and  with  his  bride  he  again  came  to  the 
new  W'Orld,  taking  up  his  abode  on  a  farm  in  Iro- 
quois township,  Iro(juois  county,  Illinois.  He 
gave  undivided  attention  to  his  agricultural  inter- 
ests until  1873,  when  he  was  elected  county  clerk; 
in  1877  was  re-elected  by  an  increased  majority: 
and  again  re-elected  in  1882,  filling  the  ofiice  for 
thirteen  years.  In  1873  he  removed  to  Watseka, 
where  he  resided  while  holding  the  office  of 
county  clerk,  and  in  December,  1886,  returned  to 
his  farm,  but  in  1903  again  took  uj)  his  residence 
in  Watseka,  where  he  now  lives.  He  is  well 
known  throughotu  Iroquois  county  as  a  man 
worthy  the  confidence  of  his  fellowmen  and  of 
ability  that  qualifies  him  for  the  discharge  of 
any  political  service  that  may  be  entrusted  to 
him.  He  has  now  been  a  resident  of  the  county 
for  more  than  a  half  century  and  has  been  a 
most  useful  and  public-spirited  citizen.  He  is 
also  one  of  the  few  remaining  veterans  of  foreign 
birth  who  fought  for  the  Hag  of  the  land  of  their 
adojition. 

I'rank  1".  ilutzow  was  reared  in  W'atsek:i. 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools  until  18S1. 
When  a  youth  of  fourteen  \vears  he  became  an 
assistant  in  the  office  of  county  clerk  under  his 
father,  receiving  the  appointment  as  de])uty  in 
February.  1884,  remaining  in  the  office 
until  the  close  of  his  father's  term  in  December, 
1886.  ^  The  following  month  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion in  the  bank  at  Loda  with  Hon.  Adilison 
(ioodell  and  in  January,  i8<>8,  was  admitted  into 
the  firm  of  .\.  (ioodell  &  Sons  Company  as  a 
|)artner  with  the  two  sons  of  Mr.  Goodell.  W"ar- 
ren  .*>.  and  Nathan  P. 

<  )n  the  i8th  of  June.  i88<>.  Mr.  liutzow  was 
married  to  Miss  Katharine  M.  l-'no.  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Crescent  City,  Illinois,  a 
daughter  of  J.  P..  F.no,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Ford  county,  who  came  from  Connecticut  to 
this  state  in  1858.  There  are  now  three  children 
in  the  Rutzow  family:  Frank  E.,  Ernest  H.  and 
Katharine  A. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Mr.  Uutzow  is  a  member  of  A.  Jonas  lodge, 
Xo.  316.  A.  F.  &  A.  M. :  of  Ford  chapter.  Xo. 
114.  R.  A.  M. ;  and  Mt.  (Jlive  comniandery.  No. 
38,  K.  T. ;  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Congregational  church.  He  has  always  taken 
a  keen  interest  in  political  affairs,  especially 
those  relating  to  county  matters,  and  has  in  bis 
possession  bound  copies  of  the  proceedings  of 
the  board  of  supervisors  of  this  county  from 
1880  down  to  the  present  time.  In  politics  Mr. 
Butzow  was  formerly  a  democrat,  his  first  ballot 
being  cast  for  Grover  Cleveland,  whom  he  sup- 
ported at  two  elections,  but  in  1896  he  gave  his 
support  to  AMlliam  McKinley,  because  of  his 
attitude  upon  the  money  question,  and  his  last 
presidential  ballot  was  cast  for  Theodore  Roose- 
velt. He  has  served  as  president  of  the  village 
board  of  trustees  for  si.x  years  and  by  various  re- 
elections  has  been  continued  in  the  office  of  su- 
pervisor of  Loda  township  for  eleven  consecutive 
years.  His  intimate  knowledge  of  the  method 
and  svstem  of  accounting  of  the  various  county 
officers  no  doubt  led  to  his  appointment  on  the 
auditing  committee  year  after  year  by  both  demo- 
cratic and  republican  chairman.  He  has  always 
insisted  upon  strict  economy  in  public  expendi- 
tures and  persistently  advocated  the  policy  of 
fixing  salaries  and  clerk  hire  of  the  county  offi- 
cers at  one  lump  sum,  which  prevents  any  extra 
allowances  for  clerk  hire,  which  policy  was  in- 
augurated through  the  efl:'orts  of  his  father  in  the 
year  1877  and  has  been  adhered  to  since  that  time 
with  only  two  exceptions. 


SAXFORD  S.  DAVIS.    ' 

Sanford  S.  Davis,  of  Midillepurt  township. 
was  born  in  \\'ashington  county,  Indiana.  .May 
7,  1839,  being  one  of  the  family  of  eiglit  chil- 
dren who  were  born  to  Solomon  and  Chloc  .Vnn 
Davis.  He  had  a  brother  James,  and  his  sisters 
were  Sarah,  Catherine,  Mary  .\nn,  1  .ucinda. 
Nancy  and  Jane.  His  father  died  at  the  home- 
stead in  Indiana  and  his  mother  died  at  the  home 
of  her  son  in  Middleporl. 

.\fter  spending  the  days  of  his  childhood  and 
youth  in  the  state  of  his  nativity  Mr.  Davis  came 
to   Iroquois  county   in  Juh'.    1863.  after  visiting 


for  a  brief  period  in  Indiana,  subsequent  to  being 
mustered  out  of  service  in  the  Civil  war.  He  was 
a  member  of  Company  B,  Sixty-sixth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, in  which  regiment  he  enlisted  in  August. 
1862.  sensing  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  While 
he  was  wearing  the  uniform  of  the  nation  his 
mother  had  removed  with  her  children  to  Iro- 
quois county,  the  family  linme  being  in  Iroquois 
township. 

.\fter  a  brief  residence  here  ^^Ir.  Davis  formed 
the  acquaintance  of  Miss  Mary  Lyman,  who 
was  born  October  14,  1848,  and  the  friendship 
ripening  into  love  their  marriage  was  consum- 
mated January  28.  1868,  at  the  home  of  the 
bride,  who  was  a  representative  of  one  of  the 
earliest  families  of  the  county.  Her  parents  were 
Daniel  aiid  Haimah  Lyman,  who  had  opened  up 
a  farm  in  the  midst  of  an  unimproved  district. 
It  is  upon  this  farm  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis 
now  live  amid  pleasant  surroundings,  and  here 
Airs.  Davis  has  practically  spent  her  entire  life. 
Her  ancestors  were  sturdy  pioneer  people  and  her 
parents  were  honest  and  industrious — respected 
l)y  all  who  knew  them.  When  Daniel  Lyman 
first  came  to  the  cunnt}-  in  1839  he  selected  a  site 
near  the  timber  but  on  bringing  his  family  to  the 
county  to  live  in  1844  he  located  upon  the  o])en 
prairie,  realizing  that  it  would  be  easier  to  de- 
velop a  farm  there.  A  number  of  his  brothers 
and  sisters  were  also  living  in  the  locality,  which 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Lvman  neighbor- 
hood, although  the  closing  days  of  1906  do  not 
find  very  many  residents  of  the  neighborhood 
bearing  the  name  thus  honored.  The  Lymaiis, 
however,  bore  their  part  in  the  hardships  and  ad- 
ventures of  frontier  life,  and  there  were  wild 
animals  wherever  there  was  timber  land.  They 
lived  in  log  cabins  and  aided  in  the  work  of 
developing  and  improving  this  part  of  the  state. 
Mrs.  Davis  still  relates  many  incidents  of  pio- 
neer days,  which  were  told  to  her  in  her  child- 
hood by  her  many  relatives  who  participated  in 
the  work  of  development  and  early  progress  in 
Iroquois  county.  She  had  eight  brothers : 
David,  Peter,  .Vsa,  Lewis,  Joseph,  William, 
Daniel  and  James.  Her  three  sisters  were 
Rachel,  Arvilla  and  Sarah.  There  is  perhaps  no 
better  known  pioneer  family  in  Iroquois  county. 
The  l,\m,in  cemetery  is  near  the  Davis  home, 
once    the    Lvnian     faniilv    homestead,    and    here 


y. 


■/. 


■J. 


32 


UNWtKSn^  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


r>->^ 


many  >>i  its  mcmlK-rs  have  l)ccii  laid  to  rest  after 
ably  perforiniiit;  life's  duties  and  bearing-  a  part 
in  tlie  work  of  devclopinfj  and  upbuilding  (he 
county. 

Tbree  sons  were  born  unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis:  D.  Alvin.  wliose  birth  occurred  March 
17,  1870:  J.  iManklin,  born  I'ebruary  17,  1872; 
and  Pearl  W.,  July  30,  1876.  Tlicy  also  reared 
Lottie  Ficke.  who  was  born  December  2,v  1884, 
as  their  own  daufjbter.  The  eldest  son  was 
married  January  i.  iSi/),  to  Miss  Ilattie  Cadorc, 
while  J.  I'Vanklin  Davis  was  married  August 
28,  i8<)7,  to  Miss  Sadie  Crawford.  On  the  lOtb 
of  March.  1902,  the  adopted  daughter  became 
the  wife  of  Jesse  R.  Goodman.  .Ml  have  the 
greatest  affection  for  the  old  home,  around  which 
cluster  many  pleasant  and  hallowed  memories 
of  Mrs.  Davis  and  her  children. 

.Mr.  Davis  is  a  member  of  Williams  post,  (i. 
.\.  R..  in  Watseka,  and  the  family  hold  member- 
ship in  the  Friends  churcli  at  the  same  place, 
although  they  often  attend  divine  "service  at  other 
churches  near  their  home.  Since  coming  to  Iro- 
(|uois  county  Mr.  Davis  has  devoted  his  entire 
life  to  agricultural  pursuits  and  has  now  for 
many  years  resided  upon  the  old  Lyman  home- 
stead, bringing  the  fields  under  a  high  state  of 
cultivation  and  adding  all  modern  equipments 
and  accessories.  He  is  highly  esteemed  as  a 
man  of  genuine  personal  worth  and  during  the 
forty-one  years  of  his  residence  in  this  county 
has  made  many  warm  friends. 


GEORGE  K.  McIXTYRE. 

George  I\.  Mclntyre,  oi  Middleport.  the  junior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Burkitt  &  .Mclntyre,  op- 
erating extensively  in  real  estate  and  live  stock 
in  the  vicinity  of  Pittwood,  has  displayed  keen 
foresight  and  an  aptitude  for  successful  manage- 
ment in  control  of  all  the  varied  interests  with 
which  the  firm  has  been  connected  and  is  classed 
among  the  representative  l)usiness  men  of  this 
part  of  the  county.  He  was  born  in  Old  Middle- 
port,  July  2,  1864,  being  the  son  of  Robert  K. 
and  Sarah  J.  Mclntyre,  at  one  time  prominent 
])eople  of  that  locality.  When  he  was  a  small 
lx\v  his  parents  died,   leaving  a   family  of  nine 


children,  some  of  whom,  luiwever,  were  giown 
and  able  to  look  after  the  needs  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  household.  The  father  was  an 
attorney  and  was  active  in  the  practice  of  law  in 
Watseka  when  iiis  untimely  death  occurred.  Me 
was  highly  esteemed  as  an  able  niemlx;r  of  the 
Iroquois  county  bar  and  was  well  known  to  all 
of  the  pioneer  citizens.  During  the  administra- 
tion of  President  Lincoln  he  served  as  postmaster 
of  his  town. 

The  father  and  mother  dying  in  the  same  year, 
George  K.  Mclntyre,  a  boy  of  ten,  found  a  home 
with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Rurkitt,  who  was 
at  once  sister  and  mother  to  him.  The  other 
members  of  the  family  were:  Bennett  J.;  Mrs. 
.'^arah  A.  Burkitt,  whose  husband  was  the  broth- 
er of  her  sister  Mary's  husband ;  Mrs.  Xancy 
.M.  Channell :  William  Robert ;  George  K.  and 
Mrs.  Fanny  M.  Cooper.  Of  this  number  four 
have  passed  away,  leaving  two  brothers  and  three 
sisters,  all  of  whom  except  John  are  married  and 
all  are  living  in  Iroquois  comity. 

Mr.  Mclntyre  grew  up  in  the  I'.urkitt  house- 
hold, where  he  was  trained  to  habits  of  industry 
and  enterprise  and  in  the  public  schools  he  ac- 
quired a  good  education.  .\s  soon  as  he  attained 
his  majority  he  became  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Burkitt  &  Mclntyre,  which  has 
been  in  existence  for  twent\-tive  years, 
W.  R.  Burkitt  being  the  senior  member. 
In  all  f>f  the  years  of  the  firm's  exist- 
ence one  pocketbook  and  one  bank  account  has 
been  sufficient,  each  working  all  the  time  for 
their  united  interests.  For  some  years  they 
traded  in  grain,  coal  and  luml)er  and  operated  a 
general  store  for  a  number  of  years,  doing  a 
very  satisfactory  business  along  all  these  lines, 
but  since  1900  they  have  confined  their  operations 
to  real  estate  and  a  general  farming  business,  al- 
ways controlling  .several  hundred  acres  in  farm 
and  pasture  lands.  They  have  bought  and  sold 
nnich  real  estate  in  the  county,  making  many  ad- 
vantageous transfers  of  property.  They  keep 
many  horses  and  much  farm  machinery  to  be 
used  in  the  conduct  of  their  agricultural  inter- 
ests and  arc  abreast  of  the  times  in  the  cultiva- 
tion of  their  land,  the  control  of  their  interests 
and  the  placing  of  their  investments.  The  firm 
of  Burkitt  &  Mclntyre  is  a  strong  one,  the  l.ibors 
and  abilities  of  one  partner  ably  supplementing 


554 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


and  rounding  out  those  of  the  other,  and  they 
have  been  very  successful  in  their  dealings,  so 
that  they  are  now  numbered  among  the  ]ir(^s])er- 
ous  residents  of  the  county. 

On  the  9th  of  October,  i88«,  .Mr.  .Mclntyre 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sadie  Smiley, 
of  DeKalb  county,  Illinois,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 3,  1864,  and  their  married  life  has  been 
spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Pittwood.  Their  chil- 
dren arc:  Halcyon  A.,  born  September  13,  1889; 
Hazel,  May  18,  1892;  Helen,  July  23,  1895;  and 
Robert  A..  December  15,  1898.  All  are  now 
students  in  the  Pittwood  school.  Tlu'  ^Iclntyrc 
home  adjoins  the  town.  The  improvements  to  be 
seen  thereon  are  of  the  best  of  the  kind  to  be  seen 
in  the  farming  community,  and  the  well  kept 
appearance  of  the  place  indicates  the  careful  su- 
pervision and  progressive  .spirit  of  the  owner. 


W.   I!.  HANSON. 


^^'.  B.  Hanson,  living  on  section  Ji^.  Ridgeland 
township,  is  widely  and  favorably  known  in  this 
county  and  has  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
large  majority  of  those  with  whom  busine.'^s  and 
social  relations  have  brought  him  in  contact.  Plis 
attention  is  now  given  to  the  cultivation  of  his 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  and  he 
al.so  works  an  eighty-acre  tract  which  he  leases. 
One  of  Illinois'  native  sons,  he  was  born  in 
Hancock  county,  in  June,  1850. 

His  father,  W.  H.  Hanson,  was  born  in 
Cherry  \^allcy,  Otsego  county,  New  York,  and 
removed  from  the  iunpire  state  to  Michigan. 
There  he  was  reared  and  when  he  had  attained 
man's  estate  he  married  Miss  Lydia  .\nn  Durkc, 
who  was  born  near  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Thcv  re- 
moved from  southern  Michigan  to  Iowa  and  later 
became  residents  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois, 
where  the  father  opened  up  a  farm.  Subse(|uent- 
ly  he  took  his  family  to  Cook  county,  Illinois, 
and  after  a  few  years  came,  in  the  fall  of  1868. 
to  Iroquois  county,  purchasing  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  land  on  section  29,  Ridgeland 
township,  where  his  son,  W.  B.  Hanson,  now  re- 
sides. He  developed  a  good  farming  property 
here,  put  up  good  buildings  upon  it,  brought  the 
land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation  ;ind  (lion. 


enjoying  well  earned  rest  in  the  evening  of  life, 
lived  retired  in  Onarga  for  several  years.  His 
death,  however,  ocurred  upon  the  home  farm, 
in  January,  1905,  while  his  wife  survived  until 
June.  ujof).  In  their  family  were  three  children, 
the  living  brother  of  our  subject  being  E.  B. 
Hanson,  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  while 
the  other  brother,  Fred  Hanson,  died  in  Salt 
Lake  City,  where  he  had  been  engaged  in 
business. 

W.  B.  Hanson  was  a  youth  of  about  seventeen 
years  when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  with  his 
parents  and  following  the  establishment  of  the 
home  in  Ridgeland  township  he  assisted  in  the 
work  of  opening  up  and  improving  the  farm. 
There  are  elms,  now  thirty  inches  in  diameter, 
and  also  large  maples  upon  the  place  which  were 
planted  by  him  and  which  now  aiTord  most  grate- 
ful .shade  in  summer,  and  also  add  to  the  value 
and  attractive  appearance  of  the  place.  Mr. 
Hanson  has  tiled  and  improved  the  place  and  has 
added  tn  the  original  tract  by  his  purchase  of 
eighty  acres,  so  that  he  now  has  an  excellent 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres,  in  addition 
to  which  he  cultivates  a  rented  tract  of  eighty 
acres.  He  raises  gcx)d  stock  and  has  fed  consid- 
erable cattle  and  hogs,  while  in  the  fields  he  pro- 
duced abundant  crops,  owing  to  the  practical 
methods  which  he  employs  in  the  care  and  culti- 
vation of  the  fields. 

Mr.  Hanson  was  married  in  Onarga,  in  1878, 
to  Miss  Plelcn  Robbins,  a  ilaughter  of  F.  D.  Rob- 
bins,  a  business  man  of  Onarga,  in  which  city 
she  was  reared'  and  educated.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ilanson  have  five  children  :  John,  who  is  married 
and  follows  farming  in  Ridgeland  township ; 
.\nna,  William.  Maud  and  Nettie,  all  at  home. 

Politically  Mr.  Ilanson  is  an  ardent  republican 
but  without  aspiration  for  office.  He  served, 
however,  for  ten  or  twelve  years  as  a  member  of 
the  school  board  and  the  cause  of  public  instruc- 
tion is  one  dear  to  his  heart.  He  belongs  to  the 
Onarga  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  in  which  he  has 
filled  all  the  offices  and  is  a  past  grand.  His  son 
also  belongs  and  he  and  his  wife  and  daughter, 
Anna,  arc  members  of  the  Rcbekah  lodge,  .\ctive 
and  industrious,  trustworthy  and  reliable,  W.  1'-. 
Ilanson  has  made  an  excellent  record  as  a  busi- 
ness man  and  imblic-spirited  citizen  and  during 
a   residence  of  thirtv-eight   vears   in    the   count  v 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


lie  lias  advanced  far  on  the  highroad  to  pros- 
perity, hciiig  now  one  of  the  substantial  a;rri- 
culturists  of  Ridgeland  township. 


SA.Ml  1.1.  j.  AUCUFN. 

The  farming  interests  of  Chcbanse  township 
lind  a  worthy  representative  in  Samuel  J.  Mc- 
Uucn.  and  his  excellent  farm  of  two  hundred 
and  thirty  acres  indicates  in  its  splendid  and 
well  kept  appearance  his  careful  supervision  and 
progressive  methods.  .V  native  son  of  Illinois, 
he  was  horn  in  Cook  county.  March  7.  1839.  and 
is  of  Irish  lineage,  for  his  father  William  Mc- 
Cuen.  was  born  on  the  Iimerald  isle,  whence  he 
came  to  .\merica  in  1849.  making  his  way  direct 
to  C(X)k  county.  For  some  years  he  was  employed 
in  various  ways,  and  with  his  savings  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  that  county,  this  being  his 
first  real  estate.  He  was  married  in  Ireland  to 
.Miss  Jane  Coiilcy.  and  they  became  the  jiarents 
of  eight  children,  of  whom  seven  reached  years 
of  maturity. 

( )f  this  mimlier  Samuel  }.  McCuen  spent  his 
youth  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads  of  the 
])eriod.  The  limited  financial  resources  of  his 
father  rendered  it  impossible  for  him  to  enjoy 
more  than  very  meager  school  jirivileges.  for  he 
aided  in  the  labors  of  the  fields  and  contimicd  to 
assist  iiis  father  in  that  manner  until  his  twenty- 
fourth  year.  In  ii^>4  William  .McL'uen  removed 
with  his  family  to  InKjuois  county,  where  he 
])urchased  one  hundred  ar.d  twenty  acres  of  land 
in  Chebanse  townshii).  He  there  built  a  good 
house,  barns  and  sheds,  and  afterward  extended 
the  boundaries  of  his  jilacc  by  the  additional  jiur- 
chase  of  forty  acres.  There  he  successfully  car- 
ried on  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  1H88. 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  life  and  i.^ 
now  living  in  the  enidxiiient  of  comfort  and  ease 
in  Chebanse. 

Samuel  J.  McLueii  on  starling  out  in  life  lor 
himself  rented  land  for  .several  years,  during 
which  time  he  carefully  saved  his  earnings  until 
his  capital  justified  his  jiurchase  of  the  old  home 
jilace  in  i8<;2.  He  has  since  added  eighty  acres 
more  and  is  today  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm 
of  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres.     His  property 


has  been  acquired  entircl_\  ilirougli  his  tliriii  and 
industry,  for  he  started  out  in  life  with  nothing 
save  his  strong  purpose  and  laudable  ambition. 
His  farm  is  well  tiled  and  well  fenced  and  he  has 
built  a  good  crib  with  elevator  anil  also  a  sub- 
stantial barn.  In  connection  with  the  task  of 
cultivating  the  fields  he  raises  registered  Poland 
China  hogs  and  good  grades  of  horses,  together 
with  some  cattle,  and  his  live  stock  interests  con- 
stitute a  gratifying  source  of  revenue. 

On  the  <jth  of  January.  i88<;,  Mr.  McCuen  was 
married  to  Miss  May  I.  Franklin,  a  native  of 
Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter  of  John  [-"raiik- 
lin.  a  pioneer  business  man  of  Iroquois  county 
but  now  living  retired  in  Kankakee.  Mr.  and 
.Mrs.  McCuen  have  one  child,  Cdadys  Maurinc. 

Politically  Mr.  McCuen  is  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican but  the  honors  and  emoluments  of  office 
have  no  attraction  for  him.  His  ■  only  public 
service  has  been  on  the  school  board,  his  in- 
cumbency covering  three  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  Chebanse  lodge.  No.  429.  .A.  F.  &  .\.  M.,  in 
which  he  is  now  serving  as  junior  warden,  and 
lie  likewise  affiliates  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
camp  at  Chebanse.  and  Chebanse  lodge.  No.  924, 
I.  O.  O.  F..  while  he  and  his  wife  arc  members 
of  the  Congregational  church.  .\  period  of 
earnest  and  unremitting  toil  in  his  youth  brought 
to  Mr.  McCuen  a  practical  knowledge  of  the 
value  of  labor  and  also  taught  him  the  worth  of 
perseverance  and  persistency  of  purpose.  E.k- 
amination  into  his  life  record  shows  that  these 
f|ualities  are  his  strong  characteristics,  and  as 
the  years  have  passed  by  they  have  enabled  him 
to  triumi)li  over  difficulties  and  obstacles  ami  gain 
a  prominent  |)lace  among  the  leading  farmers  of 
the  count  \. 


KM  ir.l'.K'l"  C.  Ti  )1)1). 


R<jbert  C.  Todd,  now  living  retired  in  Sheldon, 
was  born  in  Hocking  county,  Ohio,  January  14, 
1841.  His  father.  Israel  'J'odd,  was  a  native  of 
\'irginia  and  in  early  life  removed  from  the  Old 
Dominion  t<'i  ( )lii<i.  where  he  .settled  about  1821. 
He  had  a  farm  of  fifty-five  acres  in  Hocking 
county  and  he  also  followed  the  trade  of  wagon- 
making  there.     He  wedded  Miss  Mary  Garrett, 


556 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


of  Virginia,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  seven 
children,  of  whom  three  are  still  living,  includ- 
ing Robert  C. 

Robert  C.  Todd  has  been  a  resident  of  Iro- 
quois county  since  1876, — a  period  of  thirty 
years.  His  childhood  and  youth  were  passed  in 
a  manner  similar  to  that  of  other  farm  lads  of 
the  neighborhood  and  his  educational  privileges 
were  afforded  by  the  public  schools.  He  was 
thirty-five  years  of  age  when  he  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Illinois,  establishing  his  home  on  section 
9,  Concord  township,  where  he  purchased  eighty- 
three  acres  from  George  \\'right.  He  built  a 
house  on  the  place,  made  other  improvements 
and  put  in  six  hundred  dollars'  worth  of  tile. 
Year  after  year  he  further  developed  the  place, 
residing  thereon  until  1887,  during  %vhich  period 
he  successfully  followed  farming  and  stock-rais- 
ing. In  that  year  he  removed  to  Chicago,  where 
he  resided  until  1895,  when  he  came  to  Sheldon 
and  purchased  a  residence,  in  which  he  has  since 
lived  retired,  enjoying  here  a  well  earned  rest 
after  many  years  of  active  and  successful  labor. 

Mr.  Todd  was  married  in  Ohio,  in  1865,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Schlotman,  who  was  born  in 
that  state  in  1846.  They  have  one  daughter, 
Lucy  May,  now  the  wife  of  Louis  Taylor,  of 
Chicago. 

]\Ir.  Todd  exercises  his  right  of  franchise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  repub- 
lican party  but  has  never  been  a  politician  in  the 
sense  of  office  seeking.  He  belongs  to  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  to  the 
Presbyterian  church.  His  life  has  been  well  spent 
and  his  many  sterling  characteristics  have  gained 
him  kindly  regard  and  warm  friendships.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Iroquois  county  he  has  be- 
come widely  known  and  wherever  known  is  held 
in  hiffh  esteem. 


HARMON  M.  WHITEMAN. 

Harmon  i\I.  \\'hiteman,  a  prosperous  farmer 
and  stock-raiser  of  Concord,  his  native  township, 
was  born  December  12,  1858.  His  father,  Amos 
Whiteman,  was  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Iroquois  county  by  wagon  in  1838. 
He  entered  land  at  Danville,  thereby  becominc: 


owner  of  a  tract  on  section  7,  Concord  township, 
Iroquois  county.  The  conditions  of  the  county 
were  those  of  primitive  frontier  life.  Few  set- 
tlements had  been  made  in  this  section  of  the 
state  and  all  of  the  land  was  wild  and  unim- 
proved. Air.  Whitman  took  up  his  abode  on  his 
claim  and  there  built  a  log  cabin  sixteen  by  twenty 
feet,  in  which  he  lived  in  true  pioneer  style  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  cabin  was  heated  by  a 
fire-place  and  the  furnishings  were  very  primitive. 
He  resolutely  undertook  the  task  of  clearing  and 
developing  his  land  and  as  the  years  passed  by  he 
prospered.  In  1854  he  built  a  good  frame  house 
upon  the  farm.  He  was  prominent  in  community 
affairs  and  in  1848  served  as  county  surveyor, 
also  filled  the  position  of  justice  of  the  peace 
and  in  1852  was  elected  county  clerk.  He  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock-raising  for  many  years, 
breaking  the  raw  prairie  and  converting  it  into 
rich  and  productive  fields.  In  every  way  he 
improved  his  farm  in  accordance  with  ideas  of 
modern  progress  and  he  added  to  his  original 
holdings  from  time  to  time  until  he  had  five 
hundred  and  fifty  acres,  thus  becoming  one  of  the 
extensive  landowners  of  the  county.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  5th  of  March,  1895.  He  was  the 
father  of  fifteen  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still 
living.  His  first  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Lydia  Thomas  and  was  born  in  ^"irginia.  His 
second  wife  was  in  her  maidenhood  Margaret  C. 
McCoy,  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvnia, 
and  his  third  wife  was  Miss  Barbara  A.  Strick- 
ler,  a  native  of  Sullivan  county,  Tennessee. 

Harmon  M.  Whiteman  was  born  of  the  second 
marriage  and  acquired  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools,  while  later  he  studied 
at  \'alparaiso.  Indiana.  \\'hen  not  busy  with  his 
text-books  he  aided  in  the  farm  work,  remaining 
at  home  until  his  father's  death.  He  had  the 
management  of  the  farm  during  the  last  few 
years  of  his  father's  life  and  after  his  death  he 
and  his  brother,  A.  L.  Whiteman,  were  ap- 
pointed executors  of  the  estate.  Since  1895  Har- 
mon M.  Whiteman  has  continuously  carried  on 
general  agricultural  pursuits  on  the  old  home- 
stead place  on  section  7,  Concord  township, 
where  he  owns  and  cultivates  a  farm  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-seven  acres.  Here  he  feeds 
;ui(l  raises  considerable  stock  and  in  his  business 
is  meeting  with  a  large  measure  of  prosperity. 


/ti^T/v^-L^^^i^      ^^^y\^^-^(-^ 


i^ 


M  .  ^ 


AMOS    WHITEMAN. 


( 


DNlVfRSllY  OF  ILLINOIS 


IROQLDIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


V>i 


In  H705  Mr.  \\  liitiiiiaii  was  olcclud  supervisrir 
of  Concord  township  and  lie  has  for  sonic  years 
Ix'cn  recognized  as  one  of  the  stalwart  advocates 
of  democracy  in  this  part  of  the  cimnty.  His 
fraternal  afHliation  is  with  the  ^L^sonic  lod^e 
and  he  is  now  serving  as  master  of  (.).  IL  Miner 
lodge.  Xo.  506,  at  Iroquois. 


LKWIS  M.  sciiAi-i:k. 

Lewis  E.  Scliafer.  owning  and  operating  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  farm  land  on  section 
20,  Artesia  township,  is  one  of  the  native  sons 
of  Illinois,  having  hecn  born  in  Putnam  county. 
March  17.  1856.  He,  however,  represents  a  fam- 
ily of  German  birth  .'ind  in  his  life  displays  many 
of  the  sterling  characteristics  of  his  Teutonic 
ancestry.  His  father.  Philip  .'schafer.  was  a  na- 
tive of  (iermany.  where  he  was  reared  and  mar- 
ried. His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Kath- 
arine Baker  and  was  also  born  in  (iermany. 
Three  children  were  born  unto  them  before  they 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  America  in  the  \ear  1842. 
The  father  was  a  stonemason  by  trade  and  after 
taking  u|)  bis  alxxle  in  Dayton.  (  )hi<).  he  worked 
as  a  day  laborer,  oftentimes  chopping  wood  for 
a  living.  Two  years  were  ]>asscd  at  Dayton 
an<l  he  then  removed  with  his  family  to  Putnam 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  as  a  farm  hand 
for  eleven  dollars  per  month,  lie  was  thus  em- 
ployed for  three  years  and  during  that  time  save<l 
from  his  meager  earnings  m<iney  eiiougli  t<i  buy 
a  horse  and  a  |)l(iw.  and  he  then  began  to  grub 
timber  and  for  five  or  six  years  raised  potatoes, 
after  which  he  reiUed  land  and  engaged  in  gen- 
eral fariuing  for  twelve  years.  On  the  expira- 
tion of  that  period  he  came  to  Inx|uois  county 
and  purchased  the  farm  upon  which  his  son  Lewis 
now  resifles,  becoming  owner  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres,  for  which  he  paid  twelve  dollars  per 
acre.  It  was  raw  land,  destitute  of  improve- 
ments, but  he  soon  placed  it  under  the  plow.  I)uilt 
a  substantial  dwelling  thereon  and  developed  a 
good  farm,  which  continued  to  Ik-  his  home  imtil 
i8<)<).  when  he  removed  to  Champaign.  Illinois. 
He  then  lived  retired  imtil  his  death,  which  oc- 
curred in  1895.  when  he  was  seventy-three  years 
of  age.    His  wife  survived  until  1903  and  died  at 


the  age  of  eighty-four  years.  Tite  family  num- 
bered eight  children,  of  whom  two  are  deceased, 
Ix)uise  having  died  at  the  age  of  six  years  and 
Margaret  when  seven  years  old.  There  are  now 
four  living  daughters  and  two  sons. 

Lewis  L.  Schafer  was  reared  under  the  parental 
roof  and  came  with  the  family  to  Irocpiois  county 
when  fifteen  years  of  age.  His  educational  priv- 
ileges were  somewhat  meager,  for  his  yoiuh  was 
largely  a  period  of  earnest  toil.  When  he  was 
twenty-eight  years  of  age  he  was  married  on  the 
24th  of  December,  1884,  to  Miss  Minerva  Drake, 
a  native  of  Marion  county.  ( )hio,  and  a  daughter 
of  Joseph  Drake,  also  a  native  of  that  state, 
who  came  to  Iroquois  couiUy  and  was  a  neigh- 
bor of  the  Schafer  family.  The  year  of  his 
arrival  was  1836  and  he  lived  in  tlie  c<nuity  imtil 
1885.  when  he  went  to  Kansas,  where  he  is  now 
farming.  His  wife  died  in  that  state  in  i8<v2. 
at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years. 

b'olli.iwing  his  marriage  Mr.  Schafer  lived  upon 
the  home  farm  for  five  years  and  then  purchased 
eighty  acres  on  section  20.  .\rtcsia  township. 
He  tiled  and  imprfivetl  the  place,  converted  it 
int<i  a  fruit  farm  and  lived  thereon  for  seven 
\ears.  when  in  1<)03  be  sold  that  property  and 
purchased  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  his 
father's  old  homestead.  He  has  ^ince  resided 
thereon  and  has  built  a  gixjd  barn  and  outbuild- 
iugs.  Many  nxls  of  tiling  have  been  laid  to 
drain  the  land  and  fences  divide  it  into  fields  of 
convenient  size.  There  is  an  orcharrl  containing 
all  kinds  of  fruit  and  in  fact  none  of  the  acces- 
sories of  a  model  farui  are  lacking.  In  connection 
with  the  work  of  tilling  the  fields  anrl  raising 
fruit  Mr.  .Schafer  is  giving  considerable  atten- 
tion to  the  raising  of  Shropsiiire  sheep. 

The  home  of  our  subject  and  his  wife  has  been 
blessed  with  two  children  but  duc  tlie<l  in  infancy. 
The  surviving  son,  Roy,  is  a  young  man  at  home. 
They  have  also  reared  two  adopte<l  children. 
Mamie  and  Mlanche.  The  |)arents  are  members 
of  the  MetJKxlist  Episcopal  church  at  I'lucklcy 
and  .Mr.  Schafer  served  for  a  number  of  years 
as  trustee.  His  wife  is  a  valued,  earnest  worker 
in  the  missionary  cause  and  is  cio.sely  identified 
with  the  development  of  the  church.  In  politics 
.Mr.  .*>chafer  is  a  demrtcrat  at  state  and  national 
elections  but  casts  an  independent  local  ballot. 
He  has  served  as  drainage  commissioner  of  two 


^62 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


districts,  also  as  road  commissioner,  and  has 
proved  capable  in  these  offices  but  is  without  po- 
litical aspiration.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  of  America.  What  he  possesses 
has  been  gained  through  his  unremitting  dili- 
gence and  careful  economy.  His  opportunities 
in  youth  were  limited  and  he  started  out  in  life 
on  his  own  account  empty-handed.  He  early 
realized  that  he  must  earn  if  he  would  gain  the 
rewards  of  labor  and  his  unabating  energy  and 
industry  that  never  flags  have  been  the  salient 
features  in  his  success. 


JAMES  H.  CAREY. 

James  H.  Carey,  attorney  at  law  at  Watseka, 
is  connected  with  a  profession  which  has  long 
been  considered  as  conserving  the  best  interests 
of  society  at  large  by  upholding  the  public  sta- 
bility and  furthering  the  ends  of  justice,  and  in 
his  practice  he  has  gained  a  measure  of  success 
which  comes  only  in  recognition  of  ability  and 
merit.  He  was  born  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois, 
November  2,  1861.  His  father,  Peter  Carey,  a 
native  of  Ireland,  came  to  the  United  States 
when  a  boy  of  seventeen  years  and  lived  in 
Natick,  Massachusetts,  where  he  was  employed 
in  a  shoe  manufactory.  In  1861  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois and  settled  at  Plattville,  Kendall  county, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1873, 
when  he  removed  to  Iroquois  county,  where  his 
death  occurred  in  1876.  His  wife,  Mary  Kelly, 
was  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  when  brought  to  the  United  States. 
She  survived  her  husband  for  a  number  of  years 
and  passed  away  in   1891   in  Iroquois  county. 

James  li.  Carey  was  the  third  in  order  of 
birth  in  a  family  of  eight  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  In  the  year  1873  the  family  came 
to  Iroquois  county,  and  he  continued  his  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  here  and  in  the  North- 
ern Indiana  Normal  College  at  Valparaiso. 
Thus  provided  with  a  liberal  education  he  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  for  four  years  in  Iro- 
quois county,  and  during  that  jjeriod  devoted  his 
leisure  hours  to  the  study  of  law.  reading  private- 
ly and  also  as  a  student  in  the  law  office  of  the 
firm    of    Morris    &  Hooper,    of    \\'atseka.      Ad- 


mitted to  the  bar  in  1897,  he  entered  upon  prac- 
tice in  Watseka  in  partnership  with  C.  N.  Saum, 
a  connection  which  was  continued  for  two  years, 
since  which  time  Mr.  Carey  has  practiced  alone. 
Correct  in  his  application  of  legal  principles  and 
with  comprehensive  knowledge  of  jurisprudence, 
he  has  won  various  notable  forensic  victories. 
He  prepares  his  cases  with  great  thoroughness 
and  skill  and  always  enters  the  courtroom  well 
qualified  to  parry  the  attacks  of  his  opponent  and 
also  present  his  case  in  a  strong,  clear,  concise 
manner,  that  seldom  fails  to  impress  court  and 
jury  with  the  justice  of  his  cause. 

On  the  22d  day  of  May,  1901,  Mr.  Carey  was 
married  to  Miss  Bertha  Apgar,  a  daughter  of 
David  Apgar,  of  Iroquois  county,  and  they  have 
one  child,  Irene,  who  was  born  October  18.  1902. 
]\Ir.  Carey  holds  membership  in  the  Masonic 
fraternity  and  is  a  communicant  of  the  Catholic 
church.  His  political  opinions  accord  with  dem- 
ocratic principles  and  he  is  chairman  of  the 
county  central  committee.  He  takes  an  active 
part  in  the  work  of  the  local  organization,  doing 
all  in  his  power  to  promote  the  growth  and 
insure  the  success  of  the  party  and  for  one  term 
he  has  served  as  city  attorney.  His  interests  and 
energies,  however,  center  upon  his  profession  in 
which  he  is  making  steady  and  gratif\ing 
progress. 


CHARLES  -M.  SLIFE. 

Charles  M.  Slife,  engaged  in  general  farming 
on  section  7,  Stockland  township,  has  for  forty- 
three  years  been  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county 
and  is  a  native  of  the  middle  west,  his  birth 
having  occurred  in  Huntington  county,  Indiana, 
October  2,  1862.  His  father,  Daniel  K.  Slife, 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where  ho  was 
roared.  He  was  a  farmer  by  occupation  and 
when  a  young  man  he  removed  westward  to 
Indiana,  wlioro  ho  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land 
upon  which  he  made  a  homo.  He  was  married 
in  that  stale  to  Miss  Mary  (uiod.  whoso  birth 
(loourn-d  in  Huntington  count)',  and  for  ten  years 
after  their  marriage  they  continued  residents  of 
tlie  Hoosicr  state.  On  the  expiration  of  that 
period  Air.  Slifo  sold  his  proportv  there  and  re- 
moved   to    lr(i(|uois   county,    settling    in    Milfnrd 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


?63 


township,  where  lie  purchased  one  huiulreil  .iiid 
eighty  acres  of  land  that  is  still  the  Slife  home- 
stead. Upon  the  place  he  erected  a  good  dwell- 
ing and  made  other  substantial  iinpmvemeiits. 
carrying  on  active  farming  there  for  a  long 
period  and  finding  in  the  business  a  profitable 
source  of  income  by  reason  of  his  energy,  per- 
severance and  capable  management.  The  last 
fifteen  years  of  his  life,  however,  were  passed  in 
Milford,  where  he  died  in  1903.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven  years.  Mrs.  Slife  still  survives 
and  is  now  in  her  seventy-eighth  year.  She 
makes  her  home  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  J. 
Darrough. 

Charles  "SI.  Slife  was  the  youngest  of  six  chil- 
dren and  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm,  lie 
had  good  common  school  advantages  and  for 
one  year  he  engaged  in  teaching  a  di.strict  school. 
On  reaching  adult  age  he  purchased  eighty  acres 
of  land  and  began  farming  on  his  own  account. 
He  erected  the  necessary  buildings  upon  his 
place,  turned  the  furrows  in  the  fields  and  in 
course  of  time  gathered  rich  harvests.  For  nearly 
twenty  years,  or  until  1902.  he  lived  upon  that 
farm  but  in  that  year  purchased  the  Dawson 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  and  has 
since  removed  to  the  south  side  of  the  farm. 
where  he  has  a  model  country  residence  and 
two  tenant  houses.  A  progressive  spirit  keeps 
him  in  touch  with  advanced  ideas  of  farming 
and  in  all  of  his  business  he  has  manifested  an 
aptitude   for  successful   management. 

On  the  22d  of  October,  1885,  Mr.  Slife  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ella  Hanier.  a  native 
of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter  of  Cicorge 
Hamer,  who  was  born  in  Uayton,  ( )hio.  and 
settled  here  about  i860.  Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Slife  have  been  born  four  children:  llattie, 
who  is  engaged  in  teaching  school  and  resides 
at  home ;  Russell  and  Fred,  who  are  attending 
school :  and  Helen,  who  completes  the  family. 

In  connection  with  his  general  farming  inter- 
ests Mr.  Slife  raises  good  grades  of  stiock  and 
also  feeds  for  the  market.  He  is  a  man  of  strong 
purpose  and  unfaltering  determination  and  these 
(|ualities  have  enabled  him  to  overcome  all  the 
difficulties  and  obstacles  in  his  path.  Politically 
he  is  an  earnest  republican  and  has  served  as 
town  clerk  and  tax  collector  for  several  years. 
He   has   also   been   president    of   the   board    of 


school  trustees  for  a  number  of  years  and  the 
cause  of  education  finds  in  him  a  warm  advocate, 
l-'raternally  he  is  connected  with  the  blue  lodge 
of  Milford.  with  the  chapter  and  the  com- 
mandery  at  W'atseka  and  has  been  a  delegate  to 
the  grand  lodge  of  the  state.  He  likewise  affil- 
iates with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  of  Milford 
and  with  the  Modern  W'oodmen  camp,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star 
chajjter.  They  also  attend  the  services  of  the 
Methodist  F-jjiscopal  church,  to  which  Mrs.  Slife 
belongs,  and  in  the  locality  where  they  make 
their  home  they  have  a  wide  and  favorable  ac- 
quaintance, while  the  hospitality  of  their  own 
household  is  greatly  enjoyed  by  those  who  know 
them. 


GLEASON  &  MOREL. 

The  firm  of  <  ileason  &  Morel,  general  mer- 
chants and  bankers  have  carried  on  business  in 
Iroquois  county  for  almost  a  quarter  of  a  century 
and  throughout  this  period  have  sustained  an 
unassailable  reputation  for  the  fairness  and 
])robity  of  their  methods  and  their  entcr[)rise  and 
l)rogressiveness.  The  mercantile  business  at 
Clifton  was  established  in  1882,  occupying  a 
building  twenty  by  eighty  feet,  and  fnjm  the  be- 
ginning success  attended  the  new  enterprise.  In 
i8«)i  they  enlarged  the  scope  of  their  activities 
by  ojK-ning  a  hardware,  furniture  and  undertak- 
ing business  under  the  firm  name  of  Heardslie, 
Sanderson  &  Company.  In  1895  the  firm  of 
(ileason  &  Morel  opened  the  first  and  only  bank 
in  Clifton,  conducting  it  as  a  |)rivate  banking 
institution  until  1902,  when  it  was  converted  into 
a  national  bank.  This  has  also  proved  a  profitable 
investment  and  is  moreover  of  the  utmost  value 
to  the  merchants  of  the  town  and  the  business 
men  of  surrounding  districts,  furnishing  a  me- 
dium for  financial  exchange.  The  firm  jirobably 
controls  the  most  extensive  interests  in  their 
line  in  the  county,  occupying  twenty-five  thoii- 
sand  feet  of  floor  space  in  a  brick  building  which 
they  erected  and  own,  and  in  addition  to  their 
mercantile  and  banking  interests  in  Clifton,  they 
are  interested  in  a  general  mercantile  enterprise 
at  .Xshkum.  conducted  under  the  name  of  H. 
C.   Morel   &  Company.     The   partners   arc   the 


564 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


firm  of  Gleason  &  :\Iorel  and  H.  G.  :\lorel,  of 
Ashkum,  and  comprise  what  is  known  as  the 
Doddsville  Land  &  Mercantile  Company,  of 
which  J.  C.  Gleason  is  president  and  A.  G.  Morel, 
treasurer.  This  company  owns  a  plantation  at 
Doddsville,  Mississippi,  of  twenty  lumtlrcd  and 
fiftv  acres,  on  which  arc  nine  dwellings,  while 
eighteen  hundred  acres  are  under  cultivation,  the 
principal  crop  being  cotton,  while  the  output  was 

one  thousand  bales  in  1906,  worth  tifty  di:Ilars 
J.  C.  Gleason,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm, 
is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  K.  (Rice)  Gleason, 
who  became  residents  of  Bloomington.  Illinois. 
in  the  early  "505,  and  who  removed  to  this  coun- 
ty in  the  early  '60s.  Their  family  numbered  two 
sons  and  two  daughters:  Henry,  of  Sutherland. 
Iowa;  J.  C.,  of  this  review:  Olive  and  Mamie. 
both  deceased. 

J.  C.  Gleason  was  born  at  Xormal,  IlHn  :-. 
March  4,  1859,  and  following  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  Clifton  attended  the  public  schools 
here.  He  was  twenty-three  years  of  age  when 
he  entered  upon  an  independent  Inisiness  career 
as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  (ileason  &  Morel, 
which  has  had  a  continuous  existence  of  almost 
a  quarter  of  a  century,  bringing  the  success  which 
is  the  outcome  of  earnest,  persistent  and  well 
directed  effort.  In  addition  to  his  mercantile 
and  banking  interests  Mr.  Gleason  is  the  owner 
of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Mills  Grove 
township,  Iroquois  county,  a  ([uarter  section  in 
Arkansas  and  a  small  farm  in  western  Kansas. 
He  is  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Federal 
Life  Insurance  Company,  of  Chicago,  in  which 
he  owns  some  stock,  and  thus  his  cner.gies  have 
covered  a  wide  field  and  represented  varied  inter- 
ests in  the  business  world,  and  his  wise  counsel 
and  sound  judgment  have  been  stimulatin.g 
factors  for  continuous  progress  and  prosperity. 
In  1892  Mr.  Gleason  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Edith  ().  llalthis,  a  daughter  <>t  John 
M.  and  .Susan  <  ).  Malthis,  of  Clift(in.  of  wh<im 
mention  is  made  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  They 
are  prominent  socially  and  the  hospitality  of  their 
own  pleasant  home  is  greatly  enjoyed  1)\  lluir 
manv  friends.  Mr.  Gleason  is  ardent  in  his  re- 
])ublicanism  though  not  an  office  seeker.  lie  was 
elected  mayor  of  Clifton  but  after  a  year  re- 
signed.    Fie  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational 


church  and  endorses  the  many  movements  and 
measures  which  are  promulgated  for  the  good  of 
the  communitv  in  its  material,  intellectual  and 
moral  progress.  Almost  his  entire  life  has  been 
passed  in  Clifton  and  he  has  steadily  advanced 
through  the  \ears  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  of 
modern  business  methods  and  ideas,  and  that 
he  has  been  enabled  to  pass  others  on  the  highway 
of  life  is  due  to  his  close  application,  his  watch- 
fidness  of  all  the  details  of  his  business,  his  keen 
discernment  and,  moreover,  his  untiring  industry, 
which,  no  matter  how  much  theorizing  one  may 
do  as  to  the  causes  of  success,  constitutes  the  real 
basis  of  prosperity. 


WILLIAM  DEWIXG. 


(  )n  the  roll  of  Iroquois  county's  honored  dead, 
appears  the  name  of  William  Dewing,  who  for 
some  vears  was  closely  associated  with  farming 
interests  here.  He  was  born  February  17,  1846, 
in  England,  and  died  on  the  25th  of  July.  1902. 
llis  iKirents  were  Robert  and  Susan  Dewing 
and  lived  at  Coston,  England,  where  the  father 
was  a  carpenter  by  trade. 

In  his  native  country,  William  Dewing  pur- 
sued a  common-school  education.  After  puting 
aside  his  text-books,  he  learned  the  miller's  trade, 
which  he  followed  in  his  native  country  until 
he  determined  to  trv  his  fortime  in  the  new 
world.  Crossing  the  .Atlantic  he  did  not  tarry 
long  on  the  eastern  coast,  but  made  his  way  at 
i>nce  into  the  interior  and  settled  in  .Shledon 
townshi]),  Iroquois  county.  Illinois,  where  he 
arrived  in  i8r)7.  Here  he  gave  his  attention  to 
farming  and  secured  a  tract  of  land,  which  he 
brought  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  adding 
to  the  ])lace  all  the  modern  e(|uipments  and  ac- 
cessories of  a  model  farm.  Fie  continued  to  en- 
gage actively  in  farming  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death  :md  was  not  only  industrious  and  perse- 
vering, but  also  progressive  in  his  methods  and 
utilized   his   land  to  the  best  advantage. 

.\lr.  Dewing  was  united  in  marriage  to  Sophia 
.\nn  Xash,  who  was  born  September  3,  1851. 
daughter  of  James  and  Xora  Xash.  the  former 
a  native  of  luigiand,  while  the  later  was  born 
in  this  count\.     I'lito  Air.  and  Mr--.  Dewing  was 


wii  I  I  \M   i)i\\  i\(;   WD  I'  win  N" 


UNlVtKi>ilV  U^  ILLii'iOlS 


IROyLUli  COUMV.  ILLINOIS. 


507 


Ixirii  one  son,  whose  birth  (jccurrcil  in  Sheldon 
townsliip.  Aiijjnst  9.  iSi<«^,  and  wlio  is  attending 
ihc  hi^h  school  at  ShcKloii. 

in  his  political  views  Mr.  Dewinjjf  was  a  re- 
publican and  served  as  road  commissioner,  but 
cared  little  tor  ])nblic  ottice,  preferring  to  de- 
vote his  time  and  attention  to  business  affairs  in 
which  he  met  with  sisjnal  success.  lie  was  a 
member  of  llic  Masonic  fraternity  at  Sheldon 
and  his  life  was  ever  honorabie  and  upright,  l)c- 
ing  characterized  by  those  princi])lcs  wliich  in 
every  land  and  clime  gain  confidence  and  com- 
mand regard.  lie  recognized  individual  re- 
siKinsibility  and  was  ever  just  in  his  relations 
with  his  fellowmcn.  Thus  he  gained  the  good 
will  of  those  with  wliom  he  came  in  contact  and 
his  death  was  deeply  deplored  when  at  the  com- 
paratively early  age  of  fifty  years  lie  was  called 
to  his  final  rest. 


WiLiJA.M  R(  )Si-:xr.RRc,i;R. 

William  Rosenljerger.  who  since  18^18  has 
made  his  home  in  iro(|uois  county  and  is  jiow  one 
of  its  venerable  citizens,  was  born  in  (jermany, 
November  i,  1828.  His  parents  were  i'rcdericl: 
and  Sallie  (Todare)  Roscnberger.  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  (lermany,  whence  they  came  to 
-America  but  at  a  later  ilate  returned  to  the  fa- 
therland,    in  tlieir  family  were  five  children. 

William  i'ioscnbcrger  acquired  his  education 
in  the  usual  manner  as  prescribed  by  the  laws 
of  his  native  country,  and  was  in  the  army  for 
nine  months,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  left 
(icrmany  for  the  new  world.  He  had  heard  fa- 
vorable reports  concerning  the  opportunities  here 
alTordcd  and  attracted  by  the  greater  lil)erties 
and  broader  business  advantages  lie  came  to  the 
United  States,  stopping  in  Chicago  in  1850.  lie 
was  afterward  em]>loyed  in  the  butchering  busi- 
ness at  frown  i'oiiit.  Indiana,  for  two  years,  and. 
coming  to  Iroc|uois  cininty,  made  his  home  in 
Middleport.  There  he  and  his  l)rother  established 
a  brewery,  which  they  conducted  for  three  years, 
and  in  1868  they  removed  to  Concord  township, 
Mr.  Rosenbcrger  purchasing  sixty  acres  of  land 
from  Mr.  lUichaiian,  on  section  30.  .\mbitious  to 
have  stiil  greater  landed   interests  he  extended 


the  Jwundaries  of  iiis  farm  as  opportunity  offered 
until  he  is  now  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty-two  acres  on  section  30,  and  ten  acres  on 
section  19,  Concord  township.  This  land  was 
entirely  wild  and  uncultivated  when  it  came  into 
his  jxjssession  but  as  the  years  jiassed  he  broltc 
the  sod.  planted  the  seed,  and  in  due  course  of 
time  gathered  goo<i  harvests,  i  ie  likewise  built 
a  house  and  barn,  his  home,  liowever,  being  for 
some  time  a  log  cabin,  which  was  the  typical 
home  u])on  the  frontier  at  that  early  day.  .\s 
time  passe<l  by  he  made  a  gotKl  start  in  his 
faj-ming  operations,  bringing  his  fields  under  cul- 
tivation and  raising  stock,  lie  cleared  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  acres  of  lantl,  which  is  well 
tilled,  while  the  remainder  of  his  farm  is  pasture 
lands.  In  former  years  he  raised  as  many  as 
forty  head  of  cattle  annually.  He  still  cultivates 
the  farm  and  has  purchased  a  half  section  of 
farm  land  in  Canada. 

Mr.  liiiscnbcrgcr  was  married  in  Crown  I'oint, 
Indiana,  in  1858,  to  Miss  Catherine  Ofcnlock, 
who  was  born  in  Hesse-I3armstadt.  (jermany,  in 
1839.  They  became  the  parents  of  six  children, 
John,  Mrs.  Christie  Keene,  .\lbcrt,  William  W., 
t^.scar  and  Ceorge. 

.Mr.  Rosenbcrger  has  been  called  to  several 
local  i)ositions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  has 
served  as  school  director  for  ten  years  and  has 
been  patlimastcr.  His  ])olitical  support  is  given 
to  the  democracy  for  he  believes  that  its  [irin- 
ciples  as  embodied  in  its  platform  will  best  con- 
serve the  interests  of  good  government.  His 
religious  faith  is  that  of  the  i-utheran  cliurcli. 
\  iewed  from  a  jiersonal  standpoint  his  life  has 
l>een  an  honorable  and  upright  one,  and  many 
good  (|iialitiis  liave  gained  for  him  a  j)lace  in 
])ul)lic  regard  that  makes  him  a  respected  and 
value<l   resident  of  Concord  township. 


.\RN'f)I.n  G.  BERNS. 


.\rnold  G.  I'.erns  is  the  owner  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  fine  land  in  Milks  Grove 
township,  of  which  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
is  coniprise<l  in  the  home  |)lace.  He  has  inii)roved 
this  property  from  the  raw  prairie  and  an  indica- 
tion of  his  life  of  activitv  is  found  in  the  ex- 


568 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


cellent  appearance  of  the  farm.  Born  in  Verl, 
Westphalia,  Germany.  July  17,  1849.  he  is  a 
son  of  Colon  Henry  Geruto  Berns.  who  in  that 
country  was  married  to  Marguerite  Ilagenheide. 
They  became  the  parents  of  five  children,  of 
whom  Arnold  was  the  second  in  order  of  birth. 
He  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  the  fatherland 
and.  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  that  country, 
served  for  three  years  in  the  German  army  and 
participated  in  the  Franco-Prussian  war.  He 
also  learned  the  carpenter's  and  joiner's  trade 
in  his  native  country  and  with  the  desire  to  im- 
prove his  financial  condition  he  came  to  the 
new  world  in  the  summer  of  1875.  sailing  from 
Bremen  to  Xew  York.  The  fact  that  he  had 
relatives  living  in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  in- 
duced him  to  make  a  location  here  and  for  a 
season  he  was  employed  by  them.  During  that 
time  he  acquainted  himself  with  American  meth- 
ods of  farming  and  through  the  succeeding  year 
he  worked  by  the  month  at  farm  labor. 

I\Ir.  Berns  was  then  married  in  February. 
1877,  to  Miss  Mary  Langhorst.  a  native  of  Ger- 
many, who  came  to  America  to  live  with  rela- 
tives. Following  his  marriage  he  rented  a  farm, 
which  he  operated  for  three  years  and  on  the  ex- 
piration of  that  period  took  charge  of  the  D.  K. 
Pearson  farm  in  Kankakee  county.  Two  years 
were  devoted  to  its  further  cultivation  and  for 
two  years  he  was  upon  the  Milks  ^\'heelc^  farm. 
He  then  removed  to  Chebanse,  where  he  followed 
the  carpenter's  trade  for  a  year.  Like  all  thrifty 
German  people,  he  saved  his  earnings  as  he  could 
until  his  capital  was  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
purchase  the  quarter  section  of  land,  upon  which 
he  now  resides.  It  is  situated  on  section  36. 
]\lilks  Grove  tpwnship.  and  he  became  the  owner 
in  1885.  It  was  all  raw  land  at  that  time  but 
he  converted  it  into  rich  and  productive  fields, 
improving  and  making  it  a  valuable  farm.  He 
has  erected  a  good  two-story  residence,  a  barn, 
twenty-eight  by  sixty-four  feet  with  eighteen 
foot  posts,  good  corn  cribs  and  other  structures 
that  furnish  adequate  shelter  for  grain  and  stock. 
He  was  one  of  the  first  to  tile  his  land  in  Milks 
Grove  township  and  he  has  built  good  fences 
and  carries  on  farm  work  along  modern  lines. 
In  1898  he  purchased  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres  on  section  2  of  the  same  township  and  this 
he  has  also  improved,  so  that  the  well  tilled  fields 


now  return  to  him  large  annual  harvests  as  the 
result  of  the  care  and  labor  he  bestows  upon 
them. 

^Ir.  and  Mrs.  Berns  have  become  the  parents 
of  three  children :  Henry,  who  is  operating  the 
home  farm  with  his  father ;  Andrew,  who  is 
cultivating  the  one  hundred  and  sixty  acre  farm 
on  section  2,  Milks  Grove  township;  and  Joseph, 
at  home.  The  second  son  married  Linnie  Sieden- 
top,  a  daughter  of  Henry  Siedentop,  a  pioneer 
of  Milks  Grove  township.  They  now  have  one 
child,  Mary.  All  of  the  family  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  church  at  Milks  Grove. 

Mr.  Berns  is  independent  in  politics  and  has 
always  been  without  aspiration  for  public  office. 
For  ten  years  he  served  as  school  director  but 
otherwise  has  filled  no  public  position.  He  de- 
lights, however,  in  the  advancement  made  by  the 
county  along  various  lines  and  has  co-operated  in 
many  movements  for  the  general  good.  Com- 
ing to  America  empty-handed,  his  life  is  an  illus- 
tration of  the  fact  that  success  may  be  acquired 
through  close  application  and  unfaltering  purpose 
in  this  land  where  labor  is  not  hampered  by  caste 
or  class. 


WEST  BROTHERS. 


The  \\'est  Brothers,  who  are  numbered  among 
the  prominent  business  men  of  Iroquois  countv, 
are  engaged  in  the  grain  trade  at  Loda  and 
Thawville.  The  firm  consists  of  John  T.  and 
William  West,  who  reside  and  carry  on  business 
in  Loda,  and  George  E.,  who  has  charge  of  the 
elevator  and  grain  trade  at  Thawville  and  is  also 
a  partner  in  the  business  at  that  place.  John  T. 
and  William  West  are  partners  in  the  electric 
light  plant  and  in  the  ownership  of  the  green- 
house at  Loda  and  also  own  a  third  interest  in 
the  greenhouse  at  Paxton,   Illinois. 

These  brothers,  who  occupy  positions  of  prom- 
inence in  business  circles  and  belong  to  that  class 
of  representative  men  who  while  promoting  in- 
dividual interests  also  advance  the  general  wel- 
fare, are  natives  of  Iroquois  coutity.  John 
T.  was  born  July  24.  1863,  and  William  April  3, 
1866.  They  are  sons  of  John  \\'est,  Sr..  who  is 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  They  were 
reared    in    Irciquois    and    Lake   counties   and    are 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


^fX) 


indcbti'd  lo  llic  i)iil>lit.->cluMil  >_vstfm  <il  tin-  stale 
for  the  (.(hicatioiial  privik-^i-s  llicy  ciijovcd. 

After  putting  aside  his  text-books  John  T. 
West  was  employed  by  K.  \'.  Hiinj;erf<>rd,  ol 
I-^nla.  in  the  )j;rain  trade  for  ahont  two  years.  He 
then  formed  a  piutiiershi])  witli  J.  .\.  llill  and 
en^raged  in  trenenil  merdiandisinj;  lor  two  years, 
wliiie  William  West  remained  in  the  employ  of 
Mr.  Ilnn!.;erford  until  under  the  firm  name  of 
West  r.rothcrs  they  cmbarke<l  in  i.;eneral  mer- 
chandising; at  the  end  of  that  time.  I'or  two 
years  they  occn|)ied  a  rented  store  buildini;  and 
when  that  was  destroyed  by  fire  the_\  removed 
their  stock  of  gocnls  to  another  l)uilding  an<l  re- 
sumed operations  tlie  following  day  without  loss 
of  any  time.  Suhsecjuently  tlie\  built  a  business 
house  and  continued  in  that  line  of  trade  until 
Sei)tember  I.  i«;04,  when  both  retired  from  gen- 
eral merchandising  and  concentrated  their  efforts 
upon  other  lines  of  business  activity.  It  was  in 
i8<>8  that  the  firm  of  West  brothers  bought  the 
♦.'levator  at  Loda  and  took  charge  of  the  business, 
since  wiiich  time  they  have  also  purchaseil  the 
elevator  and  grain  business  at  'i'liawville.  They 
are  numbered  among  the  carefid  and  progressive 
business  men  of  the  former  place  and  are  melt- 
ing with  excellent  success  as  grain  merchants, 
while  their  business  is  also  a  valuable  element  in 
the  commimity,  furnishing  a  market  for  many 
l)roducers.  John  T.  and  William  West  also  have 
large  landed  interests  in  Iowa,  consisting  of  ten 
hundrefl  and  forty  acres  in  Calhoun  and  Poca- 
hontas counties.  In  their  business  lliey  have  man- 
ifested a  desire  and  effort  to  attain  the  highest 
perfection  ]>ossible.  to  give  ])ublic  service  that 
will  render  them  worthy  of  a  liberal  ])atronagc, 
and  at  all  times  they  have  conducted  their  inter- 
ests according  to  a  high  standard  of  connnercial 
ethics. 

John  T.  West  was  married  in  Lotla.  January 
17.  1888.  to  Miss  Leona  West,  who  was  born 
and  reared  in  Illinois,  and  they  now  have  four 
children:  Ralph.  Chester.  Mabel  ami  Leona. 
William  West  was  al.so  married  in  Loda.  on  the 
J5th  of  .November.  1SS8.  to  .Miss  l-'va  .\ddems, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  Illinois,  and  to  them 
have  Ix-en  born  three  children:  I-".dna.  Clli  and 
Marion. 

The  iirothers  are  members  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, affiliating  with  tiic  lodge  at  Loda.  and  are 

33 


also  connecteil  with  the  .\lo<liTn  WiMidiiun  ol 
.\merica.  I'oth  have  filled  various  offices  in  these 
lodges  and  are  active  in  promoting  the  interests 
thereof,  being  thoroughly  in  sym|)athy  with  the 
])rinciples  and  puri)oses  of  those  organizations. 
I'lotli  gentlemen  own  neat  residences  in  Ixnla  and 
have  lieliK'd  to  build  up  and  advance  the  interests 
of  the  county.  They  enjoy  in  uiuisnal  degree 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  business  com- 
mimity and  in  social  circles  have  gained  e(|ually 
favorable  regard.  Working  in  harmony,  the  la- 
bors of  the  one  aptly  supplementing  and  rounding 
out  the  efforts  of  the  other,  the  West  I'.rothers 
ctmstitute  a  strong  firm.  Their  success  in  life 
is  tine  to  no  inherited  fortune  or  to  any  hajjpy 
succession  of  advantageous  circumstances,  but  to 
their  own  sturdy  will,  steady  application,  studi- 
t>us  habits,  tireless  industry  and  sterling  integrity. 


r..   1".  Sll WKLAXl). 


1!.  I".  Shankland.  ])ublislKT  of  the  Watseka 
Re])ublican.  was  born  in  Indiana,  in  iH4<^  but 
was  brought  to  Iroquois  county  by  his  parents 
in  1854.  His  father.  Kendall  Shankland,  a  native 
of  ( )hio.  tof)k  up  his  abode  in  Prairie  ( ireen  town- 
shi])  on  coming  to  Illinois  and  bought  and  im- 
proved a  farm  there.  He  became  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  republican  i)arty  in  this  county 
and  was  receognized  as  a  leader  in  molding  public 
thought  an<l  action.  He  served  for  some  time  as 
a  member  of  the  board  of  supervisors.  His  wife. 
.\manda  Harris,  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  and  it 
was  in  that  state  that  they  were  married,  coming 
at  an  early  day  to  Iroquois  county  with  their 
family,  including  15.  F.  Shankland. 

The  son  supplemented  his  preliminary  educa- 
tion by  study  in  tirand  Prairie  Seminary,  at 
( )narga.  He  then  tofjk  up  the  study  of  law  in 
the  University  of  Michigan,  and  following  the 
completion  of  liis  course  he  practiced  for  some 
time  in  Watseka.  The  law.  however,  was  not  to 
his  taste  and  he  served  as  deputy  comity  clerk 
for  seven  years,  after  which  he  entere<l  the  field 
of  journalism  as  publisher  of  the  Watseka  Re- 
|>ublican.  a  weekly  pa|)er.  It  was  established  in 
.May.  1856.  by  J.  .\.  (iraham  and  I).  T.  Lindley, 
anil    was   called   the   Iroquois   Republican.      It   is 


570 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


an  eight-page  paper,  which  has  a  large  circulation 
throughout  the  county  and  is  a  well  edited  jour- 
nal, imparting  the  spirit  of  modern  progress  as 
manifested  in  the  newspaper  field. 

In  1877  -Mr.  Siiankland  was  united  in  marriage 
to  ^liss  Xancy  .Miskimen,  of  Lovejoy  township, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio.  They  have  one  son, 
Kendall,  who  is  assistant  editor  of  the  paper  and 
a  graduate  of  Lake  Forest  (Illinois)  College. 
He  is  now  secretary  of  the  Iroquois  Club  and  is 
a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  belonging  to  the  blue 
lodge,  chapter  and  commandery  at  Watseka.  Fie 
also  served  as  secretary  to  the  superintendent  of 
the  reformatory  at  Pontiac,  Illinois,  an  office 
which  B.  F.  Shankland  also  filled  at  one  time. 

In  his  political  views  ^Ir.  Shankland  is  a  stal- 
wart republican  and  publishes  his  paper  in  the 
interest  of  that  party.  This  paper  is  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Shankland  and  Walter  R.  Higgins,  who 
is  one  of  the  oldest  printers  of  the  state,  having 
followed  the  business  from  early  boyhood.  Mr. 
Shankland  is  filling  the  office  of  secretary  of  the 
republican  county  central  committee  and  his 
opinions  carry  weight  in  the  councils  of  his  party 
and  his  influence  is  widely  felt.  He  belongs  to 
various  branches  of  the  Masonic  fraternities,  in- 
cluding the  Knight  Templar  commandery,  and 
his  religious  faith  is  indicated  by  his  membership 
in  the  Presbyterian  church. 


WESLEY  V.  BRUBAKER. 

A  well  developed  farm  property  comprising 
eighty  acres  on  section  10,  Sheldon  township,  is 
in  jxissession  of  Wesley  V.  Brubaker,  who  in  his 
farm  work  has  manifested  a  spirit  of  determi- 
nation and  progress  that  is  most  commendable. 
He  was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1855. 

His  father,  Joseph  Brubaker,  was  a  native  of 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  born  July  7,  1826.  He 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and  settled  in 
Woodford  county  near  Eureka  at  a  very  early 
period  in  the  development  of  this  state.  There 
the  grandparents  of  our  subject  were  engaged 
in  farming.  In  1853  Joseph  Brubaker  went  to 
Ohio  and  on  the  22d  of  February  of  that  vear  he 


was  married  there  to  ^Miss  Anna  M.  Charles, 
who  was  born  in  .\shland  county,  Ohio.  He 
afterward  returned  with  his  bride  to  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
own  account.  That  he  prospered  is  indicated 
by  his  property  interests,  which  were  extensive. 
for  he  became  the  owner  of  four  hundred  and 
ninetv  acres  of  valuable  and  productive  land  in 
this  county.  He  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  IMrs.  John  Sheets  and  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  on  section  9,  Sheldon  town- 
ship. All  of  the  improvements  were  made  by 
him  upon  the  farm  and  he  continued  to  engage 
actively  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  until 
about  ten  years  prior  to  his  death,  when  he  re- 
moved to  the  town  of  Sheldon,  where  his  re- 
maining days  were  passed.  He  died  there  in 
1898.  In  matters  of  citizenship  he  was  public 
spirited  and  progressive  and  he  gave  loyal  alle- 
giance to  the  republican  party  until  1888.  after 
which  he  supported  the  prohibition  party,  for  he 
had  firm  faith  in  its  principles.  For  four  years 
he  served  as  road  commissioner  and  for  ten 
years  was  school  director,  while  his  religious 
faith  was  indicated  by  his  membership  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  L^nto  him  and  his 
estimable  wife  there  were  born  four  children,  of 
whom  two  are  now  living:  Charles  H..  and 
Wesley  Y.  Frank  A.  and  Jennie  M.  are 
deceased. 

In  taking  up  the  personal  history  of  Wesley 
V.  Brubaker  we  present  to  our  readers  the  life 
record  of  one  who  is  widely  and  favorably  known 
in  this  part  of  the  county.  No  event  of  special 
importance  occurred  to  vary  the  routine  of  farm 
life  for  him  in  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and 
youth.  He  was  reared  to  agricultural  pursuits 
and  on  attaining  his  majority  he  began  farming 
on  his  own  account,  purchasing  eighty  acres  of 
land  from  his  father  about  twenty  years  ago. 
This  is  located  on  section  10.  Sheldon  township 
and  he  has  placed  many  of  the  im]irovcnients 
upon  it  save  the  house.  His  father  tiled  tiie 
place  and  Mr.  Brubaker  has  further  continued 
its  drainage  and  cultivation.  He  lias  always 
followed  farming  and  stock-raising  and  his 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  business  in  which  he 
has  been  engaged  from  his  btnhood  to  the 
present  time  has  been  one  of  the  salient  elements 
in  his  success.     He  is  now  cultivating  an  entire 


-    .'It 

^■.\T.'LJ<i,i]y  uf  ILLINOIS 


V. 


X 


/, 

w 


y 


OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


.■'/J 


half  section  of  land  and  aiinuallx    liarvist^  l.o".- 
croi)S. 

Mr.  Crubakcr  was  married  to  .Mi>s  .\lar\  Mita 
Lcwellen,  who  was  born  in  Di-lawarc  county. 
Indiana,  and  came  to  this  state  when  twelve 
years  of  a},a-  with  her  motlicr.  Ikr  father,  Jo- 
sepluis  Lcwellen.  who  was  a  carpenter  by  trade, 
died  when  she  was  only  three  years  old.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  I'.rubaker  have  one  child.  Harry. 

.Mr.  Brubaker  has  served  as  a  school  director. 
He  gives  his  political  support  to  the  ])rohibition 
party,  for  he  has  lonj;  been  a  stanch  advocate  of 
the  cause  of  temperance.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Kpiscopal  church  and  his  faith 
and  belief  find  exemplification  in  his  life  and  his 
treatment  of  his  fellownien,  who  know  him  t4 
be  a  most  honorable  citizen,  straightforward  and 
reliable  in  all  of  his  business  dealings. 


]ACOU  ALLIIAXnS. 


Jacob  .Mlhands.  living  in  Sheldon  township, 
dates  his  residence  in  the  state  from  1854.  Me 
was  born  in  Montgomery  county.  Indiana,  in 
1853  and  was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  father, 
William  J.  .Mlhands,  a  native  of  Butler  county, 
( )hio,  born  December  22,  1821.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Daniel  . Mlhands.  was  a  native  of 
X'irginia  and  for  some  years  resided  in  the  lUick- 
eye  state,  after  which  he  removed  with  his  family 
to  Indiana,  casting  in  his  lot  with  its  |)ioneer 
.settlers. 

William  J.  .Mlhands  was  at  that  time  a  lad 
of  eleven  years  and  he  was  reared  amid  the 
wild  scenes  and  environments  frontier  life,  lie 
attended  school  during  the  winter  seasons  but 
in  the  summer  months  his  services  were  needed 
upon  the  home  farm  and  he  performed  the  ardu- 
ous task  of  developing  and  cultivating  new  land. 
Remaining  in  Indiana  until  1852.  he  then  came  to 
Illinois  on  a  prospecting  tour,  after  which  he  re- 
turned to  Montgomery  county  but  in  1854  made 
a  ]iermanent  location  here  and  for  many  vears 
thereafter  was  closely  associated  with  farnn'ng 
interests  in  tliis  county.  He  was  married  in  1849, 
in  Indiana,  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Moore,  a  native 
of  Ohio,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  eleven 


children.  Mr.  .\llhantls  cast  his  fir^t  presidential 
ballot  for  James  K.  Polk  and  continued  to  sup- 
jwrt  the  candidates  of  deniocrac\.  He  was  al- 
ways a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church 
and  his  life  was  honorable  and  upright,  lie 
started  out  on  his  business  career  empty-handed 
but  he  possessed  resolute  purpose  anci  unfalter- 
ing energy  and  these  qualities  iiave  enabled  him  to 
steadily  work  his  way  upward  until  he  is  now- 
numbered  among  the  prosjjerous  residents  of  the 
county,  having  two  himdred  and  eighty  acres  of 
rich  farming  land  in  Belmont  township. 

Jacf)b  .Mlhands  began  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  afterward  benefited  by  instruc- 
tion received  in  tireen  Hill  Seminary  of  Indiana. 
He  was  reared  in  Irocjuois  county  and  for  about 
ten  years  engaged  in  teaching  school,  proving  a 
capable  educator,  who  imparted  clearly  and  read- 
ily to  others  the  knowledge  that  he  had  acquired. 
.\fter  about  a  decade  devoted  to  educational 
work  he  began  farming  upon  the  old  home  place, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  spent 
one  summer  in  Leadville,  Colorado,  and  then 
removed  to  Indiana,  where  he  carried  on  genral 
agricultural  pursuits  for  two  years,  after  which 
he  returned  to  Concord  township  and  rented  land 
for  about  nine  years.  .Ml  that  time  he  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities  and  also  carefidly 
saved  his  earnings,  so  that  with  the  capital  that 
he  had  acquired  he  bought  a  farm  on  section  29, 
Sheldon  townshi]),  comprising  one  hundred  and 
si.xty  acres.  He  made  this  purchase  from  .Mrs. 
Lingle  in  1893  and  has  since  put  many  modern 
and  substantial  improvements  ujKJn  the 
land.  He  has  laid  one  thousand  rods  of 
tiling  and  has  fenced  his  fields.  In  the 
early  spring  time  the  plow  is  placed  in 
the  furrows  and  the  seed  is  planted.  Through 
a  later  period  the  work  of  cultivation  is  continued 
and  in  due  course  of  time  good  harvests  are 
gathered  because  of  the  practical,  systematical 
and  progressive  methods  which  .Mr.  AUhamls 
follows  in  carrying  on  his  farm  work.  He  like- 
wise raises  stock  and  this  is  no  niiiniportant 
branch  of  his  business. 

Mr.  Allhands  was  married  in  t  .■uiwnl  town- 
ship, in  1876.  to  Miss  Rosetta  Hoagland,  who 
was  born  in  Concord  township  in  March,  1S56, 
and  is  a  daughter  of  Isaac  Hoagland.  who  came 
from  Ohio  in  an  earlv  d.iv  .md  s.iileil  in  Cnn- 


576 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


cord  townshii).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  .\llhands  haw- 
two  children,  ^Irs.  Cynthia  Markley  and  George. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Allhands  is  a  dem- 
ocrat, interested  in  the  success  of  the  party  and 
its  growth.  He  has  served  as  school  director  and 
as  road  commissioner,  yet  has  never  been  active 
as  a  politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  al- 
though he  is  always  glad  to  see  good  men  in 
office  and  does  everything  in  his  power  to  ad- 
vance the  interests  of  his  community  along  lines 
of  substantial  development  and   improvement. 


DWID  CREPS. 


The  history  of  the  L.yman  neighborhood  on 
either  side  of  the  Middleport-Martinton  line 
would  be  incomplete  without  some  mention  of 
David  Creps,  who  is  now  the  oldest  person  in 
the  Lyman  relationship,  and  he  bears  a  double 
relation,  being  a  stepson  to  one  and  a  son-in- 
law  to  another  of  the  pioneers  of  that  name. 
David  Creps,  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Creps, 
was  born  in  Lancaster  county.  Pennsylvania,  Oc- 
tober 30,  1824,  and  has  therefore  passed  the 
eighty-second  milestone  on  life's  journev.  He 
was  quite  young  when  his  father  died  and  his 
mother  removed  to  Ohio,  living  in  Wa\ne  and 
Stark  counties.  She  was  married  in  that  state 
to  Samuel  Lyman  and  in  1836,  when  her  son  was 
a  boy  of  twelve  years,  Mr.  Lyman,  with  the 
members  of  the  household,  came  to  Froquois 
county,  where  Mr.  Creps  has  since  resided.  It 
was  a  pioneer  community  in  the  midst  of  a  wild 
and  largely  unsettled  district.  The  work  of  im- 
provement and  progress  had  scarcely  been  begun 
and  the  Lyman  family  in  its  various  branches 
were  destined  to  bear  an  imijortant  ])art  in  the 
work  of  substantial  im]jrovemcnt  and  ui:)buil(ling 
here.  Mr.  Creps,  as  his  years  and  strength  in- 
creased, more  and  more  largely  aided  in  the 
arduous  task  of  developing  a  new  farm  and 
shared  with  the  family  in  all  of  the  experiences 
and    hard.ships   of   pioneer   life. 

( )n  the  24th  of  .\pril.  1854,  he  was  married  tn 
Miss  Samantha  Lyman,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  Lyman.  She  was  born  November  14, 
1833,  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  the 
vicinity  (jf  the  present  familv  homestead  in   .M.ir- 


tinton  township.  AL".  Creps  built  a  log  cabin 
within  a  few  rods  of  his  present  comfortable 
home,  wliere  he  has  all  of  the  modern  conve- 
niences of  a  model  country  property.  His  suc- 
cess is  attriljutable  to  his  own  exertions,  for  when 
he  staked  off  the  claim  on  which  he  built  his 
cabin  he  had  no  money  with  which  to  pay  for  it. 
He  settled  upon  a  tract  of  eighty  acres  of  wild 
prairie  land  without  the  formality  of  receiving  a 
deed  for  it  and  when  the  land  office  was,  finally 
opened  at  Danville,  Illinois,  he  had  saved  enough 
money  to  make  the  purchase.  His  capital  at 
the  beginning  of  his  active  life  as  an  agriculturist 
consisted  only  of  his  two  hands  and  a  strong 
determination.  L'pon  his  claim  he  raised  the 
crops  that  enabled  him  to  pay  for  the  property — 
an  opportunity  the  present  generation  would 
gladly  embrace.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  the 
pioneers  certainly  had  some  advantages  together 
with  their  hardships  and  there  was,  moreover,  a 
spirit  of  good  cheer  and  hospitality  among  friends 
and  neighbors  that  is  scarcely  known  today.  Mr. 
Creps  broke  the  virgin  prairie,  driving  seven  yoke 
of  oxen  to  a  plow  that  turned  a  two  foot  furrow, 
and  when  the  fields  were  cultivated  he  sold  his 
crops  and,  carefully  saving  his  earnings,  at 
length  accunuilated  a  sufficient  capital  to  make 
his  purchase  of  land.  As  the  years  have  passed 
he  has  added  to  the  original  tract  until  he  now 
has  a  valuable  proi^erty.  He  has  never  engaged 
to  any  great  extent  in  stock-raising  but  has  made 
his  money  through  the  cultivation  of  the  cereals 
best  adapted  to  soil  and  climate.  \Miile  he  was 
turning  the  sod  of  the  prairie,  often  working  at 
the  breaking  team  for  others,  his  wife  was  just  as 
busy  in  the  household,  spinning  wool,  tow  and 
Hax.  and  the  implements  of  her  handiwork  are 
still  treasiu-ed  in  the  household. 

In  recalling  the  ])ast  Mr.  Creps  remarked, 
"People  nowadays  don't  know  how  we  got  along, 
^^'e  had  tallow  dips  and  beeswax  candles,  lard 
lani]is.  and  as  a  result  everything  was  black  with 
smoke  and  soot."  In  the  home  are  still  retained 
the  old  candle  molds,  spinning  wheels  and  other 
mementoes  of  pioneer  life  that  were  used  by  the 
wile  and  mother  in  days  when  everything  needed 
by  the  family  was  made  at  hoiiie.  In  these  days 
of  electricity  and  rapid  transit  it  seems  like  a  page 
(oi-n  from  the  histor\-  of  the  past  to  talk  with  a 
man   who  li;iil   a  ]iart  in  the  development   of  the 


IRonti.is  '-nrNTY.  li.l.INtJiS. 


577 


ciiuntry.  Mr.  Crcps  had  tlic  coiiram.-  l.i  ivinaiii 
where  he  first  settled  and  as  tlie  resiih  of  his  la- 
bors is  now  the  owner  of  a  comfortable  home  and 
fine   fariniiii;  land. 

The  children  hnrn  unto  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Creps 
are  as  follows:  Sanincl  I-".,  Allen,  Daniel  U., 
Reuben  L.,  and  Cassic,  who  since  the  death  of 
the  wife  and  mother  on  the  "th  of  .\n>just.  i8<)3. 
has  been  her  father's  constant  coinpanion  as  well 
as  manager  of  the  householil.  Reuben  1...  the 
yonngest  son,  lo.st  his  wife  I)eceml>er  <;.  i!^><>. 
and  has  since  lived  at  home.  heljiini.; 
to  care  for  the  father.  .\s  state<l.  Mr. 
Creps  has  reached  the  age  of  eighty-two  years. 
He  still  keeps  in  touch  with  the  progress  of 
events  through  persual  of  the  daily  papers  and 
not  many  men  are  better  informed  on  current 
toi)ics.  When  he  first  came  to  Iro(|uois  county 
it  required  four  weeks  for  a  letter  to  come  from 
Stark  county.  Ohio,  but  he  has  lived  to  see  a 
rural  free  delivery  of  the  daily  mail — a  condition 
of  which  he  did  not  dream  when  he  settled  here. 
-At  that  time  his  letters  came  to  I'.unkum,  later 
to  old  Middkport,  and  today  the  mail  is  re- 
ceived at  his  own  door.  When  the  family  moved 
from  (3hio  the  boy  of  twelve  walked  all  the  way 
and  drove  the  cattle  exceiit  when  there  was  so 
much  water  that  he  must  ride  in  the  covered 
wagon,  and  now  as  he  watclies  the  heavy  traffic 
over  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroail  in 
sight  of  his  own  home  he  often  contrasts  the 
present  with  the  ])ast  in  lro<|Uois  county  and  the 
conditions  and  eviromnents  of  j)ioneer  life.  lie 
is  a  i)lcasaiit  and  entertaining  old  gentlenian  and 
numbers  among  his  friends  and  contemporaries 
John  D.  .\sh,  .Samuel  Miller  .iml  ullur  earlv 
residents  of  the  count  v. 


[(  tll.\   II.   i'.ARRITT 


The  man  is  fortunate  whose  lot  has  been  cast 
with  the  a>;riciilturists  of  Iro<|nois  county  be- 
cause of  the  fertility  of  Illinois  soil  for  farming. 
There  is  no  slate  in  the  Union  which  has  a 
greater  |)ercentage  of  arable  land  or  yields  richer 
crops  in  return  for  the  care  aiul  lalKir  iK-stowerl 
njxjn  the  fields,  and  it  has  been  through  the  ini- 
l)r(jvement  of  the  opportiniitics  here  offered  that 


-Mr.  Itarritt  has  won  for  himself  a  jilace  as  a 
thrifty  an<l  ]rosperous  agriculturist  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  lives  on  section  5,  (  )narga  township, 
where  he  has  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  good 
land,  and  as  his  resitlence  in  the  county  covers 
the  period  from  185O  to  the  present  lime  he  is 
numbered   among   its   old   settlers. 

.\  native  of  Champaign  county,  •  >bio,  he  was 
born  June  21,  1852,  a  son  of  William  .Milton  Itar- 
ritt, a  native  of  the  lluckeye  state.  Having 
reached  years  of  maturity  William  M.  IJarrilt 
married  Miss  Sarah  Ki'gg.  who  was  also 
born  and  reared  there.  .\  carpenter  by 
trade,  he  also  learned  and  followed  shoe- 
making  and  was  thus  closely  associated 
with  industrial  interests  in  <  )hio  until  1856, 
when,  thinking  to  enjoy  In-tter  business  oj)portu- 
nities  in  Illinois,  he  made  his  way  to  Iroquois 
county  and  settled  u|K)n  a  farm.  Subswpiently 
he  t<Mik  u])  his  alxide  in  Onarga  township,  where 
he  jnirchased  a  tract  of  land  and  opened  up  a 
farm  which  remained  his  place  of  residence 
throughout  his  snbse(|ucnt  years.  His  wife  sur- 
vive<l  him  about  three  years  and  in  their  death 
the  community  lost  two  of  its  representative  pio- 
neer settlers,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  them. 

John  II.  I'arritt  was  one  of  ten  chililren  who 
reached  mature  years.  The  family  nimibercd 
six  sons  and  four  daughters,  of  who  five  sons 
and  two  daughters  are  yet  living.  The  subject 
of  this  review  was  only  about  four  years  of  age 
at  the  time  of  the  removal  of  the  family  to  this 
county,  so  that  he  was  reared  within  its  Ixirders 
and  shared  in  the  hardships  and  privations  inci- 
dent to  life  on  the  frontier.  When  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  began  ])roviding  for  his  <iwn 
sujjport  by  working  as  a  farm  hand  by  the  month 
and  was  thus  employed  for  seven  years  or  until 
he  attained  bis  majority,  his  father  reciiviiiu'  his 
earnings  during  that  period. 

(  )n  the  J.Vl  of  N'oveniber,  1S7.?.  in  (  >narga 
township,  he  was  marrie<I  to  .Miss  \  irginia  .\. 
Harper,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  and  is  a  daugh- 
ter of  Alfred  nar])er.  whr>  came  to  lroqu<iis 
county  from  the  Iloosier  slate  during  the  in- 
fanc\-  of  bis  daughter.  The  young  couple  began 
their  domestic  life  upon  a  rented  farm  and  in 
the  succeeding  aulunnt  located  at  their  present 
place  of  residence  on  section  3.  ( )narga  town- 
shi]).      Mr.    I'arritt   at    first   renle<I   lan<l   but   his 


578 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


diligence  and  careful  management  at  length 
brought  him  capital  sufficient  to  enable  him  to 
purchase  eighty  acres  and  with  renewed  impetus 
he  took  up  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and  im- 
proving the  property.  He  has  erected  substantial 
buildings  thereon,  including  a  good  residence 
and  barn,  cribs  and  granary.  He  has  also  planted 
fruit  and  drained  the  place  by  laying  man}'  rods 
of  tiling.  After  some  years  he  purchased  an 
adjoining  eighty-acre  tract,  so  tliat  he  now  owns 
a  quarter  section  of  rich  and  productive  land. 
Across  the  fields  in  the  spring  time  is  seen  the 
track  of  the  shining  plow,  the  seed  is  dropped, 
the  W'ork  of  cultivation  continued  and  in  the 
autumn  good  crops  are  harvested.  'Sir.  Barritt 
is  also  engaged  in  raising  thoroughbred  cattle, 
hogs  and  horses  and  keeps  a  good  standard  bred 
Percheron  horse  for  breeding  purposes.  His 
stock-raising  interests  constitute  an  important 
element  in  his  success. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Airs.  Barritt  have  been  born  four 
children,  of  whom  two  are  now  living.  Bertha 
M.,  who  was  educated  at  Onarga  and  in  early 
womanhood  engaged  in  teaching  for  several 
years,  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Cox,  a  farmer  of 
Onarga  township,  and  has  one  child,  Lawrence 
Glenn.  James  W.,  at  home,  is  assisting  his  fa- 
ther in  the  work  of  the  farm.  Daisy  and  Frank 
both  died  when  about  five  months  old. 

The  parents  are  members  of  Prairie  Chapel 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  which  Mr.  Bar- 
ritt is  serving  as  steward.  They  are  interested 
in  various  church  activities  and  do  what  they 
can  to  promote  the  growth  and  extend  the  in- 
fluence of  this  organization.  In  his  fraternal 
relations  Mr.  Barritt  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a 
Woodman,  belonging  to  both  organizations  at 
Onarga.  His  study  of  ])olitical  issues  and  ques- 
tions has  led  him  to  give  unfaltering  support  to 
the  republican  ])art\-,  his  first  ]5rcsidential  vote 
being  cast  for  Rullicrford  B.  Hayes  in  1876. 
He  is  a  believer  in  good  schools  and  the  employ- 
ment of  competent  teachers  and  for  some  years 
he  served  on  the  school  hoard.  \lv  hllcil  the 
office  of  township  trnslce  for  two  terms  and  his 
interest  in  public  life  and  general  progress  is 
manifest  in  the  co-operation  which  he  gives  to  all 
measures  for  the  general  good,  (ireat  changes 
have  occurred  in  Iroc|uois  countv  since  he  took 
U])  his  abode  here  anil  ihroughout   the  yi';irs  he 


has  been  recognized  as  a  man  of  good  business 
capacity  and  unfailing  integrit}-  and  of  upright 
character  and  worth.  I\Iany  events  which  are 
to  others  matters  of  history  were  to  him  matters 
of  experience  in  the  early  days  which  constituted 
the  formative  period  in  the  history  of  the  county, 
wherein  was  laid  the  foundation  for  the  present 
prosperity  and  development  of  this  portion  of 
the  state. 


GEORGE  F.  :\nLLER. 


The  farming  interests  of  Concord  township 
find  a  worthy  representative  in  George  F.  ]\Iiller, 
who  is  successfully  cultivating  a  rich  tract  of 
land.  He  was  born  in  Cook  county,  Illinois,  in 
1865.  His  father,  Fred  Miller,  was  a  native  of 
Germany  and  came  to  America  in  1856.  making 
his  wav  westward  to  Chicago.  Ffe  worked  for 
a  time  at  Kankakee,  Illinois.  Subsequently  he 
purchased  a  farm  in  !Middleport  township,  Iro- 
quois count}-,  in  1887,  thus  becoming  the  owner 
of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  which  he  has 
greatly  improved  and  on  which  he  has  made  his 
home  during  the  past  twenty  years.  The  farm 
upon  which  his  son.  George  F.,  now  resides  was 
l)urchased  by  him  from  Fred  Potter  and  is  lo- 
cated on  section  3,  Concord  township.  Through- 
out the  greater  part  of  his  residence  in  America 
Fred  ]\Iiller  has  been  connected  with  agricultural 
l)ursuits  and  he  owes  his  success  not  to  any  in- 
herited fortune  or  any  fortunate  combination  of 
circumstances  but  to  his  own  determined  purpose, 
im faltering  will  and  unabating  energy.  His  wife 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Mary  Schroder  and  is 
also  a  native  of  Germany. 

George  F.  Miller  was  reared  in  the  parental 
home  and  at  the  usual  age  began  acquiring  his 
education  in  tlie  iniblic  schools.  He  received 
ample  training  at  farm  work  under  the  direc- 
tion of  his  father  and  during  the  past  eight 
\ears  has  operated  his  father's  farm  in  Concord 
township.  He  has  also  purchased  scvcnt\'-fivc 
acres  on  section  1 1  of  the  same  township,  and  this 
he  cultivates.  He  has  built  a  corn  crib  and 
granary  on  the  ])lace  and  his  fields  are  now  well 
tilled  and  rctm-n  to  him  generous  harvests  for  the 
eare  and  labor  he  bestows  upon  them. 


IROQUOIS  COUXTY.  IFJJXolS. 


379 


Mr.  Miller  was  married  in  Martintrjii,  in 
March,  1892,  to  Miss  Carrie  I'rauiiel.  a  native 
of  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  and  tluy  have  three 
children:  Henry.  Clara  and  Mary  Miller.  .\lr. 
Miller  is  connected  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
camp  at  Iroquois,  and  iiis  political  allej^iance  is 
given  to  the  republican  party  but  he  is  not  a 
politician  in  the  sense  of  office  seeking;,  prcfcrriuj^ 
to  concentrate  his  time  and  energies  upon  his 
business  affairs,  which  arc  no*v  being  capably 
conducted  and  arc  bringing  to  him  a  good  finan- 
cial return. 


SAMUEL   11ULL.L.\XD. 

Samuel  Hougland,  living  in  the  town  of  Shel- 
don, is  interested  in  farm  property  in  Middleport 
township  and  also  in  Benton  county,  Indiana, 
visiting  each  place  at  intervals.  His  property  is 
the  visible  indication  of  a  life  of  well  directed 
effort  crowned  with  success.  He  is  a  son  of 
Charles  and  .Susan  Hougland.  The  mother  died 
in  1846  but  the  father  lived  to  a  very  venerable 
age,  lacking  only  two  years  of  completing  a  cen- 
tury when  in  1904  he  was  called  to  his  final  rest. 
His  parents  came  to  Illinois  in  1845  from  Cos- 
hocton county.  Ohio,  where  the  birth  of  Samuel 
Hougland  had  occurred  on  tlie  1st  of  March. 
1833.  Thus  he  was  twelve  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Iroquois  county.  His  brothers  and 
sisters  were  :  John.  Isaac,  Masa,  Sarali.  Jane, 
Cynthia  and  James.  The  mother,  who  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Susan  Clarke,  died  within  a  year 
after  the  arrival  of  the  family  in  the  new  coun- 
try-. The  father  after\vard  wedded  Cynthia 
Clarke,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  Tiiere  were  three 
children  of  that  marriage.  Knclul.  Snsaii  and 
Charles. 

No  event  of  special  impurlance  occurred  to 
vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  on  tlie  frontier  for 
Samuel  Hougland  in  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He 
sliared  with  the  family  in  the  hardships  and  trials 
incident  to  a  settlement  on  the  frontier  and  be- 
came familiar  with  all  the  arduous  work  incident 
to  the  development  of  new  land.  1  le  remained  at 
home  u|)  to  the  time  of  jiis  marriage,  which  was 
celebrated  on  the  8th  of  January,  1880.  the  lady  of 
his  choice  being  Mrs.  .\da  M.  Davis.     Unto  them 


was  born  a  .son.  Samuel  C.  Hougland,  on  the  6th 
of  August,  1883,  but  legal  separation  from  his 
wife  followed  and  now  his  interest  in  life  centers 
in  the  life  of  the  son,  who  has  gone  to  the  frontier 
to  seek  his  fortune.  Mr.  Hougland  has  himself 
been  a  great  wanderer  and  would  enjoy,  were  it 
not  for  the  weight  of  his  years,  traveling  around 
the  country  with  his  son.  He  crossed  the  plains 
in  1852.  driving  an  ox  team,  and  remained  on  the 
I^cific  coast  for  nineteen  years,  after  which  he 
returned  to  Colorado,  bringing  with  him  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one  head  of  horses  and  mules. 
While  in  the  west  he  owned  several  difTerent 
ranches,  always  buying  and  selling  stock,  and  as 
time  passed  he  accumulated  a  comfortable  com- 
petency. He  is  now  living  a  life  of  ease  and  re- 
tirement made  possible  by  his  industry  in  earlier 
years. 

In  1892  Mr.  Hougland  returned  to  Iroquois 
county,  where  he  expects  to  spend  his  remaining 
days,  .\lthough  he  has  now  passed  the  zenith  of 
life  he  is  still  a  hale  and  hearty  man  with  keen 
interest  in  life.  He  greatly  enjoyed  his  own  ex- 
periences on  the  frontier  and  takes  delight  in  hear- 
ing of  those  of  his  son,  who  has  cast  his  fortunes 
in  Xew  Mexico  among  the  builders  of  an  empire 
in  the  southwest.  He  has  had  an  eventful  life 
and  his  history  if  written  in  detail  would  fill  a 
volume  and  give  an  accurate  picture  of  experi- 
ences in  the  far  west  in  pioneer  days. 


1!FXJ.\M IX    SHONEMAX. 

Henjanu'n  Shoneman.  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing and  in  threshing  in  .Xshkum  township,  came 
to  Ir(X|uois  county  from  Cicrmany  about  1856.  He 
was  born  in  that  country  and  is  the  only  meiuber 
of  his  father's  family  that  ever  came  to  the  new 
world.  Here  he  married  Maggie  Eliz.ibcth  Monk, 
a  daughter  of  Henry  Monk,  a  farmer  of  .\shkum 
and  imto  them  have  been  born  ten  children, 
namely :  Ike.  Henry,  Rena.  Stena.  Dick,  Cassie, 
.Anna,  P.ennie,  Willie  and  Jennie.  The  family 
circle  yet  remains  unbroken  by  the  hand  of  death 
and  all  of  the  children  are  still  under  the  parental 
rix>f. 

While  in  Germany  Mr.  Shoneman  heard  favor- 
able reports  concerning  business  opportunities  in 


58o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  new  world  and  he  therefore  resolved  to  try 
his  fortune  in  this  coiintr\ .  He  came  to  America 
empty-handed  hut  has  won  a  goodly  measure  of 
success  here  and  although  he  had  no  advantages 
at  the  heginning"  of  his  business  life  he  is  today 
the  owner  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land 
on  section  21,  Ashkum  township.  He  likewise 
owns  and  operates  a  threshing  machine  and  corn 
sheller,  and  is  very  busy  during  the  harvest  sea- 
son. In  his  political  views  he  is  an  independent 
democrat,  nor  is  he  a  member  of  any  church  but 
has  contributed  to  the  support  of  various 
denominations. 


ROBERT  LUMLEY.  AL  D. 

Dr.  Robert  Lumley,  the  secretary  of  the  Iro- 
quois County  Medical  Society  and  a  practitioner 
at  Watseka,  was  born  in  ilarkham,  a  suburb  of 
Toronto,  Canada.  November  21,  1870.  The 
Lumley  family  is  a  prominent  one,  connected 
with  the  English  and  Irish  peerage,  and  the 
ancestry  can  be  traced  back  to  the  time  of  the 
Norman  conquest,  the  name.  Ralph  Lumley.  be- 
ing found  on  the  roll  of  honor  at  Battle  Abbey. 
The  Irish  title  of  the  family  is  Viscount  Lumley 
and  the  English  title  is  Earl  of  Scarborough. 
George  C.  Lumley,  father  of  Dr.  Lumley,  was 
born  in  England  and  when  a  young  man  crossed 
the  Atlantic  to  New  York.  Some  time  later  he 
removed  to  Canada,  settling  at  Toronto.  He 
wedded  Isabella  AIcMackon,  a  native  of  Canada 
and  of  Scotch-Irish  ]iarentage.  George  C.  Lum- 
ley departed  this  life  in  Canada  in  1891. 

In  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  Dr. 
Lumley  acquired  his  preliminary  education  and 
passed  through  successive  grades  until  he  had 
completed  the  high-school  course.  He  afterward 
attended  St.  Thomas  Collegiate  Institute,  the 
state  iniiversity  of  Michigan  and  then  supple- 
mented his  more  specifically  literarv  education 
by  study  in  Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago, 
where  he  prei)ared  for  the  ])ractice  of  medicine 
and  surgery.  He  was  graduated  in  181^5  and 
at  once  entered  upon  active  practice  in  Chicago, 
where  he  remained  as  a  general  pr.-ictitioner  for 
three  and  a  half  years.  Subsequently  he  spent 
a  year  and  a  half  in  Augustana  Hospital  of  that 


city,  during  which  period  he  acquired  valuable 
experience  in  the  treatment  of  all  kinds  of  sur- 
gical and  medical  cases.  In  igoo  he  came  to 
Watseka,  where  he  has  since  been  located  and  is 
recognized  as  one  of  the  most  able  members  of 
the  medical  fraternity  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
He  soon  demonstrated  his  ability  to  cope  with  the 
intricate  problems  that  continually  confront  the 
plnsician  in  his  efforts  to  restore  health  and  pro- 
long life  and  the  'public  trust  is  indicated  by  the 
liberal  patronage  accorded  him.  He  has  for 
three  terms  been  secretary  of  the  \\'atseka  board 
of  health,  filling  the  position  at  the  present  time, 
and  that  he  is  accorded  prominence  by  the  med- 
ical fraternity  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  has 
been  chosen  and  is  now  secretary  of  the  Iroquois 
County  Medical  Society.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  holds  member- 
ship relations  with  the  Iroquois  Club  and  with 
different   fraternal    organizations. 

Dr.  Lumley  is  the  eldest  of  three  children,  hav- 
ing one  brother  yet  living  in  Canada,  while  his 
sister,  Miss  Isabella  M.  Lumley.  makes  her  home 
with  him  in  Watseka.  He  is  popular  and  promi- 
nent here,  both  socially  and  professionally,  and 
he  keeps  abreast  with  the  spirit  of  progress  as 
manifest  in  the  science  and  practice  of  medicine. 

Dr.  Lumlev  is  secretary  of  the  Watseka  board 
of  L'nited  States  pension  examiners,  appointed 
by  the  commission  of  pensions  of  the  department 
of  the  interior,  and  is  also  state  examiner  of  the 
blind,  appointed  by  Governor  Deneen. 


WARRLX  S.  CxOnnr.LL. 

Among  the  earnest  men  whose  depth  of  char- 
acter and  strict  adherence  to  principle  excite  the 
admiration  of  his  contemporaries  Warren  Schick 
Cioodell  is  ])rominent  and  his  name  is  a  most 
honored  one  in  financial  circles,  where  his  con- 
servatism, his  sound  judgment  and  his  enterprise 
are  widely  recognized  factors.  Banking  institu- 
tions are  the  heart  of  the  commercial  liody,  in- 
dicating the  healthfulness  of  trade,  and  the  bank 
that  follows  a  safe,  conservative  business  policy 
does  more  to  establish  public  confidence  in  times 
of  widespread  financial  depression  than  anything 


i)k.   k()i:KKT  i.r.Mi.i-:N'. 


{ 

UNIVEKSnV  Of  ILLINOIS 


IRonrolS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


^«.? 


else.  Such  a  course  has  the  hank  of  A.  <  inmlell 
&  Sons  Company  l't>lli>\vc(l  nnilcr  the  ahle  niaii- 
a.i;einent  of  its  |)rtsi(lenl.  the  siihject  nf  this  re- 
view. For  a  long  period  he  lias  been  one  of  the  ac- 
tive bnsiness  men  of  Iroqnois  connty  but  the  e.x- 
teiit  of  his  laliors  ami  their  far-reaching  influ- 
ence is  not  measured  l)y  the  boundaries  of  this 
section  of  the  state.  .\s  an  investment  banker  lie 
has  ill  a  quiet,  unostentatious  way  done  much  for 
the  development  of  this  stale  and  Indiana,  where 
the  investments  of  the  bank  are  larseiy  placed. 

Mr.  (ioodell  is  one  of  the  county's  native  sons. 
His  business  history  has  been  honored  amonfj  men 
who  are  familiar  with  his  record  from  his  earliest 
biiyhooil  and  the  fact  that  his  stancliest  frieiuls 
are  numbered  among  his  oldest  accpiaintaiices  is 
an  indicatiori  of  the  commentlablc  policy  and 
upright    course  that   he   has   always    followed. 

lie  is  a  direct  descendant  of  Robert  Cioodell. 
who  sailed  from  Ipswich.  England,  in  the  ship 
l*'lizabeth  of  I])swicli,  William  .\iidrews.  master, 
in  the  last  of  .\pril.  i'>34-  H's  age  is  given  as 
thirty,  that  of  his  wife,  Katharine,  twenty-eight, 
and  of  his  children  as  follows :  Mary,  four  years ; 
.\braham,  two  years;  Isaac,  one-half  year.  They 
had  a  child  baptized  at  Salem,  May  31,  1640: 
Jacob,  on  the  <>th  of  January,  1641  or  1642:  and 
Hannah,  .\ugust  6.  1645.  Robert  ( lootlell  had  a 
grant  of  twenty  acres  in  Salem  perhaps  as  early 
as  1636,  to  which,  on  the  21st  of  February,  I'i.^S. 
the  town  added  twenty  acres  more  in  response  to 
his  request  for  an  "enlargement."  liy  1651  he 
had  lx)uglit  of  others  enough  land  so  that  his  Ivild- 
ings  amounted  to  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
and  is  allowed  by  the  town  twenty- four  acres  of 
meadow  in  consideration  of  his  discharging  to  the 
town  a  grant  of  eleven  hundred  acres.  This  re- 
cord is  taken  from  the  Salem  iKiok  of  grants. 
Isaac  Goodell,  son  of  Robert,  was  born  in  Eng- 
land in  1633  and  died  at  Salem  in  1680.  He  was 
married  in  February.  1668.  to  Patience  Cook,  who 
afterward  became  the  wife  of  a  Mr.  Stinipson. 
They  had  seven  children,  including  John  Goodell, 
who  removed  to  VVoodstock.  Coiuiecticut,  where 
he  was  married,  NovcmlK-r  ro.  1703,  to  Eydia 
Titus,  and  in  1710  or  171 1  married  Hannah  Col- 
bum.  The  eldest  of  his  six  children  was  John 
B.  Goo<lell,  born  Noveml)er  25,  1704.  He  was 
married  in  Woodstock,  May  25,  1731.  to  Mary 
Bugbee,  and  the  next  in  line  of  direct  descent  to 


our  subject  also  liore  the  luime  of  Jojin  1$.  (;«Hid- 
cll  and  his  natal  day  was  November  25,  1733. 
]]c  was  married  in  W<>wIst«H-k  on  the  7tli  of 
December,  i~<>j;,  to  .Mary  Warner,  of  Windham, 
and  their  sixth  child  was  Warner  ( lOodell. 

Warner  t  i<Midill,  the  great-grandfather  i>f  War- 
ren Sellick  Goodell  of  this  review,  was  lK>rn  in 
1 7(18  and  <lie<l  .August  15,  i8j6,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight  vnirs.  He  w:is  a  |)reacher  of  the  gospel  in 
the  Baptist  denomination  for  eleven  years.  In 
Woodstock,  Connecticut,  in  June,  1792.  he  mar- 
rieil  Miss  Phillips  and  on  the  28th  of  April,  I70,V 
they  iKcame  [larents  of  a  daughter,  Phebe.  who 
married  Ebenezcr  Doty  aiul  removed  to  Knox- 
ville,  Illinois,  and  afterward  to  California.  Thus 
far  the  ancestral  history  of  the  family  is  taken 
from  old  records  of  Connecticut.  The  entry  con- 
cerning the  daughter  is  the  last  menlion  made  of 
Warner  Goodell  on  the  Wootlstock  records.  Fur- 
ther information  was  obtained  at  .Mentor,  Ohio. 
There  Wanier  Goo<lell  died  .August  15,  1826.  He 
removed  from  WVxxlslock  to  Cazenovia,  New 
^'ork,  where  was  liorn  another  daughter.  Sallic, 
afterward  the  wife  of  Isaac  A.  I'axter,  of  .\us- 
tinburg,  Ohio,  and  a  son,  William.  Nathan 
Phillips  (ioodell  was  liorn  November  1,  I7g7,  in 
t'azenovia.  New  N'ork.  and  died  I'ebruary  8.  1872. 
lie  married  llanu.ih  .Mead  (iriswold.  in  Mentor, 
Ohio,  June  ''>.  1820.  Warner  Goodell's  second 
wife  was  a  sister  of  his  first  wife.  His  third 
wife  was  Miss  Patty  Brown,  who  died  in  Mentor, 
Ohio,  .April  3,  1843.  at  the  age  of  sixty-one  years. 
It  is  understoo<l  that  he  had  no  children  by  either 
his  second  or  third  wife.  Nathan  Phillips  Good- 
ell, gran<lfathiT  <>f  Warren  S.  Goo<lell,  is  men- 
tioned at  more  length  in  the  history  of  Addison 
Goodell,  his  son  aiul  the  father  of  our  subject, 
on  another  page  of  this  work. 

Warren  S.  Goo<lell  acquired  a  high-school  edu- 
cation and  later  attended  the  .Albany  .Academy  at 
.Allwny,  .New  York,  in  the  years  1870  and  1880. 
He  left  school  in  1881  and  made  a  six  months' 
trip  abroad,  visiting  most  of  the  European  coun- 
tries. I'pon  his  return  home  he  pursued  a  com- 
mercial course  in  a  business  college  and  then  en- 
tered the  employ  of  his  father,  .Addison  Goo<Iell, 
in  1882.  He  w^s  unable  to  complete  a  course  in 
college,  partly  owing  to  ill  health  but  more  par- 
ticularly on  account  of  the  fact  that  he  was 
needed  in  the  business  bv  his  father,  who  felt  that 


584 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


the  son  should  assume  some  of  the  responsibiht}- 
of  a  business  that  was  developing  rapidly  and  re- 
quired close  personal  attention  owing  to  the  trying 
financial  crisis  that  came  in  the  '80s.  Entering 
the  bank  which  was  established  by  his  father  in 
1855,  Warren  Sellick  Goodell  has  since  been 
closely  associated  with  the  business  and  after  six 
years  spent  as  an  employe  in  the  institution,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  thoroughly  mastered  the  busi- 
ness in  every  department  and  gained  a  syste- 
matic and  accurate  knowledge  of  banking,  he  was 
admitted  to  a  partnership  under  the  firm  style  of 
A.  Goodell  &  Son.  On  the  ist  of  October,  1898. 
the  present  firm  of  A.  Goodell  &  Sons  Company 
was  formed  by  the  admission  of  Nathan  P.  Good- 
ell and  Frank  F.  Butzow.  Warren  S.  Goodell 
has  served  successively  as  bookkeeper,  cashier  and 
president  and  at  this  writing,  in  the  winter  of 
1906-7,  is  at  the  head  of  the  firm  of  A.  Goodell 
&  Sons  Company,  which  has  the  largest  capital 
and  surplus  of  any  bank  or  financial  institution 
of  the  county  and  controls  an  investment  of  three 
million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars  on  farm 
lands  in  addition  to  its  regular  banking  business, 
with  deposits  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
dollars.  The  firm  has  breasted  all  of  the  financial 
storms  of  the  last  half  century  without  the  loss 
of  a  dollar  to  a  depositor  and  enjoys  the  full  con- 
fidence of  the  public  in  its  financial  liability  and 
fairness  of  dealing  with  customers.  In  the  year 
1897  Loda  received  the  most  severe  financial  blow 
in  its  history  in  the  failure  of  John  S.  .Sheldon, 
.Sheldon's  private  bank,  which  resulted  in  the  as- 
signment of  a  number  of  business  men  who  had 
conducted  their  banking  business  with  him.  The 
bank  of  A.  Goodell  &  Sons  Company  passed 
through  the  trying  times  following  the  failure 
without  a,sking  depositors  to  wait  a  mumen.t  for 
their  money  and  not  a  customer  of  the  bank  failed. 
The  capital  of  the  bank  at  this  time  is  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars  with  a  surplus  of  twenty 
thousand  dollars  and  a  business  of  a  million  dol- 
lars annually  transacted  in  central  Illinois  and  In- 
diana, and  represents  four  hundred  private  in- 
vestors scattered  over  the  United  States.  As  in- 
vestment bankers  the  firm  has  become  most  widely 
known  and  in  all  of  its  business  relations  sustains 
an  unassailable  integrity  as  well  as  a  splendid  re- 
putation for  the  stability  and  correctness  of  its 
methods. 


Air.  Goodell  was  married  at  Boston,  Massa- 
chusetts, to  Miss  Lucy  W.  Wendland,  who  was 
born  in  Marietta,  Ohio,  but  after  the  Civil  war 
the  family  removed  to  Helena,  Arkansas.  She 
had  several  brothers  wdio  were  soldiers  of  the 
Union  army.  Going  to  Boston  to  study  music, 
Aliss  \\'endland  was  there  married  on  the  26th 
of  June,  1888,  in  Trinity  church  by  Bishop  Phil- 
lips Brooks.  Their  children  are  Helen  Elizabeth. 
Addison,  \\'arren  Franklin  and  Phillips  Wend- 
land. 

Mr.  Goodell  is  a  member  of  the  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution,  identified  with  the  chapter 
in  Chicago,  and  belongs  to  the  Congregational 
church.  His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
republican  party.  He  cast  his  first  presidential 
vote  for  James  G.  Blaine  and  is  usually  in  sym- 
pathy with  the  principles  for  which  the  Maine 
statesman  stood  yet  does  not  consider  himself 
bound  absolutely  by  party  ties.  He  has  never 
sought  or  held  ofiice  save  in  the  village  where  he 
makes  his  home  but  is  deeply  interested  in  secur- 
ing men  devoted  to  the  best  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple for  public  office  and  is  a  member  of  the  county 
republican  central  committee.  Business  interests 
have  largely  absorbed  his  time  to  the  exclusion 
of  outside  work  and  yet  no  movement  for  the 
public  good  fails  to  receive  his  endorsement  and 
co-operation.  His  life  has  been  characterized  by 
extreme  industry  and  by  close  application  to  the 
imporant  business  interests  of  the  banking  house 
of  which  he  is  now  the  head.  This  business,  es- 
tablished in  1855,  is  almost  unique  in  its  success 
and  in  the  extent  and  importance  of  its  opera- 
tions outside  of  regular  banking-  lines.  The  firm 
furnished  private  money  to  farmers  to  improve 
tlieir  lands  at  the  lowest  rates  of  interest  for 
which  capital  could  be  secured  for  that  purpose. 
Very  few  foreclosures  of  mortgages  have  been 
made  by  the  firm  and  these  only  when  absolutely 
no  other  course  was  open  to  the  company  to  pro- 
tect its  customers'  interests.  In  this  way  the  busi- 
ness has  been  conducted  not  only  with  profit  to 
the  members  of  the  company  l.iut  with  great  bene- 
fit to  the  farming  community  in  Illinois  and  in 
Indiana,  and  in  the  more  direct  lines  of  banking 
the  enterprise  is  one  of  great  importance  to  Loda 
and  the  surrounding  locality.  In  all  of  his  under- 
takings Mr.  Goodell  has  displayed  an  aptitude  for 
successful   management,  a  keen  penetration  into 


I 


I   >i 


» 


*■! 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


585 


Inisiness  coiulitic>ns  and  a  ready  understanding  of 
jjossibilities,  together  with  a  power  of  co-ordinat- 
ing forces  that  has  produced  strong  results  and 
made  his  business  a  power  in  financial  circles  in 
Illinois. 


X.    \\   (;OODELL. 


Well  qualified  by  educational  anil  ijreliniinary 
training  for  important  service  in  business  circles, 
jN'athan  P.  Goodell  has  made  good  use  of  his  tal- 
ents and  his  opportunities  and  gained  for  himself 
a  place  among  tlic  representative  and  valued  res- 
idents of  Iroquois  county.  He  is  vice  president 
and  attorney  for  the  well  known  banking  firm 
conducting  business  under  the  style  of  A.  Good- 
ell &  Sons  Comi)any  at  Loda,  an  institution  which 
has  had  marked  eft'ect  on  the  business  life  of  this 
locality. 

.\  native  son  of  the  county,  Mr.  Goodell  was 
born  in  Loda,  May  9,  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  A. 
Gooflell.  who  is  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. He  was  reared  in  the  place  of  his  nativity 
and  at  the  usual  age  entered  the  public  schools. 
passing  through  successive  grades  until,  having 
mastered  the  course,  he  entered  Graylock  Insti- 
tute, a  prci)aratory  school  for  Williams  College. 
in  iS8_'.  There  be  pursued  a  two  years'  pre- 
paratory course  and  in  1884  matriculated  in  the 
state  university  at  Urljana,  where  he  continued 
his  studies  for  four  years,  being  graduated  in  the 
■class  of  1888  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Lit- 
erature. .\fter  completing  that  cour.se  he  went 
to  Chicago,  where  he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Cratty  Brothers  &  Ashcraft,  under  whose  direc- 
tion he  pursued  his  law  studies,  also  taking  a 
night  course  in  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial 
College,  .'\fter  a  year  spent  in  Chicago  he  went 
to  Paxton  and  became  a  student  in  the  law  office 
of  Judge  John  H.  Moffatt.  who  directed  his  read- 
ing for  a  \ear.  and  on  the  iQth  of  November, 
1891,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  after  success- 
fully passing  an  examination  before  the  supreme 
court  at   Mount   \'ernon. 

Thus  well  fiualificd  for  the  onerous  and  respon- 
sible duties  of  a  business  career,  Nathan  P.  Good- 
ell returned  home  to  accept  a  salaried  position  in 
his  father's  bank.  He  was  thus  employed  for 
34 


seven  years,  during  which  time  he  a])plied  himself 
closely  to  the  mastery  of  the  banking  business  in 
principle  and  detail,  and  in  1898  he  was  given  an 
interest  in  the  business,  at  which  time  the  firm 
style  was  changed  to  A.  Goodell  &  Sons  Company. 
.Nathan  1'.  (rtxjdell  devotes  his  time  and'  energies 
to  the  banking  business  and  is  vice  president  and 
attorney  for  the  company,  which  conducts  not 
only  an  extensive  banking  business  but  also  has  a 
large  fann  loan  department,  in  which 
connection  Mr.  Goodell  Icwks  up  the  titles 
of  real  estate  for  parties  and  negotiates 
loans.  The  operations  of  the  loan  de- 
jiartment  cover  much  of  Illinois  and  Indiana, 
where  they  have  placed  loans  to  the  amount  of 
three  million  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and 
in  a  period  of  fourteen  years  they  have  never  lost 
a  cent  for  themselves  or  for  an  investor.  Mr. 
Goodell  examining  the  title  for  most  of  the  loans 
before  placed.  In  connection  with  his  brother, 
Warren  S..  Mr.  Goodell  purchased  and  now  con- 
ducts the  Loda  brick  and  tile  factory,  of  which 
he  is  manager.  In  this  has  been  installed  modern 
and  improved  machinery  and  the  plant  is  first  class 
in  every  ])articular.  They  use  a  superior  clay  and 
their  output  of  brick  and  tile  is  of  the  highest 
possible  quality. 

.Mr.  Goodell  was  married  in  Paxton,  March  6, 
i.S(;4,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Gray,  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Judge  Moffatt.  of  Paxton.  She  was  born  in  Loda 
but  was  reared  in  Paxton,  and  by  her  marriage 
has  become  the  mother  of  two  children  :  Martha 
Jane  and  Frances  Warren,  two  bright  and  at- 
tractive little  girls. 

Mr.  Goodcll's  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the 
republican  party  and  he  is  much  interested  in 
local  i^olitics.  desiring  honesty  in  public  office  and 
efficiency  in  public  service.  Tiie  cause  of  educa- 
tion finds  in  him  a  stalwart  friend  and  he  has 
lx;en  especially  helpful  in  his  support  of  the  Loda 
])ublic  schools,  having  for  six  years  served  as  sec- 
retary of  the  school  board.  Loda  maintains  a 
school  unsurpassed  by  any  in  the  state,  and  Mr. 
(ioodell  has  also  been  secretary  of  the  Loda  lec- 
ture course  for  the  past  five  years,  where  a  lec- 
ture course  is  maintained  during  the  winter 
months  and  many  eminent  speakers  are  thus  an- 
nually heard  in  the  town.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  A.  Herr  Smith  library  :ui<l  its  vice 
|)resident.  and  he  and  his  wife  hold  membership 


586 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


in  the  Congregational  church.  He  is  a  gentle- 
man in  whom  learning  and  culture  have  vied  in 
making  an  interesting  and  honorable  gentleman 
and  his  life  has  at  all  times  commanded  the  re- 
spect of  his  fellowmen.  In  business  he  has  not 
relied  alone  upon  the  influence  or  financial  ability 
of  his  father  to  give  him  a  start  but  has  worked 
his  way  upward  through  individual  merit  and  may 
properly  claim  recognition  as  a  citizen  of  energy 
and  industry,  whose  salient  traits  of  character 
have  been  such  as  to  gain  him  leadership  and 
splendid  success  in  business  life  and  have  also 
made  him  a  potent  influence  over  public  thought 
and  action.  His  efforts  in  behalf  of  advancing 
the  intellectual  progress  of  the  community  have 
been  particularly  helpful  and  Loda  owes  much  to 
his  public  spirit. 


C.  PETER  CHRISTENSOX. 

C.  Peter  Christenson,  of  Sheldon,  who  for  over 
thirtv  years  has  been  connected  in  various  ways 
with  business  interests  as  a  stock-buyer  and 
ship]:ier.  a  farmer  and  butcher,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, }ilay  5.  1847.  'i"fl  the  schools  of  the  father- 
land provided  him  with  his  educational  privileges.. 
He  remained  in  that  country  until  twenty  \'ears 
of  age,  when  the  hope  of  bettering  his  financial 
condition  led  him  to  seek  a  home  in  the  new 
world  and  in  1867  he  crossed  the  Atlantic,  taking 
up  his  abode  in  Chatsworth,  Illinois,  where  he 
worked  at  farm  labor  for  a  year  and  a  half. 
He  was  afterward  employed  at  the  butcher's 
trade  and  later  conducted  a  shop  there  for  a  time 
prior  to  his  removal  to  Sheldcjn.  On  coming 
here  he  opened  a  butcher  shop  and  soon  after 
began  buying  stock,  in  which  line  he  has  con- 
tinued for  twenty-eight  \ears,  being  the  only 
shipper  at  this  point.  Pie  sold  his  market  in 
1906  but  still  continues  as  a  stock-buyer  and 
shipper  and  is  also  the  owner  of  a  valuable  farm- 
ing property,  having  invested  in  two  hunch-cfl 
acres  of  good  land  in  Iroquois  county  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-eight  acres  in  Indiana.  He 
owns  the  building  in  which  he  C(Miducts  his 
meat  market  and  also  a  fine  home  in  Sheldon, 
where  he  resides  and  which  is  located  on  one 
of  the  best  corners  of  the  town   near  the  busi- 


ness section.  His  property  is  the  visible  evi- 
dence of  his  life  of  well  directed  thrift  and  labor, 
for  he  started  out  for  himself  empty-handed  and 
by  judicious  use  of  his  opportunities  and  his 
business  enterprise  and  foresight  he  has  become 
one   of  the   substantial   residents   of  the  county. 

Mr.  Christenson  was  married  to  ^liss  Cath- 
erine Hickleman,  of  Chatsworth.  Illinois,  and 
they  have  two  sons.  George  and  Charles  H. 
The  latter  is  a  graduate  of  the  Purdue  L'niver- 
sitv,  where  he  was  a  student  for  four  years.  In 
11J04  the  brothers  bought  out  the  Independent 
telephone  and  later  the  Hell  telephone  and  artg 
now  controlling  the  entire  telephone  business  in 
-Sheldon. 

Both  Air.  and  IMrs.  Christenson  are  faithful 
members  of  the  Alethodist  EjMscopal  church  and 
Air.  Cliristenson  and  his  son  Charles  affiliate  with 
Sheldon  lodge,  Xo.  6oy.  .\.  F.  &  A.  M.,  while 
he  is  likewise  connected  with  Sheldon  lodge. 
Xo.  349,  I.  O.  O.  F.  Plis  political  allegiance 
is  given  to  the  democracy  and  he  is  now  serving 
as  a  member  of  the  drainage  commission  of  Iro- 
quois coimty.  For  six  years  he  has  been  on  the 
school  board  and  in  office  and  out  of  it  has  done 
effective  service  for  the  public  welfare,  while  in 
his  business  life  he  has  made  that  steady  prog- 
ress which  is  indicative  of  ability,  resolution  and 
of  strong  purpose.  He  is  a  man  of  marked  in- 
dividuality of  character  and  is  one  whose  example 
is  well  worthy  of  emulation,  showing  as  it  does 
what  may  be  accomplished  in  the  business  world 
by  }T)ung  men  who  liave  to  start  out  empty- 
handed. 


HOUGARDY  BROTHERS. 

The  finn  of  Hougardy  Brothers  of  Clifton  is 
composed  of  Theophile  and  Eugene  Hougardy. 
sons  of  Joseph  and  Victoria  (Morreau)  Hou- 
gardy, who  came  from  Belgium  to  the  I'nited 
States  in  1856,  locating  near  Clifton,  afterward 
purchasing  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land 
on  section  2.  Upon  this  farm  the  family  were 
reared. 

Tlieophile  Hougardy  was  born  in  Brobant 
county.  Belgium,  September  27.  1849,  ^"^  ^^'^^ 
therefore  onlv   about   seven   vears  of  age    when 


MR.  AM)  MRS.  C.  P.  CHRISTKXSON. 


uNWtHsn^'oMUiNOis 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


389 


Ijroiight  by  his  parents  to  the  L'liited  States.  His 
educational  privileges  were  limited  but  in  the 
school  of  experience  he  has  learned  many  valu- 
able lessons,  fjaining  a  good  knowledge  of  prac- 
tical business  methods.  He  is  now  associated  with 
his  brother,  Eugene  Hougardy.  in  farming  inter- 
ests. The  old  home  farm  of  the  father.  c<3mpris- 
ing  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section  2, 
Gielianse  township,  is  now  owncil  and  operated 
by  the  sons  and  in  connection  with  this  they  also 
culivate  eighty  acres  of  land  adjoining  the  estate. 
They  arc  men  of  good  business  ability,  watchful 
(if  opportunities  pointing  to  success,  and  show 
keen  discernment  and  unfaltering  energy  in  their 
management  of  their  interests.  On  the  i8th  nf 
August,  H)a6.  Tlie<ii)liile  Hougardy  embarked 
from  N^ew  York  city  for  Relgium  and  while 
abroad  visited  all  the  ])rinci])al  cities  of  that  coun- 
try and  visited  relatives  and  the  friends  of  his 
early  boyhood  days.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Catholic  church  and  a  communicant  in  Clifton 
parish. 

Eugene  Hougardy.  the  juninr  partner  of  the 
(imi,  was  born  in  this  county,  .March  H).  i86j. 
and  having  arrived  at  years  of  maturity  was  mar- 
ried to  Lconie  Looze,  at  Chebansc,  October  15, 
1S89.  They  have  three  children,  Mabel  .\.,  Jo- 
.seph  E..  and  N'ester  H..  all  still  under  the  parental 
roof. 

In  bis  political  views  Mr.  Hougardy  is  inde- 
pendeiU.  He  belongs  to  Park  N'illage  camp,  \o. 
J599,  M.  W.  .\..  of  Clifton,  and  is  well  known  in 
the  town  and  throughout  the  surrounding  coun- 
try. The  brolliers  are  recognized  as  representative 
citizens,  who  while  promoting  their  individual  in- 
terests likewise  contribute  to  general  progress  and 
improvement  through  the  co-operation  which  they 
give  to  many  measures  for  the  public  good. 


WILLIAM    IIEXKY   SHA.V.VOX. 

W  illi;uii  Henry  Shamion.  who  is  eng;iged  in 
buying,  selling  and  shipping  live  stock  at  Martin- 
ton  and  is  also  a  dealer  in  farm  implenieiUs.  is 
one  of  the  worthy  citizens  of  Iro<|uois  county  that 
Canada  has  furnished  to  this  country.  .Many 
there  are  who,  born  across  the  border,  have  sought 
liomes  in  the  United  .'states  to  enjoy  the  advan- 


tages of  its  livelier  competitimi  an<l  advancement 
mt>re  (piickly  stcurcd. 

.Mr.  .'^hann<ln  was  Ixirn  in  (  intariD,  Caii.ida, 
.May  ^o.  1844.  His  father,  William  Shannon, 
was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  this  country 
at  an  early  ilay.  settling  in  Canada,  where  he  re- 
mained until  1856.  when  he  came  with  his  family 
to  Illinois,  settling  in  Papineau  township.  He 
purchased  one  lumdred  and  twenty  acres  of  land 
which  at  that  time  was  entirely  unimjjrovcd.  but 
he  at  once  turned  the  virgin  soil  and  cidtivatcd 
the  lields,  continuing  the  work  of  imi)rovenK-nt  in 
every  way  luitil  he  had  developed  a  splendid  farm 
property.  Thereon  he  madq  his  home  until  about 
1886.  when  he  removed  to  Pittwood,  where  he 
spent  his  subse(|uent  years.  i)assing  away  in  i8<)0. 

William  11.  Shannon  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  until  iSr>8  and  then  stiirted  out  in  life  on 
his  own  account,  being  at  that  time  a  young  man 
of  twenty-four  years.  He  had  been  reared  to  the 
occn|iation  of  farming  and,  thinking  to  make  that 
pursuit  his  life  work,  he  ]iurchased  one  hmidred 
and  si.xty  acres  r>f  land  in  Pajjineau  township, 
which  was  partially  imjjroveil.  I'pon  this  i^lace 
he  lived  and  followed  farming  and  stock-raising^ 
until  1887.  when  he  removed  to  a  farm  on  section 
7.  .Middleport  township,  that  he  had  previously 
purchased.  He  has  tiletl,  fenced  an<l  improved 
this  property,  and  he  resided  thereon  until  about 
ten  years  ago,  when  he  Ix night  a  lot  and  built  a 
home  in  Martinton.  where  he  has  since  lived. 
Here  he  has  engaged  in  buying,  selling  and  ship- 
ping stock  and  Is  one  of  the  well  known  live  stock 
dealers  of  the  county,  doing  a  large  and  profitable 
Inisiness.  He  has  also  been  in  the  farm  im])lement 
business,  whereby  his  material  resources  have 
]Kcn  greatly  increased. 

Mr.  .'^hannon  was  married  on  the  11th  of 
March,  1868,  in  Papineau  township,  to  Miss  Sarah 
E.  Jones,  who  was  born  in  that  township  in  1851 
and  is  a  flaughter  of  Henry  Jones,  whose  birth 
occurred  in  Meigs  county.  Ohio,  January  17. 
181 1.  He  married  .Sarah  Hester,  and  with  their 
.son,  William  ."^eth.  they  left  their  old  home  in 
Ohio  on  the  23d  of  March,  1835,  3"''  proceeded 
by  boat  down  the  Ohio  river  to  the  Wabash  river, 
after  which  they  forced  their  boat  nj)  that  stream 
to  the  ferry  and  crossed  to  \'ermilion  county, 
where  they  remained  until  the  following  year. 
.\t  that  time  they  came  to  the  Iroquois  river  in 


590 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Iroquois  county  and  located  on  section  34,  Pap- 
ineau  township,  where  Mr.  Jones  built  a  log  cabin 
and  made  his  home.  He  was  the  first  permanent 
settler  in  Papineau  township  and  as  such  deserves 
honorable  mention  in.  this  volume.  In  1847  ^^^ 
hauled  lumber  for  a  house  from  Chicago  to  Iro- 
quois county  and  was  closely  and  honorably  as- 
sociated with  the  material  development  and  up- 
building of  this  portion  of  the  state.  He  died 
Alarch  4,  1859.  Unto  I\Ir.  and  Mrs.  Shannon 
have  been  born  six  children :  ^Mrs.  Alay  White, 
John,  George,  IMrs.  Mina  Jane  Ash,  Arthur  and 
Maud. 

j\lr.  Shannon  holds  membership  with  the  Mod- 
ern Woodmen  and  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  His  political  allegiance  is  given 
to  the  democracy  and  he  served  as  constable  from 
Martinton  township.  Toward  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war,  although  he  had  not  yet  attained  his 
majority,  he  became  a  member  of  Company  D, 
One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Illinois  Infantrv  serv- 
ing from  February,  1865,  until  the  close  of  hostili- 
ties. He  has  always  been  a  loyal,  patriotic  and 
public-spirited  citizen  and  his  residence  in  the 
county  covers  more  than  a  half  century,  during 
which  time  he  has  been  an  interested  witness  of 
the  changes  that  have  occurred  as  the  county  has 
emerged  from  pioneer  conditions  and  taken  on 
all  the  evidences  of  an  advanced  and  progressive 
civilization. 


CHARLES   H.    MIXER. 

Charles  H.  ]\Iincr.  who  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  on  section 
13.  Onarga  township,  was  born  in  Cook  county. 
Illinois.  April  28,  1865.  His  father,  Forbes  FI. 
IMincr.  was  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  Oneida 
county  in  1810.  There  he  was  reared  and  in  early 
life  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
When  a  young  man  he  came  westward  to  this 
state  and  was  identified  with  Iniilding  operations 
in  Chicago,  assisting  in  building  some  of  the  first 
dwellings  of  that  city.  He  was  twice  married  and 
had  children  l)y  both  marriages.  There  were  four 
children  by  the  first  wife.  For  his  second  wife 
he  chose  Miss  Nasezee  Scho(|uettc,  a  Frencii 
lady,  whom  he  wedded  in  Chicago.  In  i8r)4  he 
came  to  Iroquois  county,  locating  on  a  farm,  and 


eventually  he  was  the  owner  of  thirteen  hundred 
acres  of  land,  owing  to  his  careful  investment. 
He  tilled  the  soil  and  continued  the  work  of  im- 
provement, being  long  recognized  as  one  of  the 
able  and  representative  agriculturists  of  this  part 
of  the  state.  His  death  occurred  here  on  New 
Year's  day  of  1893  and  he  is  yet  survived  by 
his  second  wife,  who  now   resides   in   Watseka. 

Charles  H.  ^liner  is  one  of  a  family  of  four 
sons  and  two  daughters  yet  living  of  the  father's 
second  marriage.  He  had  good  school  advan- 
tages, supplementing  his  early  education  by  study 
in  Northern  Indiana  Normal  College  at  Valpa- 
raiso, Indiana,  where  he  spent  five  years.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  senior  class  when  he  left  college 
to  join  his  father  on  the  farm,  since  which  time 
he  has  been  closely  and  actively  associated  with 
agricultural  interests  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He 
farmed  his  father's  land  for  three  or  four  years 
and  then  located  on  the  place  where  he  now  re- 
sides, beginning  here  with  one  hundred  and  five 
acres.  He  worked  diligently  and  persistently  to 
make  his  farm  a  profitable  one  and  as  his  labors 
brought  to  him  a  good  financial  return  he  bought 
more  land  from  time  to  time  and  now  owns  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres,  in  the  midst  of  which 
he  has  erected  a  comfortable  and  well  arranged 
residence.  In  the  rear  thereof  stand  good  barns 
and  outbuildings  and  he  has  placed  many  rods  of 
tiling  on  the  farm,  the  drainage  greatly  enhancing 
its  fertility.  He  has  also  built  fences  and  thus 
divided  the  farm  into  fields  of  convenient  size. 
He  has  likewise  set  out  much  fruit  and  now  has 
a  neat  and  valuable  property.  FIc  uses  the  latest 
improved  machinery  in  carrying  on  the  work  of 
tile  fields  and  he  also  has  upon  his  place  stock 
scales,  a  windmill  and  a  mill  foj-  grinding  feed 
for  stock.  He  is  thoroughly  in  touch  with  the 
spirit  of  progress  and  enterprise  which  have  dom- 
inated agricultural  circles  througli  the  jiast  quar- 
ter of  a  century  or  more  and  which  have  com- 
pletely rcvolutioui/.ed  the  work  of  the  agricul- 
turist. 

'Mv.  Miner  was  married  in  Onarga,  October  17. 
1897.  lo  Miss  Isabella  Heddon.  wlio  \vas  born, 
reared  and  educated  in  Crawford  county,  Indiana. 
Tlircc  children  have  graced  this  union :  Gladys. 
F.tliel  L.  and  ilnmer.  I'olilically  Mr.  INIiner  has 
been  a  life-long  republican  and  he  is  also  an  ad- 
vocate of  the  jirinciples  of  prohibition,  support- 


IR()QL-(1IS  COUNTV.  ILLINOIS. 


?'^> 


ma  the  cause  of  tcmin-rance  IxHli  In  piivoi)!  ami 
ixamplc.  He  is  a  stockliolikr  in  the  I'anners 
Klcvatx>r  Companv.  of  which  he  lias  l)cen  presi- 
dent for  several  years,  and  he  is  also  a  sur\evor 
of  pood  ability,  w  ho  has  helped  make  surveys  and 
establish  many  of  the  drainage  ditches  of  the 
county.  Ill  this  work  he  lias  become  widely 
known  and  his  labors  have  been  of  the  utmost 
benefit  to  his  fellowmen,  while  in  his  individual 
farming  interests  he  has  displa\ed  a  capacity  for 
successful  management  that  has  made  him  one  of 
the  ])rospcrous  agriculturists  of  Onarga  township. 


CH.XRLES  EASTnrRV. 

Charles  Eastburn  is  extensively  and  sncces.-"- 
Inlly  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising.  In 
the  latter  connection  ho  is  particularly  well  known 
as  a  breeder  and  raiser  of  I'erchcron  and  coach 
horses,  having  produced  uprm  his  place  some  of 
the  finest  horses  to  be  found  in  this  part  of  Il- 
linois. He  is.  moreover,  entitled  to  rei)resenta- 
tion  not  only  as  a  successful  business  man  but 
also  as  a  prominent  representative  of  a  worthy 
I)ionccr  family  of  the  county,  for  the  name  of 
Mastburn  has  long  hetii  closely  and  honurably 
associated  with  the  history  of  this  part  "f  ''"■ 
state. 

Mr.  Eastburn  was  horn  February  12.  1X50.  in 
Sheldon  township,  a  son  of  William  Lloyd  I'ast- 
bnrn.  now  of  W'atseka,  who  was  Iwrn  Eebruary 
22.  183^).  in  Concord  township,  being  the  first 
white  child  born  in  Iroquois  county.  The  oUl 
homestead  farm  was  on  section  31,  Sheldon  town- 
ship. The  paternal  grandfather  of  our  sni>ject 
came  in  early  ]jioneer  days  to  Illinois  and  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  si.xty  acres  of  land  in 
Concord  township  at  the  usual  government  price 
of  a  dollar  and  a  nuarter  i)er  acre.  William  Lloyd 
Eastburn  was  reared  amid  pioneer  scenes  and  en- 
vironments, sharing  with  the  family  in  all  the 
hardships  ami  trials  inci<lent  to  a  settlement  upon 
the  frontier.  He  al.so  aided  in  perfoniiing  the 
difficult  task  of  breaking  raw  land  and  convert- 
ing it  into  rich  and  productive  fields.  After  ar- 
riving at  years  of  maturity  he  wedded  Massa 
lloagland,  of  (.'oslKxrton,  ( )hio.  who  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  and  has  proved  a  most 


valuable  hei|)niate  and  companion  to  her  Inisband 
Oil  life's  journev,  Ix-in^c  a  kiiul  and  loving  wife 
and  devoted  mother,  in  his  business  affairs  Mr. 
I-'astburn  has  prospered,  owing  his  success  en- 
tirely to  his  well  directed  lalxjrs  an<l  sound  busi- 
ness judgment.  He  ma_\  truly  be  called  a  seK- 
made  iiuin,  deserving  all  of  the  praise  which  that 
term  implies.  He  is  today  the  owner  of  si.x  hun- 
dred an<l  eighty  acres  of  very  valuable  land  and 
his  life  record  should  serve  as  a  source  of  ins|)ira- 
tion  and  encouragement  t(j  others,  showing  what 
may  Ix;  accomplished  by  determined,  persistent 
and  honorable  effort.  He  belongs  to  the  I'nited 
llnthren  church  and  has  been  a  stalwart  ailvocate 
of  democracy  since  casting  his  first  presidential 
vole  for  James  nuchai.an.  For  several  \ears  he 
hlleil  the  office  of  school  director.  Unto  him  and 
his  wife  were  born  ten  children:  Charles,  Josqih, 
James,  Minnie,  i-'lla.  .Maggie,  Ccorge,  Cynthia. 
I'arker  and  Susie,  but  the  last  named  died  at  the 
age  of  si.x  months. 

t"harles  Eastburn  remained  at  home  with  his 
parents  through  the  pi.-iiod  of  his  minority,  was 
educated  in  the  jiublic  schools,  and  on  reaching 
ailiilt  age  began  farming  on  the  place  where  he 
now  lives  on  section  .">,  Sheldon  townshij).  He 
rents  this  farm  from  his  father — a  tract  of  land 
of  al)out  five  hundred  acres — and  in  1902  he  pur- 
chased ninety-five  acres  from  I'rank  Kyiians  and 
forty  acres  fmm  Peter  Christenson  on  section  7, 
.'^lieldon  township.  He  has  ])laced  about  five  hun- 
dred dollars"  worth  of  tile  on  his  fami  and  in  con- 
nection with  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  he  is  ex- 
tensively and  successi'ully  engaged  in  breeding 
and  raising  fine  stock,  making  a  specialty  of  coach 
and  I'ercheron  horses,  having  from  fifty  to  sev- 
enty head  upon  his  place.  He  breeds  and  raises 
these  and  also  buys  and  sells  .some.  Mr.  Ea.st- 
bnrn  has  the  honor  of  having  sold  the  highest 
priceil  team  which  ever  left  this  county,  the  pur- 
chasers lx.'ing  .Mandel  Hiothers,  the  well  known 
merchants  of  Chicago.  He  also  won  first  prize 
at  the  Louisiana  Purchase  Expf>sitioii  in  St.  Louis 
in  n;o4  on  a  carriage  t<am.  which  team  he  now 
has.  It  is  a  fine  matcheil  team  of  .seven  vear  olds. 
.Mr.  Ivasfburn  is  an  excellent  judge  of  horses, 
being  .seldom,  if  ever,  at  fault  in  his  valuation  of 
any  specimen  of  llic  noble  steed,  and  he  is  justly 
accounted  one  of  the  |)romincnt  stock  breeders 
and  ilealors  of  this  part  of  the  state. 


592 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Air.  Eastburn  was  married  February  14,  1877, 
in  Concord-  township,  to  Miss  Parthenia  McKim- 
son,  who  was  born  in  Laporte  county,  Indiana,  in 
1856.  Her  father,  James  ilcKimson,  was  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  became  a  resident  of  Concord  town- 
ship. Iroquois  county,  at  an  early  day,  following 
general  agricultural  pursuits  here.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Martha  Barnett,  was 
born  in  Ohio.  Mr.  and  I\Irs.  Eastburn  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  fom  children :  George  Bur- 
ton, A.  ]\Ierle,  Mrs.  Cloa  Bowton  and  Charles 
Homer. 

I\Ir.  Eastburn  exercises  his  right  of  franchise 
in  support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  re- 
publican party  and  has  been  called  to  some  local 
offices,  serving  for  eleven  years  as  road  commis- 
sioner and  for  several  years  as  school  director. 
He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  to  the 
Modern  Woodmen  cainp  and  is  popular  with  his 
brethren  of  these  organizations,  for  in  his  life  he 
exemplifies  the  spirit  of  the  fraternities.  The 
name  of  Eastburn  has  been  closely  associated 
with  the  agricultural  development  of  this  countv 
throughout  the  entire  period  of  its  growth  and  im- 
provement and  Charles  Eastburn,  like  others  of 
the  family,  has  made  a  creditable  record  bv  his 
activity,  enterprise,  integrity  and  success  in  his 
chosen  field  of  labor. 


\\"II.LIA.\1   A.  WF.FKS. 

The  history  of  a  community  is  JK'st  told  in  the 
lives  of  its  people  and  those  wlio  reflect  hnnor 
and  dignity  ujion  the  locality,  town  or  citv,  arc 
tlic  men  who  are  active  and  honorable  in  business 
and  will  I  upJKilfl  the  legal  and  political  status. 
Such  a  one  was  William  A.  Weeks,  who  for 
some  tnne  was  a  merchant  at  Sheldon.  lie  was 
born  at  [.ockjiort,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New 
York,  .\pril  17,  1836,  and  in  his  boyhood  days 
was  taken  by  his  parents  to  the  western  part  of 
New  York,  the  family  home  Ix-ing  established 
near  Holly.  When  he  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
he  became  a  resident  of  Monticello,  White  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  where  his  father  resided  until  his 
deatli  and  where  William  A.  Weeks  remained 
until   1870. 


In  the  meantime,  on  the  6th  of  January,  1856, 
Mr.  Weeks  was  united  in  marriage  at  M»nti- 
cello,  to  Miss  Anna  Eliza  Moore,  who  was  born 
in  IMorgan  county,  Ohio,  on  the  Muskingum 
river.  The  young  couple  began  their  domestic 
life  upon  a  farm  in  the  Hoosier  state  and  in 
connection  with  agricultural  pursuits  !Mr.  Weeks 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  in  Monticello 
for  a  part  of  the  time  during  the  fourteen  vears 
which  followed  his  marriage.  In  1870  he  re- 
moved to  Goodland,  Indiana,  where  he  conducted 
an  elevator  for  six  months.  The  month  of 
March.  1871,  witnessed  his  arrival  in  Sheldon, 
where  he  established  a  grocery  and  provision 
business.  Later  he  dealt  in  dry  goods  and  gro- 
ceries and  admitted  Richard  Walsh  into  the 
partnership,  this  relation  being  maintained  until 
his  deatli,  when  his  widow  bought  out  the  inter- 
est of  Mr.  Walsh.  She  and  her  sons  conducted 
the  business  until  the  death  of  one  of  the  sons, 
subsequent  to  which  ]\Irs.  Weeks  sold  out.  Her 
husband  had  departed  this  life  .April  28,  1888. 

He  was  one  of  the  most  thorough-going  busi- 
ness men,  systematic  and  methodical  in  all  that 
he  did,  enterprising  and  active  in  the  conduct  of 
his  business  and  reliable  and  honorable  in  all  of 
his  dealings.  He  became  recognized  as  a  leading 
merchant  in  Sheldon,  carrying  a  large  stock  of 
hardware,  furniture,  groceries,  dry  goods,  cloth- 
ing and  other  commodities,  increasing  his  stock 
as  the  growing  trade  demanded.  When  he  came 
to  Sheldon  his  cajiital  amounted  to  about  one 
thousand  dollars  and  when  he  died  he  was  worth 
between  twenty  and  thirty  thousand  dollars. 
The  estate  has  since  increased  in  value  until  now 
it  is  worth  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  ?ilr. 
Weeks  deserved  much  credit  for  what  he  accom- 
plished as  he  won  his  ])rosperit\',  not  through 
speculation  or  through  am-  fortunate  combina- 
tion of  circumstances,  but  as  a  result  of  close 
ap])lication  and  imfaltering  industry. 

I'nto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weeks  were  l)oru  three 
children,  but  Paschal  B.  Weeks,  of  Sheldon,  who 
is  represented  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  is  the  only 
one  now  living.  .Mention  is  also  made  on  an- 
other page  of  this  work  of  another  son,  George 
A.  Weeks.  The  father,  William  A.  Weeks,  was 
a  stalwart  republican  in  his  political  allegiance 
and  his  aid  and  co-operation  could  always  be 
counted  upon  to  further  any  cause  that  ]iromised 


u^  ill; 


*u,„ 


m 


-MRS.    A.    E.    WEEKS. 


I 


\\i  I.I.I  AM  .\.  \\i-:kks. 


l!^' 


'lis 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


^')7 


to  i)ri)Vf  of  public  vaiiK'.  Ik-  was  li<>ii(>rc<l  ami 
rcs[H.'ctC(l  wIktcvit  known  ami  ni<jsl  of  all  where 
Ik-si  known.  Mrs.  Weeks  is  a  nienilKT  of  tlie 
Methodist  Lpiscopal  church.  She  still  resides 
in  Sheldon  and  is  a  most  pleasant,  enlertaiiiinjj 
lady,  havinj;  a  nice  home  which  stands  in  the 
midst  of  a  larj^e  and  well-kept  lawn.  .She  also 
has  other  really  in  the  town  and  from  her  prop- 
erty interests  derives  a  good  income. 


the  nutlluT.  conducted  the  husiness  in  the  name 
of  .Mrs.  Weeks  and  were  very  successful  in  this 
enterprise  u|»  to  the  time  of  the  death  of  (Jcorgc. 
The  motlur  then  cl>)scd  out  the  husiness  and  is 
now  giving  her  time  to  settling  uj)  accounts  of 
long  standing.  I-'or  fifty-five  years  Mrs.  Weeks 
has  iK'en  a  <levoted  member  of  the  Metlvxlist 
church,  and  her  life  has  Ix-en  in  harnwny  with 
her  professions.  She  has  Ix-en  a  sincere,  earnest 
Christian  woman,  and  wherever  known  is 
esteemed. 


MRS.  .\x\.\    LLi/A  wi:i:ks. 


The  history  of  Sheldon  would  be  incomplete 
without  s|)ecial  reference  to  Mrs.  .\nna  Lli/;i 
(Moore)  Weeks.  I^or  some  years  she  was  her 
husband's  assistant  in  carrying  on  a  mercantile 
enterprise,  while  after  his  death,  she  and  her  sons 
took  charge  of  the  business  which  was  carried  on 
under  her  own  name,  .^he  is.  moreover,  well 
known  socially  in  the  city  and  her  many  good 
(|ualities  have  won  for  her  a  large  circle  of 
friends. 

Mrs.  Weeks  was  Ixjrn  in  McConnellsville, 
Ohio.  May  ly,  1837.  Her  father.  James  .Moore. 
was  born  at  Royalston.  Massachusetts,  while  her 
mother,  Mrs.  Marie  (Lui)ardes)  M«iore.  was  a 
native  of  Marietta,  Ohio.  l!oth  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  church  and  Mr.  Moore  was  a 
stalwart  republican  in  politics.  Throughout  bis 
life  he  followed  the  occupation  of  farming. 

Mrs.  Weeks  was  educated  in  eastern  ( )hio,  ac- 
quainting herself  with  the  common  branches 
lit  llnglish  learning.  At  the  age  of  si.xteen  she 
accompanied  her  parents  on  their  removal  from 
the  Huckeve  state  to  Monlicello.  Indiana,  and 
after  comjdeting  her  education  there,  began 
teaching  in  the  district  schools.  \\'hen  nineteen 
years  of  age  she  married  and  made  it  her  duty 
and  object  in  life  to  make  a  hap|)y  home  for 
her  husband  and  children  and  to  rear  her  sons 
to  Ik-  gocKl  men.  This  object  she  accom])lisbed 
and  it  may  well  be  sai<I  of  her  "Her  children  rise 
up  and  call  her  blessed."  When  her  husband  em- 
barked in  merchan<lising  in  Sheldon,  Illinois,  she 
became  his  assistant  in  the  store,  giving  her  time 
and  energies  to  the  business  and  contributing  in 
large  measure  to  its  success.  After  her  husband's 
•  leath  her  sons.  I'.isch.d  :ind  Geon.'!-.  Ii.i'iiIut  uilb 


F.   C.    LAKi:. 

I*".  C.  Lake  is  a  resident  fanner  of  Chebanse 
townshij),  cultivating  one  himdred  ami  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  15.  known  as  the  William  S. 
I^ke  homestead.  Here  he  carries  on  general  ag- 
rictdtural  pursuits,  although  the  principal  feature 
of  his  business  is  sheep-raising,  in  which  connec- 
tion he  has  iK-conie  very  widely  known. 

His  father,  William  S.  Lake,  who  retired  from 
active  business  life  in  \?*)T,  and  removed  to  Kan- 
kakee, was  for  a  long  jieriod  a  prosperous  farmer 
of  lr«K|uois  coimty  and  in  addition  to  his  agri- 
cidtural  interests  here  he  likewise  owns  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Kankakee  county 
and  one  huiulred  and  forty  acres  in  the  county 
northwest  of  Kankakee,  one  himdred  and  si.xtv 
acres  in  Chelnnse  township,  IrtKiuois  county,  to- 
gether with  eighty  acres  near  Ironton,  Minnesota, 
and  three  dwellings  in  the  city  of  Kankakee 
valued  at  from  three  to  five  thousand  dollars  each. 
His  exten.'ive  realty  holdings  have  come  to  him 
as  a  reward  of  earnest,  persistent  labtir.  He 
startetl  out  empty-lianded  and  as  the  architect  of 
his  own  fortunes  has  builded  wi.sely  and  well. 

F.  C.  Lake  was  Ik  mi  in  Marshall  county,  Illi- 
n<iis.  July  4,  i8<'»8,  and  ac(iuired  a  common-school 
e<lucation  in  his  youth.  Throughout  his  entire 
life  he  h.is  followcil  fanning,  having  been  reared 
to  that  occupation.  He  early  became  familar  with 
the  work  of  plowing,  planting  and  harvesting, 
and  as  the  years  have  gone  by  he  has  concen- 
trated his  energies  more  and  more  largely  on 
sheep-raising.  He  is  the  most  e-vtensive  sheep- 
raiser  of  Chebanse  township  and  in  the  month 
of  OctoluT,   hk/I    be  sli;;,|i,-,I  In  Clucago  eiglitv- 


598 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


six  head  of  sheep,  fifty  per  cent  of  which  topped 
the  market.  He  keeps  oiil\-  high  grade  sheep  and 
his  opinions  upon  the  subject  of  sheep-raising  are 
largely  regarded  as  authority. 

In  1895  ^^^-  Lake  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Alta  'M.  Sirois,  at  St.  Anne.  Illinois,  and 
they  now  have  two  children.  Donald  C.  antl  Lee 
\'erne,  both  at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Lake  is 
a  republican,  keeping  well  informed  on  the  ques- 
tions and  issues  of  the  day  and  having  hearty 
sympathy  with  the  principles  of  the  party.  He  is 
a  member  of  Modern  Woodmen  camp,  Xo.  994, 
at  Chebanse.  and  is  also  affliated  with  the  Sons  of 
A'eterans  there.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  ^Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Che- 
banse. At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  brought 
his  bride  to  the  old  homestead  farm,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  Both  are  well  known  in  the  cuunt_\- 
and  the  hospitality  of  many  of  the  best  homes  is 
freely  accorded  them,  while  their  friends  are  al- 
ways sure  to  receive  a  cordial  welcome  at  the 
Lake  home. 


C.    E.    BARl'.ER. 


C.  E.  Barber,  of  Donovan,  who  since  1882 
has  been  engaged  in  the  sale  of  Deering  farm 
machinery  and  since  1896  has  also  dealt  in  bug- 
gies, carriages  and  harness,  was  born  in  the  state 
of  New  York  ni  August,  1843.  He  has  lived  in 
Iroquois  county  since  1861.  in  which  year  lie 
was  brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents.  His 
father,  David  C.  Barber,  was  born  in  JMassachu- 
setts  and  came  to  Indiana  in  1856.  There  he  lived 
for  about  five  years,  after  w-hich  he  removed  to 
Iroquois  county  and  in  Beaver  township  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  land  in  the  raw  state. 
He  made  this  his  home  until  1866.  when  ho  re- 
moved to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  alter  two 
years  there  he  went  to  Missouri.  He  was  mar- 
ried in  early  manhood  to  Miss  Louisa  Schumway, 
a  native  of  \''ermont,  and  they  became  the  parents 
of  six  children. 

C.  !'"..  I'liirljcr  was  a  ynuth  of  eigjiteen  vears 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval to  Iroquois  county.  During  the  dark  davs 
of  the  Civil  war  he  entered  the  army,  serving  fn  >ni 
Februarv,  1862,  until  Mav,  iSri;.  When  his  f;illur 


left  for  Knox  county  he  purchased  from  him  the 
farm,  comprising  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
34,  Beaver  township.  This  he  further  improved 
and  developed.  His  father  had  built  a  small 
house  and  Mr.  ISarber  but  up  a  barn,  corn  crib 
and  sheds.  He  has  laid  tiling  to  the  value  of  two 
thousand  dollars  and  paid  one  thousand  dollars 
in  ditch  taxes.  He  was  actively  and  successfully 
engaged  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  until  De- 
cember, 1874,  when  he  removed  to  Donovan, 
renting  the  farm.  Plere  he  began  oper- 
ating a  threshing  machine  and  corn  sheller 
and  was  thus  engaged  until  about  1888. 
In  the  meantime  he  gradually  worked  into 
commercial  interests.  Since  the  year  1882  he 
has  sold  Deering  machinery,  plows  and  cultiva- 
tors, etc.  In  1896  he  purchased  from  Tomquist 
&  Swanson  a  one-story  building,  twenty  b\-  fifty 
feet,  and  a  stock  of  buggies,  harness,  whips,  robes, 
machine  oil,  etc.  He  has  since  carried  on  the 
Ijusiness  with  excellent  success  and  he  also 
liaiidles  gasoline  engines  and  grain  dumps.  His 
business  has  constantly  increased  with  the  growth 
of  the  communit}-  and  he  now  receives  a  very 
liberal  share  of  the  public  patronage. 

In  1866  ]\Ir.  Barber  was  united  in  marriage, 
in  Beaver  township,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Perrigo, 
a  daughter  of  .\rtemns  C.  Perrigo  and  a  native 
of  Marion  conr.ty,  Ohio.  They  liecame  the  par- 
ents" of  three  children  but  only  one  is  now  living 
— Mrs.  Myrtle  \\'inslow.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  in  April,  1894,  and  her  loss  was  a  matter  of 
deep  regret  to  her  many  friends,  for  her  excellent 
traits  of  heart  and  mind  had  endeared  her  to  those 
who  knew  her.  Mr.  llarbcr  had  liuilt  a  home  in 
Donovan  in  1874  and  has  since  rebuilt  and  added 
to  the  same,  making  it  a  comfortable  modern  re- 
sidence. His  daughter,  Mvrtlc,  was  married  in 
January,  1902,  to  William  Winslow,  who  was 
Imrn  in  Beaver  township,  January  25,  1879.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  lived  at 
home  with  his  parents  until  four  years  ago.  when 
he  began  farming  on  his  father-in-law's  farm  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  since  which  time 
he  has  carried  on  general  agricultural  pursuits 
and  stock-raising,  making  a  specialty  of  short- 
horn cattle  and  Percheron  horses.  He  has  in- 
stalled a  gasoline  engine  on  the  place,  with  which 
he  operates  a  corn  elevator  and  washing-  machine, 
ptnnps  water  and  does  the  churning.     His  politi- 


IROOl'OIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


59«J 


cal  allegiance  is  given  to  the  uiuiu;il;iii  i>;irty 
and  his  fraternal  relations  are  with  the  .M.ilirn 
Wooilnieii.  L"iUo  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Winslow  has 
been  born  a  daughter,   \"era. 

Mr.  liarber  is  also  a  stanch  advocate  of  repub- 
lican ])rincii)les.  havinif  supported  the  |)arly  since 
attaining  his  majority.  He  has  been  called  to 
various  positions  of  public  Irusi,  serving  as  jrs- 
tice  of  the  peace  for  eight  years,  as  collector  fovr 
terms,  as  assessor  two  years  and  as  school  di- 
rector. He  has  givcit  cnpable  strvice  in  these 
various  offices  and  his  worth  as  a  man.  as  a  citi- 
zen and  as  ;i  factor  !n  business  life  are  widely 
acknowledged. 


HI  CO   XACH(;0. 


lingo  Zachgii.  a  prominml  representative  of 
the  farming  interests  of  .\slikum  township,  has 
•ne  hundred  and  sixlv  acres  of  land  on  section 
>J  and  the  farm  is  well  improved.  He  is.  ninre- 
'Ver,  prominent!)'  known  as  a  stock  breeder  and 
lias  some  higli  grade  animals  on  his  place.  .\ 
native  of  Illinois,  he  was  born  in  Wood  fi  ml  coun- 
ty in  1869  and  is  a  son  of  I'rederick  and  Maria 
(Jacobs)  Zachgo.  The-r  fjimily  numbired  eleven 
children:  .\ntpne.  Xicholas.  .\braliam.  Marion. 
Hugo,  Maria.  Catherine,  Louise.  I'red.  ArnoM 
and  Jeanette. 

Hugo  Zachgo  spent  the  fir-t  six  years  of  bis 
life  in  the  county  of  his  nativity,  after  which  be 
accompanied  his  parents  on  their  removal  to  Iro- 
quois county,  the  family  home  being  established 
in  Danforth  township  ir  1875.  He  has  since  lived 
in  this  county.  .\t  the  usual  age  he  iR-gan  his 
(viucation  in  the  ]>ublic  schools  and  therein 
gained  a  good  practical  knowledge  of  the  com- 
mon branches  of  learning.  His  training  at  farm 
labor  was  not  meager,  for  at  an  early  age  he 
began  assisting  in  the  work  of  the  ficlils  and 
when  he  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account 
he  bad  intimate  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
best  metho<Is  of  farming.  .\s  stated,  be  owns  a 
quarter  section  of  land  in  .\shkum  township,  con- 
stituting a  well  improved  fann,  and  he  also  has 
a  house  and  three  lots  in  the  village  of  Asbknm. 
He  is  likewise  sole  owner  of  Kruger.  No.  48.270. 
a  thoroughbred  Percheron  stallion,  valuetl  at  eigh- 


teen Inmclred  dollars.  He  also  owns  three  colts, 
two.  three  and  four  yetirs  old  respectively,  sircl 
b\  Kruger,  whose  aggregtite  value  will  reach  six 
hundred  dollars.  He  keeps  his  horse  for  breed- 
ing purposes  and  has  bred  some  of  the  fine  stock 
of  the  county.  I  le  has  a  tine  apiary  of  sixty rfivc 
stands  ami  now  tievotes  considerable  attention  to 
his  bees,  securing  al)otit  three  thoiis.-iniI  pounds 
of  honey  in  f/yCu 

(  )n  the  ,J4th  of  I-'ebruarx.  iiSy5.  Mr.  /achgo 
was  tmited  in  n.arriage  to  .Miss  Katie  Urockmann, 
a  daughter  of  K.  H.  Iirockniann,  a  prominent 
fanmr  of  Danforth  toAHshi]>.  They  have  become 
tl'.e  i)areiits  of  three  children  :  I'rederick  Edwanl, 
born  May  11,  i8ij6:  Jeanette  Tracy,  December  3, 
i8<>8;  and  Le.ster  Charles,  June  14,  1901.  The 
wife  and  mother  died  .May  J2.  1903,  and  her 
death  was  deeply  regretted  by  many  friends 
thronghoiit  the  eomnnmity. 

Mr.  Zachgo  supports  the  republican  party  and 
is  a  member  of  the  (jeniian  Lutheran  church  at 
Danforth.  His  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  Il- 
linois and  the  greater  part  f>f  it  in  Iroquois  county, 
(mil  tlte  fad  that  many  of  his  stanchest  frien<ls 
art  those  who  have  known  him  fnjm  his  boy- 
b.o.iil  to  the  i)resent  time  is  an  indication  of  an 
honorable,  upright  career. 


ZoK All    K.    I'ATRICK.    M.    D. 

Dr.  Zor.di  I".  Patrick,  for  fourteen  years  a 
practictiomr  in  .Sheldon,  was  lx)rn  October  18. 
1830,  in  Washington,  Illinois,  his  i)arents  being 
I-'li  and  Mary  .\.  Patrick,  the  former  a  farmer 
by  occnu'ition.  His  eariy  education  was  acquired 
in  the  public  schools  of  Washington  an<l  his  more 
sjK'cifically  literary  course  in  ICureka  College. 
He  prepare<l  for  the  practice  of  medicine  and  sur- 
gery as  a  stuilent  in  Rush  .Mediad  College  in 
Chicago,  froiu  which  he  was  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1872.  and  later  he  took  more  advanced 
work  in  Ilellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  of 
which  he  is  a  graduate  of  the  class  of  1877. 
After  winning  his  degree  he  practiced  for  four 
years  at  Plainfield.  Illinois,  and  then  took  an 
Kuropean  triji,  after  which  he  liecame  a  student 
at  IVIlevuc.  Locating  in  Sheldon  in  the  spring  of 
1877,  he  was  an  able  representative  of  the  pro- 


6oo 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


fession  there  until  i8yi.  when  on  account  of  ill- 
ness he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  has  since  abandoned  the  practice  of 
medicine  and  devotes  his  time  to  other  pursuits. 
On  the  24th  of  May,  1877,  Dr.  Patrick  was 
married  to  Carrie  H.  Danforth,  of  Washington, 
Illinois. 


JUDGE  CHARLES  O.  CLEA\'ER. 

Judge  Charles  O.  Cleaver  is  a  resident  of  Mil- 
ford  and  is  influential  in  its  public  life  and  com- 
munity interests.  He  is  now  serving  for  the  six- 
teenth consecutive  year  as  police  magistrate  and 
his  public  record  hasi  been  at  all  times  commend- 
able. A  half  century  has  come  and  gone  since  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  county,  so  that  his  mem- 
ory compasses  the  period  of  early  pioneer  devel- 
opment as  well  as  of  later  day  progress.  He  was 
born  near  Lafayette.  Indiana,  October  10,  1835, 
and  was  there  reared,  whiJe  his  elementar}-  edu- 
cation, acquired  in  the  coiumon  schools,  was  sup- 
plemented by  study  in  the  higher  schools.  His 
father,  Charles  Cleaver,  was  a  native  of  Balti- 
more, ^Maryland,  and  was  there  reared  and  mar- 
ried. He  wedded  .Anna  Aladden,  also  a  native 
of  Baltimore,  and,  removing  to  the  west,  they 
located  in  Indiana,  where  i\Ir.  Cleaver  departed 
this  life  in  1842,  while  his  wife  died  about  1839. 

Thus  Charles  C).  Cleaver  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  early  age  of  seven  years.  After  his  father's 
death  he  went  to  live  with  a  bachelor  uncle,  Mah- 
lon  Cleaver,  and  his  sister,  Lydia  Cleaver,  by 
whom  he  was  reared  to  farm  life.  The  public 
schools  afforded  him  his  educational  privileges  and 
he  was  trained  to  all  the  duties  and  labors  that 
fall  to  the  lot  of  an  agriculturist.  .After  attaining 
his  majority  he  came  to  Milford,  Illinois,  and  ac- 
cepted a  clerkship  in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  C. 
Secrest,  with  whom  he  remained  for  two  years. 

On  the  17th  of  October.  1858,  Mr.  Cleaver  was 
imited  in  marriage  to  Aliss  Charlotta  Davis,  the 
third  daughter  of  Jonathjin  and  El'zabeth  (  lirit- 
ton)  Davis.  In  i860  the\'  returned  to  Indiana,  the 
removal  being  made  that  Mr.  Cleaver  might  take 
charge  of  his  uncle's  farming  interests.  He  car- 
ried on  the  farm  until  November  7.  1861,  when 
he  enlisted  and  joined  the  TetUh  Indiana  Ilatterv 


of  Light  Artillery.  He  went  south  with  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Pittsburg  Landing.  luka,  Perryville, 
-Stone  River,  Chattanooga,  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Missionary  Ridge.  Later  he  was  on  a  gunboat 
that  patrolled  the  Tennessee  river  from  Bridge- 
port, Alabama,  to  Alussel  Shoals,  Tennessee.  Be- 
coming ill,  he  was  in  the  hospital  and  later  he  did 
hospital  service.  He  was  on  detached  duty  in  the 
medical  department  for  some  time  but  later  re- 
joined his  regiment  at  Bridgeport.  Once  during 
the  service  he  was  granted  a  furlough  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1864,  made  a  visit  to  his  home.  Through- 
out the  time  he  spent  at  the  front  he  was  wounded 
but  once  and  then  only  slightly.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  and  honorably  discharged  in  Indianapo- 
lis. January  10,  1865,  and  with  a  creditable  mili- 
tary record  returned  to  his  home,  for  he  had 
been  most  loyal  to  the  cause  he  espoused, 

iMr,  Cleaver  for  some  years  after  the  war  was 
in  Milford  and  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the 
drug  store  of  Dr.  Ira  Brown.  Again  he  went 
to  Ind'ana  to  take  charge  of  his  uncle's  business, 
remaining  there  until  the  death  of  his  uncle,  but 
he  had  strong  attachment  for  Milford  and  in  Xo- 
vember,  1889,  returned.  For  a  year  thereafter 
he  was  engaged  in  the  conduct  of  a  restaurant 
and  was  then  elected  to  the  office  of  police  magis- 
trate, in  which  position  he  has  been  continued  by 
re-election  for  si.xteen  consecutive  years.  No 
h'tjher  testimonial  of  his  capability  and  fidelity 
could  be  given  than  the  fact  that  he  has  so  often 
been  re-elected  for  the  office.  He  served  as  post- 
master of  Milford  prior  to  the  war  for  two  years 
and  then  resigned  on  removing  to  Indiana.  Subse- 
([uenl  to  the  war  he  again  filled  the  position  for 
two  years,  being  appointed  to  serve  out  an  unex- 
pired tcTm.  He  was  likewise  postmaster  at  Col- 
l)urn.  Indiana,  for  four  years,  was  justice  of  the 
peace  in  that  state  and  notary  ]niblic.  He  is  also 
notary  iniblic  in  Milford.  His  official  record  is 
one  over  which  there  falls  no  shadow  of  wrong 
or  suspicion  of  evil.  He  has  manifested  honesty 
in  pulilic  office  and  efficiency  in  public  service. 

I'nto  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Cleaver  have  been  born 
fotu-  children  who  are  yet  living:  Ernest,  who  is 
is  married  and  resides  in  Milford  ;  .Vrchibald,  who 
is  married  and  makes  his  home  in  Orange  county, 
California:  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Chicago ;  and  Barton  R,,  who  is 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


6ot 


a  resident  of  .\!ilfi>r<l.  Tliey  also  lost  three  cliil- 
ilreii.  of  whuni  Mlla  died  in  1862,  at  the  age  of 
tliree  years.  Winifred  was  married  in  Indiana  to 
A.  P.  Cialey  and  died  at  their  home  at  1  tattle- 
ground,  Indiana.  February  27.  ii^)S.  leavinj;  two 
sons  and  two  daughters.  The  daughters,  Ruth 
and  Xaomi,  reside  with  their  grandparents,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cleaver,  while  dtxidwin  Galey  is  with 
his  uncle  in  California  and  Raymond  is  living 
with  a  family  near  I'.attleground. 

.Mr.  Cleaver  has  always  voted  with  the  democ- 
racy on  national  issues.  He  is  a  Master  Mason 
and  cha])lain  of  the  lodge,  having  joined  the  order 
at  Mil  ford  in  1S57.  being  one  of  the  two  surviv- 
ing members  of  the  lodge  at  that  time.  He  be- 
l<ings  to  Wnnum  ])ost,  Xo.  471.  G.  A.  R.,  of 
which  lie  is  the  present  commander,  and  he  has 
ser\ed  in  that  office  several  terms.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern 
Star  and  he  is  now  worthy  patron  of  Gold  chap- 
ter. Xo.  56,  and  his  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Woman's  Relief  Corps.  In  days  of  peace  as  in 
days  of  war,  Judge  Cleaver  is  loyal  and  patriotic, 
manifesting  the  same  fidelity  to  the  old  flag  that 
he  displayed  when  on  battle-fields  of  the  south. 
His  justice  and  impartiality  in  office  have  "won 
him  golden  opinions  from  all  sorts  of  people"  and 
he  is  widely  known  as  a  man  of  tried  integrity 
and  worth. 


EDWARD  1:.  WEP.STER. 

Edward  K.  Webster,  who  is  cultivating  a  good 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 33  and  34,  Concord  township,  was  born  in 
this  townshij).  September  5.  1874.  His  father. 
John  Webster,  a  native  of  England,  was  born 
Xovember  n.  1827.  and  is  a  s<in  of  William  and 
.\nna  CSmitlD  Webster.  The  mother  died  wlien 
he  was  a  lad  of  only  twelve  years  an<l  he  was 
left  an  orphan  by  his  father's  death  when  a  youth 
of  fourteen.  Reared  to  manluiod  in  his  native 
country  he  determined  to  seek  a  home  in  the 
new  world,  believing  that  he  would  have  better 
business  opportunities  on  this  side  the  Atlantic, 
and  when  twenty-three  years  of  age  he  crf)ssed 
the  briny  deep.  It  was  in  1850  that  he  bade 
goodby  to  friends  and  native  country  and  sailed 


with  his  brother  for  the  new  world.  They  located 
in  Clark  county,  Ohio,  where  both  secured  work 
as  farm  hands.  John  Webster  has  made  his  home 
in  Iroquois  county  for  half  a  century  and  in  the 
spring  of  1857  built  a  little  log  cabin  which  is 
still  standing  and  is  one  of  the  few  landmarks  of 
pioneer  days  that  yet  remain.  He  matie  further 
preparations  for  having  a  home  of  his  own  by 
his  marriage  in  the  spring  of  1858  to  Miss  Jane 
,\.  Hill,  of  Clark  county,  Ohio,  and  the  young 
couple  l>egan  their  domestic  life  in  the  little  cabin 
which  he  had  prepared.  Mr.  Webster  concentrat- 
ing his  time  and  energies  u])nn  the  task  of  cidti- 
vating  and  improving  his  farm.  Three  children 
were  born  unto  them,  of  whom  two  sons  are  liv- 
ing. Hoth  are  married  and  reside  in  Concord 
township.  The  wife  and  mother  died  in  the  fall 
of  1865  and  in  1867  John  Webster  was  again 
married,  his  second  union  being  with  Miss  Emily 
.Murrav.  who  was  Ixirn  in  Concord  township. 
September  30.  1840.  There  were  twelve  chil- 
dren by  this  union,  of  whom  eight  still  survive, 
namely:  .Anna  E..  Sarah  J.,  Minnie  F..  Clara  M.. 
Ora  E.,  John  S.,  Edward  E..  Mary  M.,  Ida  P.. 
Margaret  G..  Emma  IT.  and  Letta  E. 

John  \\'ebster  prospered  in  life  and  becanie  the 
owner  of  a  valuable  farm  of  three  hundred  and 
seventy-two  acres  on  section  33.  Conciird  town- 
ship. The  greater  part  of  this  was  brought  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation  and  the  place  is 
improved  with  good  buildings,  well  ke])t  fences 
and  other  modern  equipments.  He  laid  consid- 
erable tile  and  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  rep- 
resentative and  successful  farmers  and  stock- 
raisers,  for  in  his  pastures  were  found  good 
grades  of  stock  and  his  annual  .sale  of  farm  ani- 
mals added  not  a  little  to  his  income.  His  first 
presidential  vote  was  cast  for  John  C.  Fremont 
in  185^)  and  during  the  greater  part  of  the  time 
he  supported  the  republican  party  but  twice  voted 
for  Grovcr  Clevelaiul.  He  served  as  school  di- 
rector for  twelve  consecutive  years  and  then  after 
an  interval  for  six  years  more.  He  held  mcm- 
lH>rshiii  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  ch\irch  at 
.'^heldon,  of  which  his  wife  is  also  a  member.  He 
died  March  4.  1904,  and  is  still  survived  by  his 
wife. 

Edward  E.  \\"ebster  always  live<l  at  home  and 
the  educational  privileges  which  he  enjoyed  were 
those   afforded   bv    the   district    schrxils.     When 


6o2 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


twenty-two  years  of  age  he  began  farming  on 
his  father's  land  and  during  the  past  two  years 
has  been  cultivating  two  hundred  and  twenty-two 
acres  of  land.  He  has  made  substantial  improve- 
ments on  the  place  and  keeps  everything  about 
the  farm  in  excellent  condition.  He  is  thoroughly 
practical  and  at  the  same  time  progressive  in  his 
methods  and  his  labors  are  liringing  to  him  a 
merited  success.  He  owns  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  on  sections  2,3  a"fl  34-  t-"on- 
cord  township,  all  of  which  is  improved,  and  he 
makes  a  specialty  of  raising  Poland  China  hogs. 
In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  \\'ebster  is  a  Knight 
of  Pythias,  while  his  political  support  is  given 
to  the  republican  party.  He  represents  one  of 
the  old  pioneer  families  of  the  county,  the  name 
of  \\'ebster  having  long  figured  honorably  in 
connection  with  the  agricultural  development  of 
this  section  of  the  state. 


ISAAC  TIK  )MAS. 


The  residence  of  Isaac  Thomas  in  Iroquois 
countv  covers  more  than  seven  decades,  dm'ing 
wliicli  time  he  has  witnessed  many  changes  as 
the  work  of  progress  and  advancement  has  been 
carried  forward  in  the  line  of  agricultural,  in- 
dustrial and  commercial  development.  l\lr. 
Thomas  was  born  near  Newmarket,  N'irginia, 
September  lo,  1S26,  a  son  of  Marcus  AT.  and 
Nancy  (Strickler)  Thomas,  buth  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  Old  Dominion,  the  former  born 
March  18.  1705.  aufl  the  latter  November  4.  iSoo. 
Their  marriage  was  celebrated  in  iSiO,  after 
which  thev  remained  in  tlieir  native  state  until 
the  year  1834,  when,  with  a  ])arty  of  friends, 
they  made  their  way  by  wagon  to  Frankfort. 
Indiana,  this  being  at  that  time  considered  the 
far  west.  The  father  there  ])lanted  and  harvested 
one  crop,  and  in  1835  continued  his  journey  to 
Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  where  he  purchased 
four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  Concord  town- 
ship, of  which  but  ten  acres  had  been  cleared. 
He  broke  and  cultivated  the  1;uid.  making  all  the 
improvements  which  were  placed  thereon.  He 
built  a  hewed  log  house,  which  was  sui)i)lie(l 
with  glass  for  windows,  this  being  considered 
quite    modern    for   that    day.      P>oth    he    and    his 


wife  worked  diligently  and  energetically  in  the 
establishment  of  their  home  on  the  frontier,  and 
while  he  managed  his  farming  interests  his  wife 
carefulh-  looked  after  her  household  duties,  in 
addition  to  which  she  spun  tlax  which  she  wove 
into  cloth  from  which  to  make  garments  for 
the  family.  They,  however,  were  not  permitted 
to  long  enjoy  their  new  home,  for  the  mother 
passed  away  October  9.  1838,  while  the  father 
survived  her  only  a  short  period,  his  death  oc- 
curring Augi.ist  25,  1840. 

Isaac  Thomas  was  reared  in  his  native  state 
to  the  age  of  eight  years,  when  he  accom])anied 
his  parents  on  their  removals  to  Indiana  and 
Illinois,  acquiring  the  greater  part  of  his  educa- 
tion in  the  latter  state.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  they  were  called  from  this  life. 
being  a  little  lad  of  twelve  years  at  the  time  of 
his  mother's  death,  and  he  was  left  an  orphan  at 
the  age  of  fourteen.  In  early  life  he  entered 
one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  government  land 
in  Beaver  township,  but  never  resided  thereon 
and  finally  traded  with  his  brother  for  his  present 
farm.  He  continued  to  live  on  the  old  homestead 
imtil  1870.  when  he  removed  to  his  own  farm 
in  P>eaver  township.  This  was  all  wild  prairie 
lanrl  when  it  came  into  his  possession  but  with 
ox  teams  and  a  twenty-two-inch  plow  he  began 
the  work  of  breaking  the  land  and  cultivating  the 
fields.  He  laid  many  rods  of  tiling,  built  fences, 
set  out  trees  and  erected  a  house  and  outbuild- 
ings. As  time  passed  and  his  financial  resources 
increased  he  made  more  modern  and  substantial 
im])rovements,  in  1895  replacing  his  first  homo 
by  a  large  ten-room  residence,  which  is  supplied 
w  itli  all  the  conveniences  and  accessories  for  the 
comfort  of  the  inmates.  In  1886  he  built  a  fine 
barn  thirtv-four  by  forty  feet,  and  all  of  the 
improvements  which  are  here  seen  have  been 
])laced  by  the  present  owner.  I  le  has  always 
followed  farming  antl  in  addition  to  those  inter- 
ests he  al.so  raises  shorthorn  cattle,  lie  now 
owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land. 

Mr.  'I'homas  has  been  three  times  married. 
His  first  union  was  with  Fannie  Kinney,  their 
marriage  being  celebrated  on  JieaNer  creek  in 
1866.  She  was  born  in  Illinois  and  died  in  1870. 
This  marriage  was  blessed  with  two  children: 
Pernard,  deceased ;  and  Mrs.  Cora  Smart.  In 
1872  Mr.  Thomas  was  married  a  second  time  in 


MK.    AND    MRS.    ISAAC   Tllo.MAS. 


•JNIVERSI 


U; 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


O05 


Newton  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Sarali  Ella 
Buswell,  who  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  her 
death  occurred  in  1881.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  were:  Ira  and  Mary  I-".,  deceased; 
George  M.,  at  home;  Mrs.  Blanch  Sanders;  and 
May,  who  is  with  her  father.  I"or  his  third  wife 
.Mr.  Thomas  chose  Mrs.  Fannie  (P.oyd)  I'eebles, 
a  widow  of  James  Peebles,  their  marriage  being 
celebrated  in  M.Trtinton,  Jnne  jo,  i8S,V  ^^'h-'  W'Is 
born  in  Martin  county.  Indiana,  and  when  nine 
years  of  age  accompanicil  her  parents  on  their 
removal  to  \'ermili(in  count v,  this  state.  She 
was  married  in  Georgetown,  that  county,  in  1853, 
to  William  Hubbanl  and  in  1857  came  to  Iro- 
quois couiUy,  where  he  dietl  in  1861. 

Mr.  TlKjmas  has  always  been  a  strong  advo- 
cate of  democracy,  and  he  holds  meml)ership 
relations  with  the  Christian  church.  Me  is  now 
eighty  years  of  age  but  is  still  carrying  on  agri- 
cultural interests,  being  assisted  by  his  son, 
George  M.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  in  Heaver  township,  on  which 
he  located  thirty-six  years  ago,  and  this  has  con- 
tinued to  be  his  place  of  residence  since  that  time. 
He  is  well  kown  not  only  in  his  own  locality  but 
throughout  the  county  and  is  highly  esteemed  In- 
all  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  having  won 
the  confidence  and  good  will  of  all  by  reason  of 
the  reliable  and  straightforward  methods  he  has 
ever   followed   in   trade   transactions. 


JOHN  .\.  FLEMING. 

John  A.  Fleming,  whose  activity,  consecutive 
and  well  directed,  has  been  the  si-cret  of  a  desir- 
able success,  now  owns  three  himdred  and  twenty 
acres  of  land  on  .section  21.  Chebanse  township. 
It  is  a  valuable  ])roi)erty  equii>i)ed  with  good  nuxl- 
ern  improvements,  a  substantial  two-story  resi- 
dence standing  in  the  midst  of  a  well-kept  lawn, 
while  in  the  rear  arc  gofKl  barns,  sheds  and  cribs. 
The  land  is  well  drained  by  the  judicious  use 
of  tile  and  well  kept  fences  apportion  it  into 
fields  of  convenient  size.  Everything  about  the 
place  presents  an  air  of  neatness  and  thrift  and 
Mr.  Flenn'ng  is  justly  accoimtcd  one  of  the  rej)- 
resentative  agriculturists  of  the  comnnmity. 


A  native  of  Cook  county,  Illinois,  he  was  born 
at  Chicago  Heights.  August  22.  1863.  His  fa- 
ther, James  I-'lcming,  was  a  native  of  Scotland 
and  when  a  young  man  came  to  .\merica.  set- 
tling in  I'cnn.sylvania,  at  wiiicli  time  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  On  removing  westward  to  Illi- 
nois, he  took  up  his  abode  at  Chiaigo  Heights 
and  followed  farming  in  that  locality.  He  was 
married  there  to  Miss  Margaret  .\dams,  a  native 
of  Ohio  and  a  daughter  of  Samuel  .\dams,  who 
came  to  Illinois  in  the  '.sos.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Fleming  made  their  home  at  Giicago  Heights 
until  186),  when  they  came  to  Irofjuois  county 
and  bought  two  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land, 
upon  which  their  son  John  uow  resides.  Here 
the  father  developed  an  excellent  farm  and  made 
a  good  home.  Three  children  were  added  to  the 
family  as  the  years  passed  by. 

John  .\.  Fleming,  the  eblcst,  was  reared  upon 
the  old  home  farm  and  had  pood  common-school 
advantages.  When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he 
went  to  Dakota  and  Montana,  traveling  in  the 
west  for  two  years.  He  then  returned  home  and 
took  charge  of  his  father's  farm.  James  Flem- 
ing retired  in  i8qo  and  is  now  living  in  Kanka- 
kee at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years.  His  wife, 
however,  passed  away  in  i8<)7.  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years. 

John  Fleming  purcha.sed  the  estate  of  the  other 
heirs  and  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  account. 
He  built  his  present  residence  in  184)5  and  has 
carried  on  general  farming  along  the  most  pro- 
gressive lines.  He  raises  good  grades  of  stock, 
feeding  most  of  his  grain,  and  he  now  has  thirty- 
two  head  of  cattle  upon  his  place,  which  he  is 
feeding  for  the  market. 

On  the  25th  of  December.  1804.  Mr.  Fleming 
was  imited  in  marriage  to  Miss  Li/zie  Fstelle 
T-nke,  a  native  of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter 
of  William  Lake.  One  child  has  been  born  unto 
them,  Howard  Edward  Fleming,  who  is  attend- 
ing school.  Politically  Mr.  Fleming  is  a  stalwart 
republican,  being  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with 
the  principles  of  the  party  but  at  local  elections 
he  supports  candidates  without  regard  to  party 
affiliation.  He  has  never  sought  or  cared  for 
office  himself  and  the  only  position  in  which  ho 
has  consented  to  serve  is  that  of  school  director, 
in  which  office  he  has  remained  for  seven  years. 
IJc  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic   fraternity,  be- 


6o6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


longing  to  Oiebanse  lodge,  No.  429,  and  he  also 
belongs  to  Chebanse  camp,  M.  W.  A.  He  and 
his  wife  attend  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
and  are  highly  esteemed  people,  enjoying  in  large 
measure  the  good  will  and  friendship  of  those 
with  whom  they  have  come  in  contact.  With 
the  exception  of  the  period  spent  in  the  west 
John  A.  Fleming  has  continuously  been  a  resi- 
dent of  Illinois  and  during  much  of  his  life  has 
made  his  home  in  Iroquois  county.  The  spirit 
of  enterprise  and  steady  progress  which  has  ever 
been  manifest  in  this  section  of  the  country  finds 
exemplification  in  him  and  in  his  business  life  he 
is  watchful  of  opportunities  and  through  the  im- 
provement of  the  advantages  which  have  come 
to  him  he  has  made  a  creditable  place  in  business 
circles. 


GEORCtE  O.  r.OTITWTJ.L. 

George  O.  Bothwell,  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing on  section  28.  Artesia  township,  about  two 
miles  from  P)Uckley,  was  born  upnn  this  farm, 
October  22.  1869.  His  father.  Elijah  IT.  Both- 
well,  was  born  at  \'inton.  Ohio,  in  1S34  and 
when  a  young  man  came  to  Illinois,  settling  first 
in  Knox  county,  opening  up  a  farm  near  Ciales- 
burg.  He  was  married  there  to  Miss  Sarah 
Young,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  in  her  infancy  was 
taken  to  Knox  county.  Illinois,  liy  her  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  Young.  Following  his 
marriage  Mr.  Bothwell  engaged  in  farming  in 
Knox  county  for  a  nunil)er  of  years  and  then 
sold  liis  property  there  in  1867,  removing  to  Iro- 
quois county,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  raw  land.  He  settled  upon 
tJie  farm  and  soon  the  track  of  the  shining  plow 
was  seen  across  the  fields.  He  built  a  little  shed, 
in  which  he  lived  for  a  few  inontlis.  when  a  l)etter 
dwelling  was  erected.  Fencing  and  breaking  the 
land,  he  opened  up  tlie  farm  and  in  due  course 
of  time  had  transformed  the  raw  prairie  into  jiro- 
ductive  fields.  He  afterward  Iniilt  anotlier  resi- 
dence, also  good  barns  and  outbuildings,  and 
made  the  farm  a  valuable  property.  1  le  planted 
walnuts  and  thus  raised  trees,  which  are  now  of 
good  size,  from  the  seed,  so  that  today  he  has 
a  nice  walnut  grove  upon  his  jilace.     There  arc 


also  cottonwoods  and  other  trees  and  the  farm 
is  attractive  in  its  appearance  and  gives  every 
evidence  of  the  care  and  supervision  that  has 
been  bestowed  upon  it.  Tile  was  laid  to  drain 
the  fields,  fences  were  built  and  the  work  of  im- 
provement was  carried  forward  along  modern 
lines,  ]\Ir.  Bothwell  thus  remaining  actively  in 
business  imtil  his  death,  which  occurred  Febru- 
ary 28.  1899.  His  wife  survives  him  and  now 
resides  with  her  son  George  upon  the  home  farm. 

Mr.  Bothwell  of  this  review  was  reared  on 
the  old  homestead  and  pursued  his  education  in 
the  district  schools.  There  are  but  two  surviving 
children  of  the  family,  the  sister  being  Susan,  the 
wife  of  Sidney  Camp,  who  is  now  living  near 
.'Spokane,  ^^'ashington.  Through  the  period  of 
his  youth  George  O.  Bothwell  aided  in  the  work 
of  the  home  farm  and  upon  his  father's  death 
succeeded  to  the  property  and  has  continued  the 
further  development  and  cultivation  until  it  is 
now  a  splendid  farm,  lacking  in  none  of  the 
accessories  of  a  model  property. 

On  the  1st  of  January.  1890.  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  George  O.  Bothwell  and  Miss 
Jennie  -Singleton,  who  was  born  and  reared  here 
and  is  a  daughter  of  A.  P.  Singleton,  who  is 
mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  Mork.  They  now 
have  three  children  living.  Claude.  Ethel  and 
Grace,  and  they  also  lost  a  son  and  daughter.: 
Albert,  who  died  in  infancy:  and  ^labcl.  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nine  months. 

In  politics  ;\Ir.  Bothwell  has  been  a  life-long 
democr;it  l)ut  without  as]Mration  for  office.  He 
was  elected,  however,  and  served  as  assessor  of 
.\rtesia  township.  He  and  his  wife  hold  mem- 
lursliip  in  tlu'  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
he  belongs  to  the  ^^'oodmen  cam]i.  His  entire 
life  has  been  passed  upon  the  farm  which  is  now 
his  home  and  he  is  well  known  in  Iroquois  and 
Ford  Counties  as  a  representative  agriculturist. 


I.   S.   Br)rDRF\T' 


T.  .S.  Boudreau.  who  without  invidious  dis- 
tinction may  be  termed  one  of  the  foremost  citi- 
zens of  Pn'averville.  is  serving  as  president  of 
the  \illriL;e.  in  which  coiniection  he  has  done  ef- 
fectix'e   service    for   tlic    ])ublic    wcll'are.      He    is. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILI.IXOIS. 


607 


liuirocvcr.  aclivi'lv  C"iimcU<i  willi  K.rimni^  iiitii- 
ests  in  the  county,  in  the  control  «>t  which  he 
displays  rockI  business  ability  and  executive 
force.  Me  was  born  in  Heaver  township.  May 
II,  iSf/).  His  lather.  Musis  IWiidreaii,  now 
deceased,  was  for  many  years  a  prominent  mer- 
chant of  ileaverville.  born  in  Montreal,  tanada. 
September  1.  1839.  His  parents  were  Nelson 
and  Rose  ( Colewalt )  i'loudrean,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Canada  and  of  French  descent. 
Xelson  Jloudreaii  was  a  farmer  wIk)  owned  and 
operated  land  in  Canada,  whence  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Aurora.  Illinois,  in  1848. 
After  two  years  spent  u])on  a  rented  farm  he 
went  to  Kankakee  county,  where  he  rented  lan<l 
for  a  year  and  then  took  up  his  abode  in  Papi- 
neau  townshij).  Iroquois  county,  where  be  jnir- 
cbased  a  farm. 

In  his  early  Iwyhood  Moses  I'oudreaii  attend- 
ed the  French  schools  of  Canada  and  in  Illinois 
became  a  student  in  the  English  schools.  He 
was  the  eldest  in  the  family  of  eight  cliildren  and 
was  only  fifteen  years  of  age  at  tlie  time  of  his 
father's  death,  when  the  support  of  the  family 
largely  devolved  upf>n  him.  for  they  were  left 
in  limited  financial  circumstances.  He  worked 
upon  the  home*  farm  and  also  in  the  em|>loy  of 
others.  On  the  5tb  of  .\ugust.  iS5«>.  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years,  be  wedded  Miss  Maria  Cote, 
of  Papine.-iu  township,  who  was  born  in  Onebtc. 
Canada.  March  16.  1839.  and  came  with  he- 
parents.  Cenny  and  Tict  (Martin)  Cole,  to  this 
state  when  about  thirteen  years  of  age.  For  two 
years  after  their  marriage  Closes  P.oudreau  con- 
tinued t<i  operate  his  moilier's  farm  aiul  be  also 
improved  and  cultivated  forty  acres  of  land, 
which  he  had  previously  purchased  in  P.eaver 
township  and  which  remained  in  his  possession 
throughout  his  subsequent  years.  As  bis  finan- 
cial resf)urces  increased  he  added  to  his  pro()erty 
until  he  had  large  land  holdings  in  Heaver  town- 
ship. He  ])lacc<l  bis  farm  uuiler  a  high  slate  of 
cultivation  and  also  engaged  in  stock-raising, 
handling  cattle  on  an  extensive  scale.  In  1882 
he  established  a  store  in  Hcaverville.  placing  it 
in  charge  of  his  son.  and  two  years  afterward  re- 
moved to  the  village  in  order  to  give  personal 
attention  to  the  business.  They  fle:dt  in  general 
merchandise  and  also  in  agricullnr.il  im)>KMnents 
and  from  the  Ix-ginning  the  enterprise  prospered. 


.Mr.  r.oudreau  gave  ir.s  p.iiitical  allcgianc..-  i" 
the  democracy  from  the  time  when  be  cast  his  » 
first  presidential  vutc  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 
He  was  a  communicant  of  the  Catholic  church 
and  contributed  generously  to  its  support.  He 
filled  several  local  offices,  serving  as  highway 
commissioner,  as  school  trustee  and  as  .school 
director,  and  was  Irmg  recognized  as  a  prominent 
and  intliiential  citizen  of  his  comnnmity,  being 
honored  by  all  for  the  success  which  he  achieved 
and  the  methods  whicli  he  followed  in  his  busi- 
ness career.  He  <lied  fVtober  3.  K)03.  and  is 
still  survived  by  bis  widow,  wlm  is  living  in 
Heaverville.  In  their  family  were  thirteen  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  died  in  infancy,  while  ten 
reached    mature   years. 

J.  .'^.  Houdreau.  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  acciuired  his  education  in  .St.  \iateur's 
College  at  liourbonnais,  Illinois,  and  entered  ui)on 
his  business  career  as  a  clerk  in  the  employ  of 
the  firm  of  lioudreau  &  .Son.  composed  of  his 
father  and  brother.  He  remained  with  then)  as 
a  salesman  for  thirteen  years,  after  which  be 
bought  out  the  business  and  conducted  it  alone 
for  eight  ytars.  During  that  period  he  carrie'l 
a  well  selected  stock  of  general  merchandise  and 
enjoved  a  go<-)d  trade  by  reason  of  his  careful 
management,  executive  force  and  keen  business 
discernment.  He  also  acted  as  postmaster  during 
President  Cleveland's  administralion.  .\t  length 
he  sold  his  store  to  f.,  L.  Francour.  who  is  still 
engaged  in  the  business.  Mr.  lioudrean  still 
has  extensive  anri  valuable  farming  interests, 
owning  two  himdred  and  forty  acres  of  land  in 
Tro(|nois  county.  He  bought  eighty  acres  from 
.\  Pelion  on  section  ^2.  lleaver  township,  after- 
ward purchased  eighty  acres  additional  and  at 
two  ditTerent  tinu's  tracts  of  fortv  acre*,  while 
from  his  father  he  inherited  eighty  acres  on  sec- 
tions 29  and  30,  Heaver  township.  He  has  done 
some  tiling,  has  added  to  the  improvements  on 
his  property  and  has  valuable  farming  interests, 
from  which  he  derives  a  gofnl  annual  income. 
He  purcba.sed  a  residence  in  Heaverville.  which 
be  has  since  repaired  and  improve<i  :iiiil  ti..\v  lii* 
a  very  comfortable  lK>me  here. 

Mr.  Houdreau  was  married  in  l!ravi-r  town- 
ship, in  i8i)0.  to  Miss  N'elda  Nourie.  who  was 
1)orn  in  Heaver  township  in  December.  1869, 
and  who  died  in  189.'?,  leaving  a  daughter.  Ro- 


6o8 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


sella,  who  is  now  attending  a  convent.  On  the 
15th  of  July,  1895,  Mr.  Boudreau  was  again 
married  in  Beaverville,  to  Mis^  Dulcinia  M. 
Xourie,  who  was  born  in  Beaverville.  September 
25,  1876.  They  became  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren but  two  have  passed  away.  Those  living 
are  Emery  A.  and  Leona,  both  of  whom  are  stu- 
dents in  a  convent. 

Mr.  Boudreau  and  his  wife  are  communicants 
of  the  Catholic  church  and  he  belongs  to  the 
Catholic  Order  of  Foresters.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat  and  has  served  as  president  of  the  vil- 
lage board.  At  this  writing,  in  1907,  he  is  mayor 
of  Beaverv'ille,  having  been  elected  in  the  spring 
of  last  year.  He  gives  a  public-spirited  and  pro- 
gressive administration  characterized  by  a  spirit 
of  business  enterprise  and  diligence  that  has 
proven  of  much  value  to  the  city  in  the  control 
of  municipal  interests.  He  is  highly  esteemed 
in  this  part  of  the  county,  where  he  has  a  very 
wide  acquaintance,  the  strong  and  salient  charac- 
teristics of  his  life  being  such  as  have  endeared 
him  to  all  who  know  him. 


X.  C.  BOUDREAU. 


N.  C.  Boudreau,  serving  as  postmaster  of 
Beaverville,  was  born  in  this  town,  June  i,  i860. 
He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  was 
also  for  two  years  a  student  in  St.  Viateur's 
College,  which  he  entered  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
years.  When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  began 
clerking  in  Beaverville  and  was  also  thus  employed 
at  Kankakee.  He  began  general  merchandising 
with  his  father  in  i88t  and  the  partnership  was 
continued  until  t8o8  imdcr  the  lirr.i  style  of 
Boudreau  &  Son.  In  the  latter  year  he  sold  out 
to  his  brother,  J.  S.  Boudreau,  and  for  two  years 
was  out  of  business.  He  then  again  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  and  has  since  continued 
in  this  line.  He  began  his  connection  with  busi- 
ness interests  in  this  town  with  a  store  valued 
at  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  and  that 
he  has  prospered  as  the  years  have  gone  by  is 
indicated  by  the  fact  that  lie  now  carries  a  stock 
worth  eight  thousand  dollars.  His  store  is  care 
fully  appointed  and  he  has  a  well  selected  line 
of  goods  puch  as  is  demanded  bv  a  general  trade. 


Moreover,  his  fair  dealing  and  earnest  desire  to 
please  his  patrons  have  secured  him  a  constantly 
growing  trade.  Mr.  Boudreau  is  also  serving 
as  postmaster,  having  first  been  appointed  during 
the  Harrison  administration.  He  also  served  un- 
der President  McKinley  and  now  under  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt.  He  has  a  fourth  class  office  and 
has  established  a  rural  route  which  extends  into 
four  different  townships.  He  has  likewise  been 
president  of  the  village  board  of  Beaverville  for 
two  terms,  clerk  for  three  years  in  both  town 
and  township,  and  has  likewise  been  village  trus- 
tee. He  also  held  the  office  of  town  clerk  for  four 
}ears  and  has  been  assessor  for  three  years.  His 
public  service  has  been  characterized  by  unfal- 
tering devotion  to  duty,  a  ready  recognition  of 
the  needs  and  possibilities  of  the  city  and  hearty 
co-operation  in  any  movement  for  the  general 
welfare.  He  is  a  stalwart  republican,  recognized 
as  one  of  the  local  leaders  in  the  ranks  of  the 
party,  and  for  twelve  years  has  served  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  county   central   committee. 

Mr.  Boudreau  was  married  in  Beaverville  in 
1881  to  Miss  ]\Iary  Ellen  Teresa  Gernon.  who 
was  born  in  Canada.  They  have  become  the 
parents  of  six  children:  Haydee,  who  is  attend- 
ing a  medical  college :  Gernon,  who  is  engaged 
in  the  practice  of  dentistry :  Teresa,  who  assists 
in  the  postoffice;  Evelyn,  a  student  in  the  high 
school ;  Larena,  who  is  attending  a  convent ; 
and  Ellen,  also  in  a  convent. 

In  1890  Mr.  Boudreau  erected  a  fine  residence 
in  Beaverville  and  his  home  is  noted  for  its 
warm  hearted  and  gracious  hospitalitw  The 
members  of  the  household  occupv  an  enviable 
position  in  social  circles  and  are  greatlv  esteemed 
by  those  wlio  know  tliem.  In  addition  tn  his  resi- 
dence propertv  ATr.  Boudreau  owns  eighty  acres 
of  land  on  section  30.  Beaver  township,  which 
has  been  tiled  and  is  now  a  productive  tract  of 
land  that  brings  to  him  a  good  rental.  He  also 
owns  .some  town  lots  in  Leola,  the  county  seat 
of  McPherson  county.  South  Dakota,  and  lots 
in  Oklahoma.  Tn  his  fraternal  relations  Mr. 
Boudreau  is  connected  with  the  Catholic  Order 
of  Foresters  and  with  the  Knights  of  Colunihns. 
and  he  belongs  to  the  Catholic  church.  The  name 
of  Boudreau  has  long  figured  prominentlv  and 
honorably  in  connection  with  agricultural  and 
commercial  interests  in   Iroquois  coniitv  and  the 


IR(iorniS  COUNTY.  ILMN'OIS. 


llOi) 


record  of  X.  C.  Doudrcau  lias  aii<au  irw   i\i>ui 
thereto. 


HENRY   BROCK.M.XNN. 

Ik-iiry  llrockniaiin,  wlio  has  r<.x"eiUly  retired 
from  farininp  and  is  now  living  in  Mucklcy,  is 
nuniljcred  among  those  who  during  the  Civil 
war  flocked  to  the  standard  of  the  Union  and 
vaHantly  followed  the  stars  and  stripes  through 
the  battles  and  on  the  long  hard  marches  in  the 
south.  He  is.  moreover,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  this  part  of  Illinois,  having  Ix-comc  a  resident 
of  Dupage  county  in  1856.  He  was  then  a 
youth  of  sixteen  years,  his  birth  having  occurred 
in  Germany.  September  21.  1840.  Goo<l  school 
advantages  in  his  native  tongue  were  afforded 
him  but  he  is  self-educated  in  English  and  has 
depended  upon  his  own  resources  since  coming  to 
the  new  world.  His  father,  Henry  Brockniann. 
with  his  family,  numbering  wife  and  seven  chil- 
dren, crossed  the  .\tlantic  in  1856.  taking  pas- 
sage at  Bremen  on  a  sailing  vessel  which  after 
six  weeks  reached  the  harbor  of  New  York  in 
the  month  of  September.  They  made  their  wav 
directly  westward  to  Chicago,  arriving  there  on 
the  anniversary  of  the   father's  birth. 

Henry  Brockmann  of  this  review  worked  at 
farm  lal^ir  both  prior  to  and  after  the  war.  re- 
ceiving sixtv  dollars  for  his  first  year's  wage. 
He  enlisted  in  .\ugust.  1862.  as  a  memlwr  of 
Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Illinois  \'ol- 
untecr  Infantry,  and  going  to  the  south  was  under 
command  of  General  Sherman.  He  participated 
in  the  tattle  of  Resaca  and  was  altogether  in  twen- 
ty-seven important  liattles,  including  the  engage- 
ments of  the  .\tlanta  campaign,  .\fter  the  sur- 
render of  the  city  of  Atlanta  he  went  with  Sher- 
man on  the  celebrated  march  to  the  sea.  which 
proved  that  the  strength  of  the  Cunfcderacy  was 
almost  exhausted  and  that  the  men  had  Ix-en 
brought  from  the  interior  to  defend  the  border. 
Then  came  the  campaign  through  the  Carolina? 
and  on  to  Richmond  and  to  Washington,  where 
Mr.  Brockmann  participated  in  the  grand  re- 
view, the  most  celebrate*!  military  j)ageant  ever 
witnessed  on  the  western  hemisphere.  He  was 
mustered  out  and  honorably  discharged  in  Chi- 
cago in   Tune.   \9^>^. 


Without  delay  Mr.  Brockmann  returned  at 
once  to  his  home  and  for  se\'eral  years  thereafter 
was  employed  at  farm  labor.  In  connection  with 
his  brother  Fred  he  fiwned  and  ojx'rated  a  thresh- 
ing machine  for  eight  or  ten  years  and  thus  made 
a  start  in  life.  In  1887  he  removed  to  Iroquois 
county  and  purchased  one  hundred  acres  of  raw 
land  on  sccti«in  28.  .\rtesia  township.  This  he 
broke,  putting  in  the  seed  that  in  due  course  ot 
time  brought  forth  rich  harvests.  Trees  were 
planted  and  the  work  of  develoj)ment  and  im- 
provement was  carried  steadily  forward  and  to- 
day Mr.  Brockmaiui.  who  on  coming  to  .\merica 
started  out  in  life  empty-handed,  is  one  of  the 
substantial  agriculturists  of  his  community. 

In  this  county,  on  the  13th  of  .\pril.  1887,  oc- 
curre<l  the  marriage  of  Henry  Brockmann  and 
Miss  Mcna  Engehousen.  a  native  of  Germany. 
They  have  become  the  parents  of  seven  children 
who  arc  yet  living:  Martha,  the  wife  of  Ora 
Thecsfcld.  a  fanner  of  .Artesia  township ;  August, 
who  aids  his  father  in  carrying  on  the  home 
farm ;  Fred,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  on  his 
own  account :  Ix>uis.  who  was  married  July  20. 
1006,  and  is  engaged  in  teaching  at  Chicago 
Heights;  I-ouisa,  Otto  H.  and  Netta,  all  at  home. 
They  also  lost  one  son.  William,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

The  parents  are  meml)ers  of  the  Lutheran 
church,  in  which  they  were  reared,  and  Mr. 
Brockmann  is  a  stanch  republican  and  his  sons 
are  also  supporters  of  the  same  party.  He  has 
made  a  business  record  which  any  man  might 
lie  proud  to  possess,  for,  depending  upon  his  own 
resources  from  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  has 
macle  .steady  progress  and  his  life  record  is  an- 
other illustration  of  the  fact  that  under  the  pres- 
sure of  necessity  the  liest  and  strongest  in  men 
is  brought  out  and  developed. 


FREDERICK  MIM.ER. 

Fre<lerick  Miller  is  one  of  the  venerable  citi- 
zens of  Iroquois  county,  for  he  has  reached  the 
age  of  eighty-one  years.  His  birth  fK-curred  in 
Prussia.  Germany.  November  5.  1825.  He  spent 
his  youth  and  early  manhoofi  in  the  land  of  his 
nativitv  and  the  vear  i8/V>  witnessed  his  arrival 


6io 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


in  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  at  which  time  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  ilartinton  township,  where 
he  invested  in  forty  acres  of  land  which  he  pur- 
chased from  Mr.  Porveley.  He  also  bought  two 
hundred  acres  on  sections  5  and  6  and  there  he 
lived  for  about  twenty  years,  during  which  time 
he  brought  the  farm  under  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation and  placed  all  of  the  improvements  upon 
it,  for  it  was  wild  and  uncultivated  land  when 
it  came  into  his  possession  and  was  entireh' 
destitute  of  modern  buildings.  Mr.  Miller 
drained  his  land  by  laying  manv  rods  of  tile  and 
has  also  divided  it  into  fields  of  convenient  size 
by  building  fences.  He  lived  upon  that  farm 
for  a  considerable  period  and  in  the  year  1887 
removed  to  his  present  farm.  ]nnxhasing  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  from  Mr,  I.atterman.  lb; 
also  bought  eighty  acres  more  at  a  later  date 
and  has  since  tiled  and  otherwise  improved  the 
property.  \\'hen  the  residence  was  destro\-ed 
by  fire  in  1902  he  immediately  rebuilt  a  fine  large 
dwelling.  He  also  bought  one  hundred  and  sev- 
enteen acres  of  land  from  Fred  Porter.  It  was 
improved  save  that  there  was  no  house  upon  it, 
so  that  his  son  George  ]\Iiller  erected  a  dwelling 
there.  He  has  always  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stock-raising  and  he  now  rents  his  land 
to  his  sons,  who  have  had  charge  of  it  for  six- 
years,  while  he  is  living  in  comfort  and  ease,  cn- 
ioyinc  the  fruits  of  his  former  toil. 

In  Xovcmlxr.  1858.  Mr,  Miller  was  united  in 
marriage,  in  Cook  county.  Illinois,  to  Miss  Mar\- 
Schroder,  who  was  born  in  ^^'est  Sprin.eel.  Cer- 
many.  and.  coming  lo  .\merica  in  1856.  settled 
in  Cook  'county.  Unto  Mr.  and  ^Irs.  Miller  have 
been  born  ei.ght  children:  :\frs.  Minnie  Faupel  ; 
^Irs.  Mary  llrantz;  Joseph,  wlm  follows  farm- 
ing; I'red:  Cenrge:  Otto,  at  home:  Henry:  and 
Herman,  at  home. 

Mr.  Miller  exercises  his  right  of  francliise  in 
support  of  the  men  and  measures  of  the  rejiub- 
lican  ]iarty  and  has  served  as  school  director  but 
otherwise  has  never  sought  nor  filled  public  of- 
fice, preferring  to  give  undivided  attentiiin  to  his 
business  afl'airs.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran church  and  in  all  life's  relations  has  been 
honorable  and  upright.  Coming  to  .\merica  with 
the  hope  of  bettering  his  financial  condition,  he 
has  found  here  the  opportunities  that  he  sought 
and  by   l1u-   in<lici(ius  use  nf  his  advantas-es  has 


made  steady  progress  on  the  highroad  to  success. 
His  business  methods,  too,  have  been  honorable 
and  straightforward  and  his  labors  have  brought 
him  a  gratifying  competence.  He  is,  moreover, 
one  of  the  venerable  citizens  of  the  county  and 
receives  the  respect  and  good  will  which  should 
ever  be  accorded  to  one  who  has  advanced  thus 
far  on  life's  journey. 


.\TRlCIx   MrivI'llV. 


I'atrick  ]\Iurphy  is  proprietor  of  a  .general 
mercantile  store  in  Chebanse,  where  for  man\- 
years  he  has  figured  as  a  leading  business  man. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  and  Catherine  ilurphy 
and  was  born  March  17.  1851.  in  County  Kil- 
kenny. Ireland.  In  1853  his  parents  crossed  the 
Atlantic  to  the  United  States,  locating  in  Hins- 
dale. Berkshire  county,  ^Massachusetts,  where  he 
remained  until  1858.  In  that  year  he  came  to 
Illinois,  settling  first  in  La  Salle  county,  where 
he  remained  for  about  nine  vcars.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Chebanse.  Throughout  his  life  he  was 
connected  with  general  agricultural  pursuits  until 
1874.  first  in  the  emplov  of  his  father  and  later 
on  his  own  account.  For  a  time  he  clerked  in  the 
general  store  of  McKee  &  liard  until  1875.  when 
he  established  a  general  mercantile  store  in  Che- 
banse. contiiuiing  the  business  alone  until  1880. 
when  he  formed  a  ]iartnership  with  James  M. 
Porter,  as  dealers  in  general  merchandise,  ilk' 
firm  continued  in  business  for  ten  x'ears,  at  the 
end  of  which  time  Mr,  Murphy  withdrew  and 
acce])ted  a  clerkship  in  the  store  of  L,  D,  Garlick. 
of  Joliet.  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  two 
years.  In  181)2  he  returned  to  Chebanse  and 
again  embarked  in  general  merchandising  in 
Milk's  block,  where  he  remained  until  1004. 
when  his  stock  was  destroyed  by  fire,  lie  then 
temporarily  located  in  the  (Irand  Army  luill  tor 
a  few  months,  or  until  the  building  which  he  now 
occupies  -was  \-acated.  lie  owns  this  building, 
which  is  valued  at  twenty-live  hundred  dullars 
and  in  which  he  carries  a  large  and  carefully 
selected  stock  of  general  merchandise,  for  which 
he  finds  a  readv  sale,  so  that  his  gross  receipts 
are   large   and    his    net    ])rofits    (|nite   gratifying. 


I'ATUKK   Ml  KI'IIN 


IRr>OlTOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


'•'3 


III-  also  has  two  hmulrcd  aim  i.'m\   .kh>  "i  lui- 
ablc  land  in  Mrown  county,  South  Dakota. 

Mr.  Murphy  was  married  on  tlic  ist  of  May 
1876.  at  Clifton.  Illinois,  to  Miss  ISridRct  Clabby 
and  unto  ihcni  have  been  born  three  children: 
James  Francis,  an  attorney  at  law  l<Katc«l  in 
Rock  Island,  Illinois :  Mary  Loretto  and  l-'lor- 
cncc  C,  who  are  at  home.  The  wife  and  mother 
died  October  7,  1883,  since  which  time  Mr.  Mur- 
phy has  lived  with  his  sister.  Mrs.  MarRaret 
Myron,  in  Cliebanse. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  .Murphy  is  indc- 
])endent.  He  has  been  a  niemlK-r  of  the  sclvvil 
lx>ard  for  twelve  years  and  is  still  tillinf^  that 
office,  the  cause  of  public  education  finding  in 
him  a  stalwart  champion.  He  is  a  memlK-r  of 
the  Catholic  church,  Ikmuj;  connected  with  St. 
Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's  parish  in  Cliebanse.  He 
is  likewise  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  No. 
1070.  of  Chebanse,  the  Knijjhts  of  L'olumbus,  No. 
745,  at  Kankakee,  and  the  Catholic  Order  of  For- 
resters, No.  485.  at  Chebanse.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  untiring  activity,  his  diligence  forming  the 
basis  of  his  present  prosperity.  There  is  in  him 
a  weight  of  character,  a  fertility  of  resource  and 
a  far-sighted  judgment  which  have  made  hiiu  a 
successful  merchant  and  at  the  same  time  have 
made  him  recognized  as  a  leader  and  representa- 
tive citizen  in  Chebanse. 


P.VRKER  WILLI.\M  E.XSTnURN. 

Parker  William  Eastburn  was  lx)rn  on  the 
12th  of  October,  1878,  on  section  6,  Sheldon 
town.ship.  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  within  the 
borders  of  this  township,  always  following  the 
occupation  to  which  he  was  reared.  lie  is  a  son 
of  William  Lloyd  Eastburn,  whose  sketch  ap- 
pears on  another  page  of  this  work.  In  his  lioy- 
hood  and  youth  Parker  W.  Eastburn  was  trained 
to  the  work  of  the  farm  in  its  various  depart- 
ments and  when  not  busy  with  his  text-l)ooks  his 
time  was  largelv  occupied  with  the  tasks  of  the 
fields.  He  has  never  feared  that  laborious  atten- 
tion to  detail  which  is  so  essential  an  element  in 
success.  He  Ix-gan  farming  on  his  own  account 
on  the  old  home  place,  which  was  improved  and 
built  upon  by  his  father.     Mr.  Eastburn  of  thi- 


usiew  took  up  the  task  of  further  development 
seven  years  ago  and  has  since  given  his  time  and 
energies  to  farming  and  stock-raising.  He  is 
justly  accounted  an  enterprising,  successful  agri- 
culturist, for  his  methotls  are  i)raclical  and  arc 
in  keeping  with  tiic  spirit  of  substantial  advance- 
ment and  im]>rovemeiit. 

In  Watseka,  I'ebruary  26.  1902,  was  celebrated 
the  marriage  of  Mr.  I\a.stburn  and  Miss  Myrtle 
Wolverton.  who  was  l)orn  in  Sheldon.  February 
28.  1882.  They  now  have  one  son.  Kenneth. 
The  y.Muig  couple  are  highly  esteemed  in  the 
community  where  they  reside  and  the  hospitality 
of  many  of  the  In-st  homes  of  the  neighb<^)rhoo<l 
is  freely  accorde<l  them.  Mr.  F-astburn  votes 
with  the  republican  party  and  keeps  well  in- 
formed on  the  (|uestions  an<l  issues  of  the  day 
lint  lias  neither  time  nor  inclination  for  public 
office,  as  his  attention  is  fidlv  occupied  by  his 
business  interests,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
good  success. 


r.EORCE  R.   SHAFFER. 

George  R.  Shaffer  was  the  first  white  male 
child  l)orn  in  I-o<la.  his  natal  day  being  Xovem- 
l)er  4.  i85f>.  while  the  place  of  his  birth  was  the 
old  hotel  of  which  his  father.  George  .\.  Shaffer, 
was  proprietor.  The  latter  was  a  native  of 
Schoharie  Flats.  New  York,  and  in  that  locality 
was  reared,  after  which  he  married  Eleanor  E. 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  William  Smith  and  a  sister 
of  .\dam  Smith,  who  made  the  first  extensive  pur- 
chase of  land  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railro,id. 
buying  ten  thousand  acres  adjacent  to  the  pres- 
ent town  of  I.n<la.  Mr.  Shaffer  removed  west 
to  Iro<|uois  county  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  of  Loda.  where  he  established  a  home 
and  locatetl  there.  I.ater  he  engage<l  in  the  dry- 
gcxKls  business  for  several  years.  In  1881  he  re- 
moved to  Hoopeston,  where  his  death  occurred 
but  the  wi<low  still  survives  and  now  makes  her 
home  with  her  son  George. 

Mr.  Shaffer  of  this  review  was  reared  to  man- 
hfMxl  in  Loda  and  is  indebted  to  the  public  schools 
for  the  cdticational  privileges  he  enjoyetl.  He 
afterward  went  to  Cliicago  and  was  in  the  rail- 
road ser\-ice  on  the  Illini>is  Central  ro.id  for  twelve 
vears.     He  met  with  an  accident  on  the  i;th  of 


6i4 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


June,  1892,  when  an  engine  backed  over  him, 
catching  and  crusliing  his  foot  and  ankle.  Sul)- 
sequently  he  was  made  agent  at  one  of  tlic  sta- 
tions of  the  Lake  Street  Elevated  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  Chicago,  where  he  remained  for  about 
two  years.  He  afterward  secured  other  employ- 
ment and  continued  in  the  city  until  1902,  when 
he  returned  to  Loda  and  has  since  engaged  in 
■  farming.  He  now^  cultivates  seventy-seven  acres 
of  land  and  is  quite  successful  in  his  agricultural 
pursuits,  his  mother  acting  as  his  housekeeper. 

Politicallv  Mr.  Shaffer  has  always  been  a  re- 
publican, where  state  and  national  interests  are 
involved  but  casts  an  independent  local  ballot. 
He  belongs  to  the  Congregational  church,  while 
his  mother  is  one  of  the  three  surviving  members 
of  the  Loda  Baptist  church.  Tn  her  family  were 
three  children,  but  \\'illiam  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years,  and  Harry,  who  grew  to  manhood 
and  was  in  the  railroad  service  for  some  years, 
passed  away  in  Chicago  in  1894,  leaving  George 
R.  the  onlv  surviving  child  of  the  family.  Al- 
though he  has  not  resided  continuously  in  Iro- 
quois county,  he  has  witnessed  much  of  its  prog- 
ress and  development  and  has  seen  the  prairie 
converted  into  well  improved  farms,  while  Loda 
has  developed  from  a  hamlet  into  ,i  jiro^jjcrous 
little  citv.  He  can  remember  when  there  were 
large  numbers  of  deer  and  other  wild  game  in 
the  locnlil\'.  and  when  many  evidences  of  frontier 
life  were  still  seen  here. 


iiarhi:rt  Dins. 


Harbert  Duis,  whose  farming  interests  com- 
prise one  hundred  and  eighty  acres  in  the  home 
place  on  section  2,  .Ash  Grove  township,  and  who 
in  connection  wdth  his  sons  also  owns  other  farm- 
ing land,  aggregating  .seven  hundred  acres,  has 
resided  in  Illinois  since  1855,  at  which  time  he 
took  up  his  abode  in  .Xdams  county.  He  was 
then  a  lad  of  only  eight  years,  for  his  natal  day 
was  October  20,  1847.  T^e  was  born  in  Han- 
over. Germany,  and  his  jiarents,  John  C.  and 
Katie  ("Keisser)  Duis.  were  also  natives  of  Ger- 
many. Tn  1855  they  bade  adieu  tn  friends  and 
fatherlan<l    rnid    sailed    for   the   new    world    with 


their  famil}-,  becoming  residents  of  Adams  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  They  located  three  miles  north  of 
Ouincy  near  Golden  and  there  Mr.  Duis  devel- 
oped a  new  farm,  which  he  continued  to  culti- 
vate for  some  years,  but  eventually  he  sold  that 
and  came  to  Iroquois  county  in  1875.  Here  he 
bought  raw  land  upon  which  his  son  Harbert 
now  resides,  and  the  following  year  his  life's  la- 
bors were  ended  in  death.  His  wife  survived  him 
for  some  time  and  passed  away  in  1900,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four  years.  Their  son  Harbert 
was  one  of  a  family  of  four  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters, of  whom  one  daughter  died  in  Germany, 
while  three  sons  and  two  daughters  are  yet  liv- 
ing. 

Harbert  Duis  grew  to  manhood  in  Adams 
county.  His  educational  privileges  were  exceed- 
ingly meager  and  it  has  been  in  the  school  of  ex- 
perience that  he  has  learned  his  most  valuable 
lessons.  He  is  not  only  self-educated  but  also  a 
self-made  man  and  whatever  success  he  has  en- 
joyed or  gained  has  come  as  the  reward  of  his 
own  labor.  In  1868.  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age.  he  went  to  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  and 
there  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  upon  which 
he  engaged  in  farming  for  si.x  years.  Selling 
lliat  property  in  tSjC^.  he  came  to  his  present 
farm,  beginning  here  with  two  hundred  anfl  forty 
acres  of  raw  prairie  land.  The  furrows  had  not 
been  turned  nor  had  the  land  been  drained  or  in 
any  way  improved.  The  breaking  plow,  how- 
ever, was  soon  at  work  rmd  year  after  year  more 
of  tlu-  land  was  cultivated  and  developed.  He 
carried  on  agricultural  jiursuits  according  to  most 
modern  and  iirogressive  ideas  and  the  home  farm 
is  now  e(|uii)ped  with  all  the  modern  accessories 
of  a  model  property.  Lie  planted  an  orchard, 
also  set  out  many  shade  trees  and  has  thus  add- 
ed to  the  value  and  attractive  appearance  of  the 
place.  In  the  midst  of  the  farm  stands  a  nice 
home  and  the  outbuildings  are  in  keeping  there- 
with and  include  a  large  barn,  a  tool  house,  gran- 
ary, corn  cribs  and  eU'valor.  He  has  set  out 
nuich  fruit,  which  adds  much  to  the  richness  of 
the  familv  table,  and  altogether  he  has  made  one 
of  the  best  improved  farms  of  the  township.  All 
this  is  the  visible  evidence  of  a  life  of  unremit- 
ting diligence  that  Mr.  Duis  has  lived.  He  has 
also  purchased  l;nul  in  Noble  connlv.  Minnesota, 
h.aving  seven  hundred   acres  in   one  tract.     His 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


«.i; 


son  John  is  rcsiiliiig  liicn-on  and  brijiKinc:  it  un- 
der a  high  state  of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Duis  was  niarricd  in  .\(iain>  c<>iiii;\  hi 
iS<(5.  when  a  ynunj;  man  of  eighteen  vears.  \n 
.Miss  Elsie  Garrclls,  who  was  of  Gerinan  birth, 
and  they  have  iK-cunie  liie  jiarents  of  nine  chil- 
dren: llaiuiali,  tlie  wife  of  Henry  .'^ievens.  of 
Minnesota:  Katie,  the  wife  of  William  A.  Lmi- 
get,  a  resident  farmer  of  .\sli  (irove  township. 
John,  who  is  married  and  carries  on  agricultural 
]>ur.suits  in  Minnesota:  (Iracc.  who  is  married 
and  lives  in  Mimiesota;  Carlson,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  assists  in  the  operation  of  the  home 
farm :  Carl,  wh<i  is  with  his  brother  in  .Minne- 
sota: Jordan,  a  young  man  at  home:  and  Stina. 
who  is  also  with  her  fKirents.  They  lost  one 
child.  I'ranka.  who  was  married  and  died  in  Liv- 
ingston county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Duis  were  n-ared  in  the  Luilier- 
an  faith  and  became  charter  memlKTS  of  St 
John's  church.  His  ))olitical  endorsement  at  the 
polls  is  given  to  the  republican  party  and  he  has 
l)een  honoretl  with  some  local  offices,  serving  on 
the  school  board  and  as  highway  connnissioner 
for  ten  years,  during  which  time  he  has  done 
much  to  build  ami  establish  good  roails  and 
grades.  .\  rcsicicnt  of  Illinois  from  his  youth 
to  the  present  time,  his  life  has  Ikhmi  iH-rmeated 
by  the  spirit  of  substantial  ])rogress  which  ha« 
led  to  the  upbuilding  of  this  great  state.  He  has 
made  a  fortune  and  reared  a  family  who  are  a 
credit  to  his  name,  and  his  life  shrnild  serve  as  a 
source  of  enmlation  and  inspiration  to  others 
who  have  to  start  i.ut  ;i>  he  did  empty-handed. 
Realizing  the  value  of  industry,  he  has  pl.iced 
his  dependence  ui)on  this  cpiality  and  his  diligence 
has  been  supplemented  by  a  sound  iudgment  that 
has  enabled  him  to  place  his  money  in  >afe  in- 
vestments. 


CIIARI.F.S  CASSF.LL. 

Cliarles  Cassell.  proprietor  of  a  general  store 
in  .Sheldon,  in  which  he  carries  a  goofi  line  of 
<lrv  giwls.  groceries  and  men's  and  ladies'  fur- 
nishing goods.  sIkx'S.  nigs.  cariH-l*  and  wall  pa- 
per, has  an  establishment  which  wouhl  lie  a  credit 
to  a  town  of  much  larger  sire.  Here  he  has  car- 
r(.-.i  ..11  1.11. 111.  v.  ..;m.-.-  iRgj  and  his  place  i<  knovMi 


as  the  "IJijf  St«)n-."  It  was  built  by  Strickler 
Itrothers.  but  was  purchasi-d  by  .Mr.  Cas.scll's 
father,  .\.  Cassell.  of  ."^heldon,  who  came  here 
on  the  7th  of  May.  1X77,  from  (  hicago.  He  had 
fornterly  Ix'en  engaged  in  business  in  the  me- 
tropolis but  hail  sulTered  heavy  lo>!.es  there 
through  lire  and  he  >tarted  out  to  JK-gin  business 
life  anew.  He  o|K-ne<I  a  sntall  stock  of  giMMJs 
at  Sheldon  and  as  his  patronage  iucreasinl  he  en- 
larged his  facilities  initil  he  became  one  of  the 
foremost  merchants  of  this  place,  continuing  ac- 
tively and  successfully  in  business  until  iftj.S. 
when  he  retired  to  Ik-  succeeiled  by  his  son 
Charles.  Mr.  Cassell  met  with  gratifying  pros- 
]»erity  iluring  his  residence  in  l^hehlon  and  in  the 
control  of  varitius  business  iiUerests  accumulated 
a  handsome  com|K'lence.  la-ing  worth  now  ap- 
proximately alxmt  two  hundred  thousand  flollars. 
He  still  owns  several  business  houses  in  the  town 
and  much  valuable  farm  pro|KTty  in  the  cotrnty. 
having  made  judicious  investment  in  real  estnte. 
He  yet  occupies  i>ne  r>f  the  In-autiful  homes  in 
Sheblon  anri  is  accounted  one  of  the  capitalists 
of  the  city. 

Charles  Cassill.  a  native  of  Xew  York  city, 
wa<  taken  b>  his  parents  to  Chicago  in  early  life 
aiul  in  1877  came  with  them  to  .Sheldon,  at  that 
time  a  youth  of  nine  years.  Me  was  therefore 
largely  educated  in  the  public  schools  here  and 
from  his  boyhoo<l  to  the  present  time  has  main- 
tained a  warm  place  in  the  affections  of  his  many 
friends  anrI  at  all  times  has  enjoyed  the  trust 
and  gofMl  will  of  those  with  whom  he  has  been 
.Tss<H-iated.  He  is  regartled  as  cine  of  the  most 
successful  men  of  his  age  in  this  part  of  the 
county.  It  is  true  that  he  entere<l  ui>on  a  busi- 
ness alreaily  established  but  in  enlarging  this 
many  a  man  of  less  resolute  purpose  would  have 
failecl.  He  has.  however,  extended  its  scope  and 
as  the  years  have  gone  by  has  controlled  a  busi- 
ness of  great  volume  for  a  town  of  this  size. 
His  business  methods  are  such  as  will  Ivar  rigid 
examination  and  close  scrutiny  and  his  n:mie  has 
iK-come  a  synonym  for  commercial  inteL'rii\-  wher- 
ever he  is  known. 

Mr.  Cassell  was  married  in  iS<)7  to  .Miss  .^.idie 
.Swartz.  of  Chicago,  and  they  have  one  son. 
Maurice.  The  parents  are  very  prominent  so- 
cially, the  hospitality  of  the  I>est  homes  l>eing 
frii  Iv    .iiiil    Cordi.ilh'    exiciidid    them     wliili-    llieir 


6r6 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


own  home  is  the  center  of  many  a  delightful  so- 
cial function. 

Feeling  the  public-spirited  interest  in  politics 
which  every  true  American  citizen  should  do,  Mr. 
Cassell's  study  of  the  questions  and  issues  of  the 
day  has  led  him  to  give  his  support  to  the  repub- 
lican party.  At  one  time  he  served  as  city  treas- 
urer of  Sheldon  and  at  the  present  writing  is  a 
member  of  the  school  board.  No  plan  or  meas- 
ure calculated  to  benefit  the  community  or  ad- 
vance its  material,  social,  political,  intellectual  or 
moral  interests  seeks  his  aid  in  vain,  but  on  the 
contrary  receives  his  endorsement  and  hearty  co- 
operation. Fraternally  he  is  connected  with  the 
Masons,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Alodern 
\N'oodmen,  all  of  Sheldon,  and  is  popular  in  these 
organizations  as  one  whose  life  conforms  to  their 
beneficent  teachings.  .\s  the  leading  merchant 
in  Sheldon,  as  a  prominent  citizen  and  as  a  man 
of  genuine  personal  worth,  he  well  deserves  men- 
tion with  the  representative  residents  of  Iro- 
quois county. 


MARK  RANDOLPH  DI  SOS  WAY. 

Mark  Randolph  Disosway.  who  for  thirty 
years  has  been  a  resident  of  Iroquois  county. 
makes  his  home  in  Sheldon  and  is  classed  with  the 
retired  farmer?  who  in  former  years  have  dem- 
onstrated the  ])ossibilitics  of  the  county  for  the 
agricultural  development  and  the  acf|uircment  of 
success  through  the  careful  conduct  of  farming 
interests.  r)Orn  in  Mrginia  on  the  tSth  of  Janu- 
ary, 1 8^13,  he  is  a  son  of  M.  R.  Disoswav,  whose 
birth  occurred  in  N'ew  York  city  in  1818.  After 
living  for  a  time  in  New  Jersey  the  father  became 
a  resident  of  the  Old  Dominion,  where  he  fol- 
lowed the  occuixation  of  farming  until  after  the 
outbreak  of  the  Civil  war,  when  he  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Confederacy.  He  served  imtil  the 
clo.^e  of  hostilities  and  then  returned  to  his  home 
in  Virginia  but  in  1867  sought  a  home  in  Illinois, 
maintaining  his  residence  in  Marshall  county  tm- 
til  1876.  His  subsequent  years  were  passed  in 
Iroquois  county  upon  a  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  in  Sheldon  township,  which  he  pur- 
chased and  cultivated  mitil  he  retired  from  ac- 
tive business  life  in  1889.     He  then  took  up  his 


abode  in  Sheldon,  where  his  death  occurred  in 
February,  1901.  His  widow  is  living  in  the  vil- 
lage, at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Of  their  fam- 
ilv  of  seven  children,  six  survive,  as  follows: 
Charles  D.,  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Sheldon, 
who  is  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this  work: 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Gantz,  residing  in  \\'enona,  Illi- 
nois :  ^Irs.  ^^"^llie  A.  Wright,  living  at  \'arna.  this 
state:  Mrs.  Letitia  B.  Slife.  residing  near  Mil- 
ford  :  Mark  R..  of  this  review :  and  Mrs.  Louisa 
Turner,  living  at  Piper  City.  The  democracy  re- 
ceived the  strong  and  stalwart  support  of  Mr. 
Disosway  and  his  personal  popularity  was  indi- 
cated by  the  fact  that  he  was  the  only  democrat 
in  many  years  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor. 
He  also  served  on  the  school  board  and  was  deep- 
ly interested  in  the  cause  of  public  education. 
Pioth  he  and  his  wife  lived  a  life  in  harmony 
with  their  professions  as  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  their  many  excellent 
traits  of  character  brought  to  them  a  circle  of 
friends  almost  co-extensive  with  the  circle  of 
their  acquaintances. 

Mark  R.  Disosway.  who.se  name  introduces 
this  record,  was  but  four  years  of  age  when 
brought  from  ^'irginia  to  Illinois  and  his  educa- 
tional privileges  were  thus  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  Marshall  and  Iroquois  counties. 
His  training  at  farm  labor  was  not  meager,  for 
at  an  early  age  he  began  work  in  the  fields  and 
assisted  in  the  improvement  of  the  home  farm 
until  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty-six  years. 
Tie  then  bought  seventy  acres  of  land  and  re- 
ceived eighty  acres  as  a  gift  from  his  father. 
He  then  began  farnu'ng  for  himself  and  he  still 
owns  his  original  purchase,  to  which  he  has  add- 
ed from  time  to  time  until  he  has  three  hundred 
and  seventy-five  acres  south  of  the  village  of  Shel- 
don in  ."^tockland  and  Sheldon  townships,  to- 
gether with  three  acres  in  the  town,  where  he 
resides.  The  productiveness  of  his  land  has 
been  greatly  enhanced  through  judicious  use  of 
tile,  and  he  cleaned  out  all  of  the  sloughs,  ditched 
his  land  and  now  has  a  very  valuable  farm.  Upon 
the  home  place  he  erected  new  buildings,  set  out 
all  of  the  trees  upon  his  land  and  carried  for- 
ward the  work  until  the  place  is  now  one  of  the 
best  farming  properties  of  the  county.  In  1004 
he  purchased  a  homo  in  Sheldon,  where  he  now 
resides,  and   from  his  farms  he  receives  a  s^nnd 


IRUQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


(.i; 


riiital.  lie  paid  fifty  dollars  for  his  first  piece 
of  land  and  in  connection  with  the  tilling  of  the 
soil  he  raised  stock. 

The  lady  who  now  bears  the  name  of  .Mrs.  M. 
R.  Disosw-ay  was  in  her  maidenhood  Miss  liliza 
H.  (ilenn.  a  native  of  Pntnam  county,  Illinois, 
and  a  danjjiiter  of  .\llen  liicnn,  wlm  was  reared 
there,  becoming  a  resident  of  that  county  in  pio- 
neer times.  Her  parents  are  still  living  and  her  fa- 
ther yet  follows  agricultural  pursuits  in  Putnam 
county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Disosway  have  four  chil- 
dren: .\llen,  who  was  born  June  20,  i8<)o;  Wil- 
lie, October  8,  1891  ;  Eugene.  May  2,  1893;  and 
Fred,  who  was  born  June  17,  1896. 

Their  home  is  an  attractive  and  valuable  resi- 
dence and  upon  his  place  Mr.  Disosway  also  has 
a  fine  garden  and  much  fruit.  He  kce|)s  two 
horses  for  driving  purposes  and  is  enjoying  life 
in  well  merited  rest  that  has  come  to  him  after 
long  years  of  active,  honorable  and  successful 
connection  with  the  agricultural  interests  of  the 
county.  His  vote  is  given  the  republican  party. 
He  was  school  director  for  nine  years  while  on 
the  farm  and  is  now  on  the  school  board  of  Shel- 
don and  also  one  of  the  school  trustees.  He  and 
his  wife  hold  membership  in  the  Presbyterian 
church,  to  the  support  of  which  they  contribute 
liberally,  and  in  the  work  of  which  they  are  ac- 
tively interested.  Roth  arc  highly  esteemed  and 
Mr.  Disosway  is  recognized  as  one  who  in  busi- 
ness life  has  made  a  creditable  record.  Genial  in 
manner,  social  in  disposition,  kindly  in  feeling, 
his  personal  qualities  are  those  which  make  him 
personally  popular. 


HENRY  C.  BERNS. 


Henry  C.  Berns,  one  of  the  most  prominent 
fanners  of  Cheba.isc  township,  is  the  owner  of 
an  excellent  farm  of  three  hundred  and  fourteen 
acres  situated  on  section  18.  It  is  all  tillable 
land,  well  improved,  and  none  of  the  accessories 
and  equipments  of  a  model  farm  are  lacking.  In 
addition  to  this  property  Mr.  Bems  owns  one 
hundred  and  sixty  acres  in  Kankakee  county 
and  in  connection  with  his  brother  he  owns  and 
operates  a  threshing  mm-liinc.  corn   •^liellcr  aii<l 

36 


other  machinery  of  that  character,  doing  much 
work  in  those  lines  for  neighboring  fanners. 
Moreover,  he  figures  prominently  in  financial 
circles  as  vice  president  of  the  new  Slate  Hank 
of  Chebanse,  in  which  lie  is  a  large  stockholder. 
His  intense  and  well  directed  activity  constitutes 
him  a  re|>resentative  business  man,  and  his  sound 
judgment  and  wise  counsel  arc  recognized  by 
those  at  all   familiar  with  his  business  record. 

Mr.  Berns  is  a  son  of  Henry  and  Christina 
( Byri.se)  Berns,  who  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1854  and  located  in  Kendall  county,  Illinois. 
They  were  natives  of  (jermany  anil  Henry  Benis 
followed  farming  in  the  fatherland.  On  reach- 
ing the  new  world  he  resumed  that  occupation 
and  was  thus  engaged  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1897. 

Henry  t'.  Berns  of  this  review  was  born  in 
Kendall  county,  Illinois,  January  29,  1857,  and 
at  the  usual  age  l)egan  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools.  During  the  perioils  of  vacation  he 
worked  in  the  fields  and  soon  gained  practical 
knowledge  of  the  bi-st  methods  of  carrying  on 
fanning  interests.  Throughout  his  entire  life  he 
lias  been  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits  and 
is  justly  accounted  one  of  the  foremost  and  en- 
terprising residents  of  Chebanse  township.  His 
possessions  are  now  quite  extensive,  for  in  the 
home  farm  he  has  three  himdred  and  fourteen 
acres  of  very  rich  and  productive  land.  The 
place  is  situated  on  section  18,  Chebanse  town- 
ship, and  forms  one  of  the  attractive  features  of 
the  landscape,  for  it  is  supplied  with  good  build- 
ings and  modern  improvements  and  the  fields 
give  promise  of  rich  harvests.  Mr.  Bems  also 
owns  an  excellent  farm  in  Kankakee  county  and 
his  threshing  and  corn-shelling  interests  are  no 
iun'm|)ortant  branch  f»f  his  business,  returning  to 
him  annually  a  good  income.  His  well  known 
business  ability  and  integrity  caused  his  co-oper- 
ation to  Ix"  sought  in  the  organization  of  the  new- 
State  Rank  of  Chebanse  and  he  became  a  heavy 
stockholder  in  the  institution  and  was  chosen  its 
vice  president. 

On  the  29th  of  .Xpril.  1R84,  Mr.  Berns  was 
united  in  marriage  in  Chebanse  to  Miss  Nfarv 
Shafcr.  and  tmto  this  marriage  seven  chiUIren 
w-ere  bom :  May,  now  the  wife  of  E.  Allen,  who 
operates  her  father's  farm  in  Kankakee  coimtv : 
\iiii.T  T.     .T  tinrliiT  in  tile  ?n<-nl  i.-lu,. lU-  W'lllinm. 


6i8 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


deceased;   Frank.    IJcniard.    lA-stcr   and   Cecelia, 
all  of  whom  arc  at  honii.'. 

At  local  elections  .Mr.  Herns  casts  an  independ- 
ent ballot  but  when  casting  a  presidential  vote 
supports  the  candidates  of  the  democracy.  Ih 
has  been  school  director  for  fifteen  years  and  is 
still  in  the  office,  the  cause  of  education  finding 
in  him  a  stalwart  chani|)ion.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  being  con- 
nected with  St.  Joseph's  and  St.  Mary's  parish 
at  Chebanse.  They  have  a  wide  acquaintance  in 
this  section  of  the  state  and  nearly  all  who  know 
them  entertain  for  theiu  warm  friendship  and 
kindlv   regard. 


J A.MI'IS  \V.  KENNEDY. 

James  W.  Kennedy  is  the  owner  of  a  valuable 
farm  property  of  three  luuulred  and  sixty  acres, 
constituting  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  Martinton 
township,  and  his  success  is  an  indication  of  what 
may  be  accomplished  by  determined  and  persistent 
efifort  guided  by  sound  judgment  and  character- 
ized by  unfaltering  business  integrity.  .Air.  Ken- 
nedy was  born  in  White  county.  Indiana.  June 
5.  1845,  and  is  a  son  of  (iraham  Kennedy,  a 
native  of  ( )hio.  who  at  an  early  day  settled  in 
Indiana,  where  he  purchased  a  farm  anrl  spent 
his  subsequent  years.  In  early  manhood  he  wed- 
ded Theresa  McLean,  also  a  native  of  Ohio. 

James  W.  Kunudy  was  rtarc-d  in  his  jxireiUs' 
home  and  at  the  usual  age  entered  the  public 
schools  where  he  ac(|uircd  a  fair  luiglish  educa- 
tion. .\t  the  outbreak  nf  the  Civil  war  he  tried 
in  vain  to  enlist  but  was  not  accepted  mitil  iSf)^. 
when  he  joined  Company  D.  One  Hundred  and 
Sixteenth  Indiana  N'dhniteii-  lnfantr\,  being  mus- 
tered in  at  Lafayette.  Indiana,  for  si.K  months' 
service.  lie  jarticipated  in  the  engagements  at 
Walkers  Ford.  Clinch  River,  Tazi'well.  Tennessee, 
and  Pdue  Springs,  and  at  the  enil  of  eight  months 
re-enlisted,  joining  the  Si.xtcentb  Indiana  Light 
Artillery,  win'ch  was  stati(.ned  in  the  defense  of 
\\'ashington,  D.  C.  lie  served  his  country  valiant- 
ly and  well  as  a  i)rivate  service  and  was  at  the 
capital  city  when  the  war  ended,  lir  is  now  an 
honored  member  of  tlie  Cnuid  .\nn\  Post  at 
^\'atseka. 


-Mr.  Kennetly  was  twenty-two  vears  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Iroquois  county  and  settled  on 
section  36,  Martinton  township,  where  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  acres  of  land  of  Mr.  (jrcen. 

This  land  had  Iteen  partially  placed  under  the 
plow  and  a  log  cabin  had  been  begun  but  had  not 
been  com])letcd.  He  finished  the  work  on  the 
primitive  dwelling  and  occupied  it  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  also  broke  the  rest  of  the  land,  tiled 
and  fenced  it  and  continued  the  work  of  ini- 
[u-ovement.  so  that  as  the  years  passed  bv  the 
fields  brought  forth  rich  and  abundant  harvests 
and  his  labors   were   crowned  with  success.     In 

1899  he  built  a  seven-room  house,  also  a  barn 
fort\-  1)\  thirty-two  feet,  and  he  has  added  corn 
cribs  and  other  buildings  necessary  for  the  shelter 
of  grain  and  stock.  He  also  has  another  set  of 
improvements  upon  the  place  and  has  added  tn  his 
original  purchase  until  he  now  owns  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres,  constittuing  one  of  the 
valuable  farms  of  the  county.  He  has  secured 
many  modern  equipments  and  accessories  and  the 
farm  altogether  is  one  of  the  best  improved 
and  most  attractive  properties  in  this  section  of 
the  county.  He  has  always  voted  with  the  re- 
l)ublican  party,  yet  the  honors  and  emoluments 
"f  ofliee  have  had  no  attraction   for  him. 

In  the  year  in  which  he  caine  to  the  count\ 
-Mr.  Kennedy  was  luarri^il  in  Martinton  town- 
ship tej  Miss  Edna  Shaw,  who  was  born  in  Tip- 
IK-canoe  county.  Indiana,  in  1845.  Thev  now 
have  three  children  :    Grace,  Cora  and  liertha. 


FREDERICK    K(  )RST1':R. 

I'rederick  K'cjcster  is  li\-ing  on  section  13.  .Vsh 
(.rove  township,  and  is  classed  with  the  prosper- 
ous agriculturists  of  the  locality,  for  his  fanning 
interests  embrace  four  hundred  and  eighty  acres 
ol  rich  land  contained  in  four  well  imi)roved 
farms.  ( ienuany  has  furnished  quite  a  large  ])er- 
centage  of  the  substantial  citizens  to  Iroquois 
comUy.  among  which  number  is  .Mr,  Koester, 
who  was  born  in  Hanover,  :\Iay  2,  1836.  He  re- 
mamed  in  that  country  until  a  young  man  of  eight- 
een years  and  enjoyed  good  common-school  ad- 
vantages during  that  period.  Leaving  the  father- 
land in   1854.  lie  went  to  Londdii,  where  lie  was 


MK.   WD   MKS.  JAMES  \V.   KKXNKD\ 


:ssiiv  Of  iiiiiiois 


\ 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLIXOIS. 


(>2l 


employed  in  a  sugar  factory  for  two  years.  Ai 
London  he  embarked  on  a  sailing  ship  bound  for 
Australia  and  was  upon  the  water  for  one  hun- 
dred and  forty-five  days,  during  which  time  thev 
encountered  some  very  severe  storms.  The  ship 
leaked  badly  and  the  passage  was  altogether  a 
very  hard  one,  but  at  length  they  safely  arrived 
at  Melbourne  in  July,  1858. 

Mr.  Koester  at  once  made  his  way  to  the  gold 
mines  and  engaged  in  the  search  for  the  precious 
metal,  spending  five  years  in  the  mining  district. 
In  1863  he  returned  to  London  and  thence  to  Bre- 
men, where  he  visited  for  a  time.  Tic  was  mar- 
ried there  in  18(^4  and  subsequently  purchased 
land  in  Hanover,  where  he  engaged  in  farming 
imtil  1 88 1.  Believing  that  it  would  prove  ad- 
vantageous to  come  to  the  new  world  he  sold  his 
property  in  the  fatherland  and  crossed  the  At- 
lantic, taking  up  his  abode  in  Iroquois  countv. 
Illinois,  where  he  purchased  one  hundred  and 
twenty  acres.  There  was  a  little  house  upon  the 
place  and  some  of  the  land  had  been  broken. 
He  joined  his  brother,  Henry  Koester.  who  had 
settled  here  four  years  before.  Frederick  Koes- 
ter at  once  began  to  farm  and  improve  his  prop- 
erty and  from  time  to  time  he  added  to  it.  pur- 
chasing mostly  swampy  land,  but  he  ditched, 
drained  and  tiled  the  place  and  converted  the  low, 
wet  land  into  fields  of  rich  fertility.  He  also 
erected  a  good  residence,  barns,  a  milk  hou.se. 
sheds  for  his  hogs  and  in  fact  added  all  modern 
equipments.  He  likewise  put  in  stock  scales,  set 
out  an  orchard  and  forest  trees  and  has  made  the 
farm  a  very  valuable  and  attractive  property,  it 
being  one  of  the  pleasing  features  in  the  land- 
scape. A\'hen  he  started  to  .\uslralia  he  was  a 
poor  young  man  and  landed  there  in  debt.  Since 
that  time,  through  his  labor  and  enterprise,  he 
has  worked  his  way  steadily  ujiward  and  is  to- 
day the  owner  of  four  valuable  farms,  from  which 
he  derives  a  very  gratifying  inconie. 

!Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koester  have  Tive  sons  and  one 
daughter:  Dietrich,  who  is  married  and  is  a 
farmer  in  Wbraska ;  Henry,  who  is  married  aufl 
follows  farming  on  section  TO.  Ash  Grove  town- 
ship :  Fritz,  who  is  married  and  is  an  agricultur- 
ist living  on  section  11.  .\sh  flrove  township; 
John,  who  is  married  and  operates  a  farm  on  sec- 
tion 13.  .\sh  Grove  township;  Herman,  who  is  a 
student  of  theolog}'  in  St.  Louis  Lutheran  Col- 


nm  ;  and  Dora,  at  home.  They  also  lost  two 
children:  Gretchen,  who  was  married  and  at 
her  death  left  si.x  children ;  and  William,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Koester  were  reared  in  the  Luth- 
eran church  and  are  members  of  St.  John's 
church  in  Ash  Grove  township.  Since  becoming 
an  .\merican  citizen  Mr.  Koester  has  given  his 
allegiance  to  the  democracy.  His  residence  in 
the  county  covers  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  he 
is  well  known  in  W'atseka,  Onarga  and  through- 
out this  portion  of  the  state  as  a  man  of  intrepid 
honesty,  whose  fidelity  to  his  word  has  gained 
him  the  confidence  of  all.  He  has  had  a  wide 
experience  and  has  led  a  life  of  varied  activity 
on  three  continents.  His  history  if  given  in  de- 
tail would  prove  a  most  entertaining  and  interest- 
ing volume  because  of  its  diflferent  phases  in  the 
fatherland,  in  Fngland.  in  the  mines  of  .\ustralia 
and  in  the  new  world.  He  bears  a  most  honored 
name  in  the  land  of  his  adoption  and  has  here 
accumulateil  a  goodly  fortune. 


MICHAFL  KIXG. 


Michael  King,  whose  time  and  energies  are 
given  to  farm  work,  is  now  one  of  the  extensive 
landowners  of  the  county,  his  possessions  aggre- 
gating four  hundred  and  eighty  acres,  of  which 
two  hundred  and  forty  acres  lies  on  section  16. 
.\shkum  township,  and  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  in  Milks  Grove  town.ship.  His  parents 
were  Thomas  and  .\nne  CFlancry")  King,  and 
in  their  family  of  six  children  he  was  the  young- 
est, the  others  being  John.  Timothy.  Martin. 
Bridget  anil   Anne. 

Michael  King  was  born  in  County  Connaught, 
Ireland,  in  1840.  He  had  but  limited  privileges 
and  rippnrtiniities  in  youth  for  acquiring  an  edu- 
cation and  for  securing  his  financial  advance- 
ment and  thus  it  was  that  he  was  led  to  seek  a 
home  in  the  new  world,  to  which  he  came  in 
i8<>ii  when  a  young  man  of  twenty  years.  Mak- 
ing his  way  to  Chicago  he  there  worked  as  a  day 
laborer  for  several  years,  after  which  he  went  to 
La  Salle  county,  Illinois.  He  was  employed  in 
various  ways  until  he  came  to  Iroquois  county 
in  1804.    In  the  meantime  he  had  saved  his  earn- 


622 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


ings  and  by  economy  and  industry  had  acquired 
a  goodly  capital,  which  he  here  invested  in  land. 
He  has  since  engaged  in  general  agricultural  pur- 
suits and  to  this  vocation  he  owes  his  present  suc- 
cess. He  invested  judiciously  in  property  and 
is  today  the  owner  of  two  hundred  and  forty 
acres  on  section  i6,  Ashkum  township,  and  a  sim- 
ilar amount  in  Milks  Grove  township.  His  prop- 
erty is  the  visible  evidence  of  his  life  of  thrift 
and  industry  and  shows  what  can  be  accomplished 
by  a  young  man  who  possesses  determination  and 
strong  purpose. 

It  was  while  living  in  La  Salle  count\-  that  Air. 
King  was  united  in  marriage  to  -\Iiss  Marv  ^^'ha- 
len,  and  unto  them  have  been  born  six  children  : 
John,  a  resident  farmer  of  Ashkum  township : 
Tom.  still  at  home:  ^Martin,  who  died  in  iS8i.  at 
the  age  of  three  months  :  Anna,  the  wife  of  Timo- 
thy Cassidy.  a  farmer  of  Danforth  township : 
^layme.  who  died  in  iS86,  at  the  age  of  one  year 
and  three  months  :  and  James,  at  home. 

In  politics  ]\rr.  King  is  a  democrat  but  is  some- 
what independent  in  his  views  and  affiliation. 
In  religious  faith  he  is  a  Catholic,  connected  with 
the  Ashkum  parisli.  In  the  years  which  have 
come  and  gone  since  he  left  his  native  land  and 
sought  a  home  in  the  new  world  he  has  led  a 
life  of  strenuous  effort  and  his  diligence  has  re- 
sulted in  winning  for  him  a  place  among  the  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Iroquois  county,  where  he  is 
now  numbered  among'  the  representative  citizens. 


inilV  DEAXER. 


John  Deaner  is  a  retired  farmer  and  business 
man  of  Sheldon.  His  life  record  began  in  Leb- 
anon county.  Pennsylvania,  on  the  5th  of  .Au- 
gust, 1842.  He  is  a  son  of  Jacob  F.  Deaner,  who 
in  1850  removed  westward  to  La  Salle  countv. 
Illinois,  settling  south  of  IMendota,  where  he 
followed  farming.  There  he  made  his  home  for 
twenty-seven  years  or  until  he  was  called  to  his 
final  rest.  He  was  of  German  lineage,  and  bis 
family  numbered  five  children,  of  whom  three 
are  now  livin"':  John,  of  this  review:  Jacob,  of 
^Fendiita:  ;md  T-cvi.  also  a  resident  of  La  Salle 
coinitv. 


John  Deaner  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  La  Salle  county,  having  been  but 
seven  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  the  removal  of 
the  family  to  the  middle  west.  Through  the 
periods  of  vacation  he  a'ssisted  in  the  work  of  the 
home  farm  and  after  putting  aside  his  text-books 
he  was  employed  at  farm  labor  until  he  had  ac- 
quired a  capital  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  pur- 
chase one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land. 
He  was  then  identified  with  genera!  farming  in- 
terests until  the  nth  of  October,  1864,  when 
he  went  into  the  army  as  a  substitute  for  his 
brother  Jacob,  becoming  a  member  of  Company 
E,  Thirtieth  Regiment  of  Illinois  \'olunteers. 
He  served  until  Julv  17.  1865.  and  was  then 
mustered  out.  He  had  been  stationed  most  of  the 
time  at  Louisville.  Kentucky,  doing  guard  dutv, 
and  had  also  been  on  the  march  after  Hood  to 
Xashville.  Tennessee.  Becoming  ill  with  the 
measles,  he  was  in  the  hospital  at  Xashville  for 
three  months,  after  which  he  was  sent  to  X'ew 
York  and  placed  as  guard  on  a  steamboat,  serv- 
ing in  that  way  until  mustered  out. 

A\'hen  the  war  was  ended  and  the  countrv  no 
longer  needed  his  aid  Mr.  Deaner  returned  to  his 
home  in  La  Salle  county,  where  he  followed  farm- 
ing until  the  sjjring  of  1876.  He  then  sold  his 
property  in  that  county  and  removed  to  Iroquois 
county.  Illinois,  where  he  bought  a  farm  of  two 
hundred  and  thirteen  acres  in  Stockland  town- 
ship. To  this  he  added  until  he  owned  four  hun- 
dred and  thirteen  acres  which  lie  improved, 
bringing  it  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He 
now  owns  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  acres  of 
land  in  Stockland  township,  twenty-two  acres  in 
Sheldon  township  and  fourteen  lots  in  the  city 
of  Sheldon,  where  he  resides  and  has  a  nice  home. 
He  left  the  farm  in  1888  and  removed  to  Sheldon, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  implement  and  hard- 
ware business  for  fmu-  years.  He  then  sold  out 
and  removed  to  ^^'ayne  county,  where  he  re- 
mained for  two  \ears  but  on  the  expiration  of 
that  ]ierio(l  he  returned  to  Sheldon.  For  two 
years  thereafter  he  was  not  connected  with  any 
business  and  then  engaged  in  the  implement  busi- 
ness, but  when  annther  two  years  had  jins^ed  be 
disposed  of  his  store  and  has  since  lived  a  retired 
life. 

Mr.  Deaner  ni;irried  (';itlierine  NX'dr-'lex'.  of  La 
Salle    countv.    Illinois,    a    daughter    of    ^^'illiam 


lR()OrOIR  rOl'NTV.   ILI  1\'()IS. 


<>^.\ 


\\'(>r?lo_v,  an  carl\  M-ilkr  then-,  «1ii»l-  i.iilur  U><>k 
iij)  his  al)iKle  in  La  Salic  county  in  iS^,^  whtn 
this  section  of  the  state  had  hardly  l)een  reclaimed 
I'roin  tl'.e  di!n)ain  of  the  red  men. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deaner  became  the  i>arents  of 
^cven  sons  and  one  daughter :  William,  wlio  is 
n-sidini;  in  Li'adville.  Colorado;  L'larLiice.  of  Mcn- 
dota.  Illinois;  (k-orj^e,  who  died  in  U)04,  leavinj^ 
a  family  ;  Cliarles,  who  is  dealing  in  cement  and 
rock  in  Xebraska  :  May.  the  wife  of  Janits  Cooper, 
a  resident  of  Karl  I'ark.  Indiana;  John,  in 
Indian  Territory  ;  .\rchie.  in  San  l-'rancisco,  Cali- 
fornia ;  and  ( )tto,  wiio  is  attendinj^  the  state  col- 
lejje  at  Fort  Collins,  Colorado.  In  iSi(H  Mr. 
Deaner  was  called  ii|)on  to  mourn  the  loss  of  hi> 
wife.  She  was  a  member  of  the  t'hristian 
church  and  an  estimable  la<!y.  nuicli  esteemed 
for  her  ijood  ([ualities  of  heart  and  mind.  ( )n 
the  17th  of  January.  1</W  Mr.  Deaner  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Marjiaret  Kee.u;an.  nee  Collins,  the 
widow  of  Michael  Keii;an.  an  old  settler  of  tltis 
county. 

I'olitically  Mr.  iKaner  is  a  pniliiliitionist  in 
princii)le  but  frer|uently  casts  an  independent  iril- 
lot.  lie  is,  however,  a  stanch  ailvocate  of  the 
cause  of  tcm])erance  and  desires  to  see  tlie  time 
when  the  li(|Uor  traffic  will  be  done  away  with. 
His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Chri-tian  church. 
Tie  has  been  (|uite  successful  in  his  business  life 
here,  makinjj  money  as  the  years  have  gone  by. 
and  is  now  in  comfortable  circumstances.  His 
worth  is  widely  rec<iij;nized  and  be  is  accounted 
one  of  the  re|)resentative  citizens  of  Sheldon. 


jAMI-.S   II.   ACSTIX. 


The  home  farm  ni'  |anK>  II.  Austin  is  nii  see- 
lion  27.  Rids^eland  township,  not  far  from  the 
city  of  (^narga.  and  a  busy  life  is  that  which  the 
owner  leads.  He  has  one  himilred  and  sixty 
acres  and  as  he  carries  on  his  farm  work  aloni,' 
modern  lines  of  profjress  his  ])lace  makes  con- 
st.HUt  demand  u]>on  his  time  an<I  attention.  He 
came  to  this  comity  in  18^15.  beinj,'  then  only 
about  three  years  of  ajje.  for  his  birth  occ\irred 
in  Madison  comity.  \ew  York.  July  15.  iX6j. 

His  father.  James  K.  .Austin,  was  a  native  of 
Connecticut  and  in  earlv   life  became  a  resident 


i.l  .Ww  ^urk.  where  he  was  reared.  He  there 
learned  and  followed  the  carjienters  trade,  and 
he  was  married  in  the  limpire  state  to  Miss  Helen 
.Main,  also  a  native  of  New  York  and  a  daunb- 
tir  of  Thomas  Main.  Soon  after  their  niar- 
riajje  the  yomifj  couple  removed  westward  to 
Ir(K|uois  county,  Illinois,  and  .Mr.  .\ustin  engaKcd 
in  carpentering  near  (  )narga.  He  also  jinr- 
cbased  forty  acres  of  land  where  he  now  resides 
and  as  he  found  it  possible  to  make  other  invest- 
ments he  kept  adding  to  his  iiroperty  until  he 
now  owns  one  lunulred  and  sixty  acres  of  vain- 
able  land,  the  well  tilled  fields  returning  to  him 
golden  harvests  as  a  reward  for  his  care  and  cul- 
tivation. He  likewise  reared  his  family  upon  the 
old  homestead  here,  having  three  daughters  and 
two  sons. 

James  H.  .\ustin.  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  spent  the  days  of  his  boyhood  and  youth 
in  his  father's  home  and  bore  his  i)art  in  the  ar- 
duous task  of  develo|)ing  and  cultivating  a  new 
farm.  His  educational  ))rivileges  were  those  af- 
forded by  the  common  schools,  and  he  continued 
to  assist  his  father  until  he  attained  bis  majorits, 
when  he  began  farming  on  his  own  account  on 
rented  land.  There  he  carried  on  general  agri- 
cultural pursuits  for  ten  years,  after  which  he 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  and  later  another  forty. 
His  next  purchase  a<liled  eighty  acres  to  the  tract 
and  lie  now  owns  altogether  a  (piarter  section, 
which  constitutes  a  well  improved  and  very  de- 
sirable |)ro|)ert\'.  It  is  lacking  in  none  of  the 
modern  e<|uipments,  for  Mr.  .\uslin  has  built  a 
good  house  an<I  two  l)arns.  He  has  also  put  up 
sheds  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  strurk,  has  laid 
maiiv  rods  of  tiling  and  built  many  rods  of  fence. 
He  raises  thoroughbred  Percheron  horses,  hav- 
ing on  hand  over  sixl_\-  head  of  valuable  animals. 
He  sold  a  i>air  of  mares  t(3  a  Xebraska  firm  for 
one  thousand  ilollars  in  July.  ntnCy  He  also 
raises  Dnroc  Jersey  hogs  and  his  business  in  both 
of  its  branches  is  proving  profitable. 

Mr.  .\ustin  was  married  .\pril  11.  iXST),  t<i 
Miss  I-jnma  Hess,  a  native  of  X'irginia  and  a 
daughter  of  .Scott  Hess,  who.  coming  from  the 
(  )ld  Dtiuiinion,  settled  in  Ridgel.'Uid  township. 
Irixpiois  county.  Their  only  child.  James  Aus- 
tin. Jr..  died  in  infancy,  and  tlu\-  are  now  rearing 
two  adopted  sons,  the  children  of  Mrs.  .\ustin's 
sister,  who  were  left  motherless  in  earlv  life. 


624 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Politically  Mr.  Austin  is  a  good  republican, 
ever  interested  in  the  work  of  his  party,  and  in 
community  affairs  he  is  interested  to  the  extent 
of  giving  hearty  and  helpful  co-operation.  Al- 
most his  entire  life  has  been  passed  in  this  county, 
for  which  he  has  a  deep  and  strong  attachment, 
rejoicing  in  what  has  been  accomplished  here. 
In  all  of  his  work  as  a  farmer  he  has  displayed 
a  practical  nature  and  at  the  same  time  has  kept 
in  touch  with  the  onward  march  of  progress  as 
manifested  in  agricultural  life,  carrying  on  his 
work  in  accordance  with  the  ideas  which  science 
and  experience  have  demonstrated  to  be  the  best. 


CHAUNCEY   A.    THRASHER. 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  in  the  history  of  busi- 
ness enterprise  and  progress  that  it  is  young  men 
who  are  controlling  the  traffic  and  exchanges  of 
our  country  and  who  are  pushing  forward  the 
wheels  of  progress.  Every  town  and  city  has 
manv  such — young  men  who  are  rapidly  wrirk- 
ing  their  way  to  the  front  and  who  have  become 
important  factors  in  the  industrial  and  commer- 
cial enterprises.  Of  this  class  C.  A.  Thrasher, 
of  Thawville,  is  a  prominent  representative,  be- 
ing connected  with  the  banking  business,  with 
real-estate  operations  and  with  the  coal  and  lum- 
ber trade. 

He  was  born  in  Thawville.  ]\lay  16,  1875,  "^  son 
of  William  J.  Thrasher,  a  native  of  La  Salle 
county,  Illinois,  and  a  grandson  of  Jesse  S. 
Thrasher,  a  native  of  A'ermont.  The  latter  be- 
came the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  state  and 
his  son  ^^'illiam  was  reared  and  educated  in  La 
Salle  county.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Iro- 
quois county,  settling  at  Thawville  when  in  his 
twenty-first  year,  and  here  Jesse  .S.  Thrasher 
built  and  conducted  the  first  grain  elevator  of  the 
town,  ^\"i!liam  J.  Thrasher  was  also  engaged 
in  the  grain  business  at  that  ])lace  and  on  selling 
the  elevator  there  he  conducted  an  elevator  at 
Roberts,  Illinois.  He  was  an  active  and  enter- 
prising man.  who  carefully  controlled  his  b'lsi- 
ness  interests  until  his  death  in  September.  iS8(). 
winning  success  by  his  sound  judgnienl  and  ca- 
pable management.  His  wife  survived  him  for 
about  twelve  years,  passing  a\vay  at  ^^'alseka  in 


1901.  They  had  been  married  in  Iroquois  coun- 
ty, the  lady  bearing  the  maiden  name  of  Luella 
G.  Skeels.  She  was  bom  in  this  county  and  by 
her  marriage  became  the  mother  of  three  sons : 
Chaunce\-  A..  Roy  and  Frank.  15.  FI.  Skeels, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Thrasher,  was  born  in  Colum- 
l)us,  ( ihio,  in  1835,  and  came  to  Onarga,  Illinois, 
about  1859.  Here  he  bought  a  farm  ;uid  in  ad- 
dition to  its  cultivation  he  taught  school.  AMien 
the  Civil  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  May.  1861, 
in  the  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry 
and  was  made  first  lieutenant  of  his  company, 
but  on  account  of  illness  was  honorably  dis- 
charged in  1863.  He  then  returned  to  Onarga 
and  continued  farming  until  1871.  when  he  re- 
moved to  Thawville,  acting  as  station  agent  at  that 
place  for  five  years.  He  was  next  engaged  in 
the  elevator  and  grain  business  with  P.  Risser 
&  Son,  and  in  1884  started  a  bank.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Thawville  and  served  as 
countv  supervisor  for  nineteen  years,  being  chair- 
man of  the  board  two  years  of  that  time.  He 
died  in  iqoi.  honored  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him. 

Chauncev  A.  Thrasher  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  pursuing  the  high-school  course 
in  Roberts,  and  entered  upon  his  business  career 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  as  an  employe  in  the 
banking  house  of  B.  H.  Skeels  in  Thawville. 
There  he  remained  in  various  capacities  for  about 
a  decade,  during  which  time  he  thoroughly  mas- 
tered the  business  in  principle  and  detail.  At  that 
time  he  purchased  a  half  interest  and  a  general 
banking  business  has  since  been  successfully  car- 
ried on,  a  liberal  patronage  being  accorded  the 
institution,  which  occupies  an  enviable  position 
in  iinancial  circles  by  reason  of  the  thorough  reli- 
abilitv  of  its  owners  and  the  interests  which  they 
have  back  of  them.  They  not  only  conduct  the 
bank  but  arc  also  dealers  in  lumlicr  and  coal,  in 
which  they  enjoy  a  good  trade,  and  they  like- 
wise conduct  a  real-estate  business,  handling  con- 
siderable valuable  prnperty  and  negotiating  many 
important  real-estate  transfers. 

Chaunccy  .\.  Thrasher  was  married  on  the  8th 
of  .\pril,  1896,  to  ^Tiss  Phoebe  Townsend,  a  na- 
tive of  England  and  a  daughter  of  Frederick 
Townsenfl.  who  was  likewise  born  in  that  coun- 
trv  ;nid  wlin  in  carlv  manhood  came  \o  Thaw- 
ville.    Further  mention  of  Mr.  Townsend  is  made 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


r.2; 


on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  .Mrs. 
Thrasher  have  become  the  parents  of  three  sons: 
Delias  F.,  Jesse  and  Cliauncey  A.  The  parents 
attend  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  Mrs. 
Tlirashcr  is  a  nienihtT.  and  they  are  interested  in 
community  affairs  to  the  extent  of  giving  liearty 
co-operation  and  support  to  many  movements  for 
the  general  good. 

Politically  Mr.  Thrasher  is  a  stalwart  repub- 
lican and  has  served  as  tax  collector  for  three 
years  or  since  the  incorporation  of  the  town  of 
Thawville.  He  is  quite  prominent  in  Masonry, 
belonging  to  the  blue  lodge,  the  chapter  and 
commandery.  and  is  also  identified  with  Mo- 
hammed Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Peoria. 
He  further  affiliates  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Thawville.  of  which  he  is  a 
past  grand.  From  his  boyhood  days  he  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  part  of  the  county  and  has  a 
wide  acquaintance  here,  so  that  his  history  is 
largely  familiar  to  the  readers  of  this  volume 
and  his  good  qualities  have  gained  him  a  favor- 
able place  in  public  regard.  His  unfaltering  dili- 
gence has  made  him  worthy  of  the  success  which 
has  crowned  his  efforts  and  as  "the  merit  sys- 
tem" is  the  one  which  secures  advancement  in  the 
business  world  the  capability  of  Mr.  Thrasher  is 
indicated  by  the  creditable  place  which  he  now 
occupies  in  financial  aufl  commercial  circles. 


WILLIAM   FLAXIC AX, 

The  home  farm  of  William  Manigan  is  a  tract 
of  fertile  land  of  two  hundred  acres,  situated  on 
section  32.  Artesia  township,  and  the  care  and 
labor  which  he  bestows  upon  it  result  in  bringint; 
forth  rich  crops,  for  which  he  finds  a  good  annual 
sale.  Mr.  Flanigan  was  born  in  Scotland.  Janu- 
ary 23.  iR'V).  and  was  one  of  the  four  children 
of  William  F.  and  Catherine  Flanigan.  who  were 
likewise  natives  of  the  land  of  hills  and 
heather.  The  father  was  reared  in  that  ci>untry 
and  l)ecanie  a  sailor.  Two  years  after  his  mar- 
riage he  crossed  the  .\tlantic  with  his  little  fam- 
ily to  the  new  world,  landing  at  Xew  York, 
where  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  then  made 
his  way  westward  to  Jji  .Salle  county.  Illinois, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  coal   for  sev- 


eral years,  after  which  he  rented  land  and  en- 
gaged in  farming.  In  1890  he  removed  to  this 
county  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Loda 
township  near  the  village  of  Ijxla.  where  he 
made  his  home  for  some  time,  but  he  and  his 
wife  are  now  residing  in  Chicago.  .Ml  of  their 
four  children  reached  adult  age. 

William  Flanigan.  whose  name  introduces  this 
record,  was  brought  to  America  in  his  infancy 
and  was  reared  upon  the  home  farm  in  I^  Salle 
county.  .\t  the  usual  age  he  entered  the  public 
schools,  and  when  not  busy  with  his  text-books 
his  time  was  occupied  with  farm  labor,  with 
which  he  became  familiar  in  all  its  departments. 
When  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  he  began 
earning  his  living  by  working  as  a  fami  hand  by 
the  month  and  was  thus  employed  for  three  years, 
after  which  he  went  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked 
in  a  pipe  factory  for  some  time.  Subsequently 
he  was  a  teamster  there  and  upon  his  return  to 
Iroquois  county  he  cultivated  rented  land  for 
four  years.  Carcfullv  saving  his  earnings,  he 
was  at  length  enabled  to  purchase  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  and  thus  became  the  owner 
of  a  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides  on  sec- 
tion 32.   Artesia  township. 

Mr.  Flanigan  was  married  in  this  county.  Jan- 
uary 22.  1888.  to  Miss  Mary  Ilindman.  a  native 
of  Iroquois  county  and  a  daughter  of  Joseph 
Ilindman.  who  was  l>orn  in  Pennsylvania.  Her 
father  became  an  early  settler  here  and  contin- 
ued in  the  county  until  his  death.  The  home  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flanigan  has  been  blcsseil  with 
friur  cbiMren.  Leroy.  Flla.  William  and  May. 
and  in  social  circles  in  the  community  the  par- 
ents occupy  an  enviable  position. 

Mr.  Flanigan  is  independent  in  politics  but  has 
never  l)ecn  remiss  in  the  clutics  of  citizenship  in 
support  of  those  plans  and  measures  which  were 
instituted  for  the  general  good.  He  has  scr^•ed 
as  school  director  and  as  president  of  the  Ixiard 
for  nine  years.  He  and  bis  wife  are  members 
of  the  Catholic  church  at  I-oda.  The  cause  of  ed- 
ucation finrls  in  him  a  warm  friend  and  his  ef- 
forts in  it'  Ii.li-ilf  Iinvi-  bii  11  far-reachi""'  mid 
beneficial. 

The  family  Imme  is  a  good  two-story  resi- 
dence, which  was  erected  by  Mr.  Flanigan.  who 
has  also  built  corn  cribs,  sheds  and  other  build- 
ings for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock.     He  has 


626 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


a  good  orchard  upon  the  place  and  the  land  is 
well  drained  and  fenced.  Since  making  his  orig- 
inal purchase  he  has  added  forty  acres  to  the 
farm,  so  that  he  now  has  a  valuable  property  of 
two  hundred  acres.  He  raises  good  grades  of 
stock  and  Norman  horses,  and  his  business  is 
successfully  conducted.  He  has  cverv  reason  to 
be  proud  of  his  success  and  may  truly  be  called 
a  self-made  man,  for  he  is  the  architect  and 
builder  of  his  own  fortunes.  \\'ithout  special 
advantages  at  the  outset  of  his  career  he  has 
worked  so  diligently  and  persistently  that  pros- 
perity has  rewarded  him  and  his  life  record  com- 
mands for  him  the  admiration  and  good  will 
of  those  who  are  familiar  with  his  historv. 


HENRY  KNOCKE. 


Henry  Knocke  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  countr\- 
home  on  section  28.  Ridgeland  township,  and  his 
landed  possessions  aggregate  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres.  He  is  now  engaged  in  the  breeding 
of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  and  for  manv  vears 
stock-raising  has  been  an  important  feature  of 
his  extensive  agricultural  interests.  f-Je  came 
to  this  county  in  1864,  when  a  youth  of  fifteen 
years,  his  birth  having  occurred  in  St.-  Francis 
county,  near  Iron  Mountain,  ]\Iissouri,  in  June, 
1849. 

His  father,  Christ  Knocke,  was  a  native  of 
Frankfort.  Germany,  where  he  grew  to  mature 
years  and  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Knocke,  who 
though  of  the  same  name  was  not  of  the  same 
family.  They  emigrated  to  the  new  world  in 
1848  and  settled  in  St.  Francis  county,  Alissduri. 
where  Mr.  Knocke  was  employed  in  the  iron 
works  at  Inm  Alountain  for  a  few  vears.  He 
later  invested  his  earnings  in  land  and  began 
farming,  which  he  followed  in  .Missouri  until  the 
battle  of  Pilot  Knob  was  fought  in  1864,  when 
the  Confederate  troo])s  under  General  Price  raid- 
ed his  place  and  he  thought  best  to  leave  the 
state.  He  then  purchased  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  land  where  his  son  IKnrv  mnv 
resides.  This  he  further  improved  and  develoiied 
and  later  purchased  more  land  until  he  had  six 
hundred  and  forty  acres  in  Ridgeland  township. 
His  attention   was  given   h>  its  cultivatidu    t'or  a 


nuiuber  of  years  but  at  length  he  removed  to 
Unarga.  where  he  spent  his  last  years  in  retire- 
ment from  active  business  cares,  passing  away  in 
that  city  in  1893.  His  widow  still  survives  him 
and  lives  with  a  daughter  in  Onarga. 

Henry  Knocke,  through  the  days  of  his  boy- 
hood and  youth,  remained  on  the  home  farm 
with  his  father  and  later  took  charge  of  and 
carried  on  the  farm,  which  has  since  been  under 
his  supervision.  He  has  built  to  and  remodeled 
the  house,  which  is  now  a  most  modern  and  at- 
tractive hoiue,  heated  with  furnace  and  ])iped 
with  hot  and  cold  water.  In  fact  it  is  supplied 
with  all  modern  conveniences.  There  is  a  flow- 
ing well  u])(in  the  place  with  a  great  abundance 
of  water  for  the  stock  and  for  some  years  Mr. 
Knocke  was  engaged  in  breeding  and  dealing 
in  graded  shorthorn  cattle.  Xow.  however,  he 
has  a  herd  of  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle  and  is  a 
well  known  breeder  of  that  strain.  Since  1882 
he  has  owned  imported  standard  bred  Percheron 
horses  and  luares  and  now  has  twenty-five  head 
of  Percheron  horses  upon  his  place.  Pie  is  one 
of  the  leading  stock  farmers  of  the  couiUy.  con- 
ducting an  extensive  and  profitable  business 
aiuuially. 

Mr.  Knocke  was  luarried  in  Onarga.  Illinois, 
in  1886,  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Ramsey,  a  daughter  of 
J.  C.  Ramsey,  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  the  coun- 
ty and  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  who  was  held 
as  a  prisoner  at  Andersonville  for  some  time, 
after  which  he  was  paroled  and  returned  home, 
being  honorably  discharged  while  at  home  in 
1865.  Air.  and  Airs.  Knocke  now  have  a  family 
of  three  sons  and  a  daughter:  Roland  P..  Grace 
.\gnes,  John  C.  and  Hcm-\-  W. 

.\  believer  and  advocate  of  the  cause  of  tem- 
perance and  the  principles  of  prohibition,  Mr. 
Knocke  gives  his  political  support  to  the  jiarty 
which  embodies  his  views  u]5on  that  (|uestion  but 
has  never  been  an  aspirant  for  ofiice.  He  is  a 
believer  in  education  and  good  schools  and  for 
over  thirty  years  has  served  on  the  school  board 
and  is  also  a  meml)er  of  the  Onarga  Seminary 
board.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
(  inarga  Presbyterian  clutrch.  in  which  he  is  serv- 
ing as  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  and  as 
steward,  and  his  infiuence  is  a  potent  element  in 
the  ititercsts  of  the  church  and  in  those  utove- 
ments  that   tend  tci  uplift   humanity.     Tie  has  al- 


iRonrois  rnrvTY.  ii.liN()IS. 


fijij 


w.iys  iiiaiiilcsti.'<l  ;i  siiisf  i>i  ciin>cii.iuii.ii.-.  oldij^a- 
tion  in  relation  to  his  tliitics  to  his  fcllownu-n  and 
in  all  life's  relations  he  has  eununandeil  ami  re- 
ceived the  respect  and  trust  of  those  with  whom 
he  has  been  .i^siuiMlrd  llirMii;^li  lniNintsx  iir  M.ri.d 
relations. 


(i.    \V.    SAIM. 


<].  W.  Sanm,  to  whom  has  heen  vouchsafed 
honorable  retirement  from  active  farm  labor,  has 
resided  at  (iilman  for  the  ])ast  thirteen  years, 
and  the  comi)etence  acquired  throujjh  earnest  toil 
is  sufficient  to  supi)ly  him  with  all  of  the  necessi- 
ties and  many  of  the  comforts  of  life.  Me  came 
to  Iroquois  county  in  Xovember.  1866.  and  for 
a  lonj;  period  was  closely  associated  with  jjeneral 
atrricultural    ])ursuits   and    stock-raisin.y;. 

His  birth  occurred  in  DeKalb  county.  Illinois, 
near  what  is  now  Kinjj^ston,  in  1S45.  his  i)arcnts 
being  Nicholas  and  Kittie  (Russell)  Sauni.  who 
came  to  this  state  in  1S44  and  resided  in  DeKalb 
county  until  the  death  of  Xichola.''  Sanm.  He 
was  born  in  Siicnandoah  county.  Nirginia.  in 
iSij,  and.  Icavinjj  the  Old  Dominion,  took  up  his 
alxide  in  Ohio.  .\s  a  young-  man  he  went  to 
Indiana  and  was  married  at  West  Lebanon,  or 
Williamsport.  to  Miss  Kittie  Russell.  He  resid- 
ed at  those  two  jilaces  until  1844.  when  he  re- 
inoved  to  Illinois.  Ix^cominjj  one  of  the  ])ionecr 
residents  of  DeKalb  county.  He  was  then  close- 
ly associated  with  general  agricultural  interests 
for  many  years  and  passed  away  there  in  1S81. 
lie  always  took  an  active  |)art  in  politics  though 
not  an  office  seeker,  and  throughout  the  commu- 
nity he  was  recognized  as  a  valued  citizen  and  a 
man  of  genuine  ])ersonal  wrtrth,  |Hiblic  trust  be- 
ing re])o<ed  in  him  on  various  occasions.  He 
acted  often  as  administrator  of  instates,  for  he 
was  a  man  of  sound  judgment  as  well  as  busi- 
ness integrity.  In  the  condtict  of  his  own  busi- 
ness interests  be  was  quite  successful.  His  un- 
feigned cordialit\'  and  his  geiuiine  worth  made 
him  very  popular  and  he  was  affectionately 
known  througliont  the  comnninity  as  "I'ncle 
Xick."  For  about  six  years  he  survived  bis 
wife,  who  died  in  March.  1R75.     In  their  family 


were  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  and  one  of 
the  daughters  is  now  deceased.  L'ntil  a  few  years 
prior  to  her  death  slic  had  been  .1  resident  of 
DeKalb  comity  but  passe<l  away  in  I'.elvitlere, 
I'.oonc  county,  Illinois.  <  )ne  sister  of  our  sub- 
ject resides  in  Foley,  .\labama :  a  brother  in  .Mo- 
bile, that  .stale;  one  l)rother  in  Maywfiod.  Ne- 
braska: one  in  W'oodworth.  Iowa,  and  a  sister 
in  Spokane,  Washington. 

Ci.  W.  Saum  was  reared  u]«in  the  old  home- 
stead farm  in  DeKalb  county,  early  becoming  fa- 
miliar with  the  wtirk  of  plowing,  ijlanting  and 
harvesting  as  he  assisted  his  father  in  the  labors 
of  the  fields  through  the  spring,  summer  and  au- 
tunni  months.  When  winter  brought  a  respite 
from  farm  labor  be  attended  the  public  sclnmls. 
He  continued  in  the  county  of  his  nativity  initil 
after  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account  in  Irof|uois  cminty. 
taking  up  his  abode  uixrn  a  farm  about  six  miles 
southeast  of  (  )iiarga  in  November.  iS^Vi.  There 
for  a  long  period  he  tilled  the  soil  and  cultivated 
his  cro])s.  He  also  handled  stock,  making  a 
specialty  of  imported  Norman  and  Percheron 
horses  for  years.  He  gave  close  and  imremit- 
ting  attention  to  his  business  and  deriveil  tlure- 
from  a  gratifying  an<l  satisfying  income,  which 
in  course  of  years  accumulateil  until  he  was  in 
jxissession  of  a  very  desirable  comiu-tence.  I  Ic 
then  sold  his  farm  and  removed  to  (Iilman,  where 
for  thirteen  years  he  has  lived  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Saum  was  first  married  in  I'lclvidere.  Illi- 
nois, to  Miss  Margaret  P.irchfield.  of  DeKalb 
county,  who  died  December  14.  i8<>4.  at  the  age 
of  fifty-one  years.  They  had  two  sons.  Claude 
N..  a  i)racticing  attorney  of  Watseka.  Illinois, 
of  the  firm  of  Kay,  Saum  &  Kay ;  and  Roy  f ;., 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  who  is  now  attending 
the  College  of  Physicians  an<l  Surgeons  at  Chi- 
cago, as  a  member  of  the  class  of  i<)o8.  In  De- 
cember, i8<K>.  Mr.  Saum  marrie(\  his  present  wife, 
who  bore  the  maitlen  name  of  .\nna  Green  and  is 
a  daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  (ireen.  for- 
merlv  of  this  county,  but  now  residents  of  Indi- 
ana. l"or  several  years,  however,  they  resided 
upon  a  farm  nine  miles  west  of  .\shkum.  and  on 
selling  that  property  Mr.  ( "ireen  ))urchase<l  a 
farm  near  .\mboy  and  t'onversc.  In<liana.  Mrs. 
Sainn  is  a  n:uive  of  this  state  and  was  reared 
within  its  Ijorders. 


630 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Politically  Mr.  Saiim  has  always  supported  the 
principles  of  democracy  but  has  never  accepted 
office.  He  belongs  to  the  ]\Iasonic  lodge  at 
Onarga  and  in  his  life  exemplifies  the  beneficent 
spirit  of  the  craft,  being  in  hearty  sympathy  with 
its  tenets  and  teachings.  He  justly  merits  the 
rest  which  he  is  now  enjoying  and  his  life  is  an 
excellent  illustration  of  the  fact  that  success 
comes  as  the  outcome  of  clear  judgment,  expe- 
rience and  untiring  labor. 


EDWIN  S.  HERRON. 

Illinois  with  its  great  agricultural  possibilities 
affords  a  splendid  field  of  labor  to  those  who  en- 
gage in  the  grain  trade  and  to  this  line  of  activity 
Edwin  S.  Herron  has  devoted  his  energies  for 
about  eight  years.  He  is  a  native  son  of  Illinois 
and  possesses  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  deter- 
mination which  has  been  a  dominant  factor  in 
the  growth  and  upbuilding  of  this  great  state. 
His   birth   occurred   in    Piatt    countv,    April    11, 

1873- 

His  father,  the  Hon.  William  (1.  Herron,  was 
born,  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio,  and  about 
1850  removed  to  Illinois,  establishing  his  home 
in  Monticello,  Piatt  county,  where  he  was  en- 
gaged in  business  for  about  twenty-five  years. 
Subsequently  he  removed  to  Vermilion  coimty, 
Illinois.  He  was  married,  however,  in  Piatt 
county,  to  Miss  Eveline  Robinson,  who  spent  the 
days  of  her  girlhood  in  her  native  state — Ohio — 
and  who  accompanied  her  husband  on  tlie  re- 
moval to  Vermilion  county,  where  her  death  oc- 
curred in  1895.  ^ft"-  Herron  is  now  living  retired 
in  Vermilion  county  but  for  many  years  led  a 
mo.st  active  and  useful  life.  and.  moreover,  exert- 
ed a  wide  and  beneficial  influence  in  public  affairs. 
A  .stalwart  champion  of  the  republican  partv  he 
was  elected  to  a  number  of  positions  of  public 
honor  and  trust  and  was  chosen  to  represent 
^''ermilion  county  in  the  state  legislature,  serving 
in  the  forty-fir.'st  Illinois  general  asscmblv.  \^'hile 
a  member  of  the  house  he  was  on  a  number  of  im- 
portant committees.  His  opinions  have  often 
been  decisive  factors  in  matters  relating  to  the 
general  welfare.  In  both  Piatt  and  ^^ermilion 
counties   he   is    recognized   as   n    prominent    and 


valued  citizen  and  he  is  now  living  in  honorable 
retirement  in  the  latter. 

Edwin  S.  Herron  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight 
children,  six  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  are 
yet  living:  George  N.,  who  follows  farming  near 
Osceola,  Iowa ;  William  H.,  who  is  in  the  gov- 
ernment employ  on  the  geological  survey  of  Illi- 
nois, Wisconsin,  South  Dakota  and  Iowa,  and 
is  a  man  of  splendid  educational  qualifications, 
who  was  graduated  from  Columbia  University 
and  has  been  in  the  government  service  for  twen- 
ty-two years ;  John  H.,  who  is  a  man  of  excellent 
business  and  executive  ability  and  is  now  a  grain 
commission  merchant  in  Chicago :  Edwin ;  T.  C. 
who  is  living  in  Milford ;  and  Alfred,  who  is 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade  at  Sidell,  Illinois. 
One  sister,  Mrs.  F.  W.  Martin,  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  ^lartin,  professor  of  chemistry  in  the 
Woman's  College,  at  Lynchburg,  Virginia,  and 
the  younger  is  the  wife  of  J.  ^I.  Keeney,  of  Dan- 
ville. 

Edwin  S.  Herron  was  reared  in  Vermilion 
county,  and  after  acquiring  his  preliminary  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  he  became  a  student 
in  Chaddock  College,  at  Ouincy,  Illinois.  Sub- 
sequently he  spent  a  year  in  Spencerian  Brothers 
College,  at  Washington,  D.  C.  where  he  received 
thorough  and  practical  business  training,  and  when 
he  had  completed  his  education  he  accepted  a  po- 
sition in  the  bank  at  Allerton,  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  for  five  years.  In  1899  he  came  to  Mil- 
ford  and  purchased  an  elevator,  which,  however- 
was  soon  destroyed  by  fire.  In  fact  it  was  burned 
before  Mr.  Herron  took  possession.  He  soon  re- 
built the  elevator  and  has  since  engaged  in  the 
grain  trade  with  very  gratifying  success.  The 
rich  farming  land  of  this  ]iart  of  the  country 
brings  forth  bounteous  harvests,  and  the  work 
of  the  fields  gives  ample  opportunity  for  activ- 
il\-  in  the  line  in  which  he  is  now  operating. 
I'rom  the  beginning  of  liis  connection  with  the 
business  life  of  the  town  Mr.  Herron  has  en- 
joyed constantly  growing  success,  his  liusini'ss  in- 
creasing annually  in  volume  and  importance. 

In  commimity  affairs  he  has  also  figured  prom- 
inently and  has  wielded  a  wide  intluince.  For 
two  years  he  has  been  jiresidcnt,  or  mayor,  of  the 
town  and  has  given  a  public-spirited  and  business- 
like administration  that  has  been  of  material 
benefit   in  numicipal   life.    For  a  still   longer  pe- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


Oil 


riod  he  has  Ix-cn  coiuK-cli-tl  witli  the  tuvvn  hoard 
and  his  election  to  tliese  offices  has  come  as  a 
canthdate  of  tlic  rci)iihlicaii  |)arty.  Ho  is  promi- 
nent socially,  belonging  to  the  Masonic  frater- 
nity, in  which  he  is  now  serving  as  njaster,  and  he 
has  also  been  rc])resci)tative  of  his  lotlge  to  the 
grand  lodge,  lie  is  likewise  connecteil  with  W'at- 
seka  chapter  and  has  attained  the  Knight  Tem- 
plar degree  in  the  cominandery. 

Mr.  Herron  was  married  in  Danville.  Illinois, 
October  lo,  1901,  to  Miss  Grace  Southworth, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  \'erniilioii  count) 
and  was  educated  in  the  Champaign  high  school. 
They  have  one  son,  Horace  S.  Herron.  Mrs. 
Herron  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  and  the  family  are  prominent  .socially, 
having  a  circle  of  friends  almost  coextensive 
with  the  circle  of  their  acquaintance.  The  influ- 
ence which  Mr.  Herron  has  wielded  over  public 
affairs  has  shown  him  to  be  a  loyal  citizen  and 
one  who  has  the  best  interests  of  the  community 
at  heart.  While  cherishing  high  ideals,  he  util- 
izes the  practical  mctliofls  at  hand  and  is  a  man 
of  action  rather  than  thcorv. 


FREDERICK  TOWXSEXD. 

Frederick  Townsend,  who  owns  and  conducts 
a  valuable  fruit  farm  and  nursery  a  half  mile 
east  of  Tliawvillc,  has  sixty  acres  utilized  for  this 
purpose  and  is  regarded  throughout  this  part  of 
the  state  as  authority  on  horticultural  matters. 
He  was  born  in  Oxfordshire.  England,  July  20. 
1852,  a  son  of  John  Townsend,  who  was  also  a 
native  of  England  and  a  farmer  by  occupation. 
On  the  "merrie  isle"  he  wedded  .Miss  EIiz;i  .\lobly 
and  they  became  the  parents  of  twelve  children. 

Their  son  Frederick  was  reared  in  the  land  of 
his  nativity  and  was  educated  there,  enjoying 
good  school  advantages.  He  also  learned  the 
butcher's  trade  in  that  country  and  followed  it  for 
about  five  years.  He  was  married  there  in  the 
spring  of  1874  to  Miss  Margaret  Welsh,  a  na- 
tive of  luigland  and  a  d;iughter  of  .'Stephen  Welsh, 
who  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descert.  I'ollowing  his 
marriage  he  continued  to  engage  in  butchering 
for  some  years  ere  he  detennincd  to  seek  his 
home  in  America. 


Crossing  the  Atlantic,  Mr.  Townsend  made  his 
way  to  Qiicago,  where  he  was  employed  in  .1 

p.ickiiig  house  for  alwut  six  months,  subswiuent 
to  which  time  he  came  t<j  Thawville.  Here  he 
wurketl  out  by  the  month  for  two  years,  after 
which  he  rented  land  and  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  own  account  for  four  years.  He  next  pnr- 
cliased  the  old  Hutler  pbce  of  one  iiuntlred  and 
fifty  acres,  which  he  further  im|)roved  and  de- 
velo|Kd,  carrying  on  farm  work  there  f<ir  two 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  with  his  family  re- 
moved to  ( )regon.  He  s|»ent  five  months  in  that 
state,  but  not  liking  the  climate  or  country  he 
returnetl  to  Ir<K|Uois  county  and  again  took  up 
his  .ilMxIe  at  Thawville,  purchasing  a  |)lace  u|M>n 
which  he  made  his  home.  There  were  no  im- 
provements ui)on  it  at  that  time  and  he  at  once  be- 
gan t(»  cultivate  the  land  and  add  the  e<|uipments 
of  a  mo<lel  farm.  He  erected  a  go<Hl  dwelling 
and  also  built  a  gocKl  liarn  and  other  substantial 
outbuildings  for  the  shelter  of  grain  and  stock. 
The  farm  is  totlay  well  improved  and  indicates  in 
its  excellent  apj)earance  the  careful  supervision 
and  progressive  practical  methods  of  the  owner. 
Mr.  Townsend  also  began  dealing  in  nursery 
stock  and  later  put  in  his  own  nursery.  He  has 
now  been  conducting  business  along  this  line 
for  fifteen  years,  in  which  connection  he  has  a 
lilx-ral  and  well  merited  patronage,  disposing  of 
hundreds  of  trees  aimually.  He  also  raises  much 
small  fruit,  having  l)erries  of  all  varieties,  to- 
gether with  njany  varieties  of  peaches  and  plums. 
He  is  likewise  making  a  specialty  of  the  raising 
of  full  blmidetl  liarred  Plymouth  Rock  chickens 
and  has  raised  registered  birds  for  twelve  years, 
exhibiting  his  stock  annually  at  the  poultry  shows 
and  winning  many  premiums.  He  has  the  best 
stock  in  Iroquois  county  and  is  well  known  in  this 
connection.  He  has  recently  divided  four  acres 
of  his  fann  into  town  lots,  for  which  he  is  find- 
ing a  ready  sale,  and  las  erected  a  nice  residence 
in  the  village,  where  he  is  now  living. 

Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Townsend  arc  the  parents  of 
three    children :      riioelK",    the    wife    of    C.    A. 

Thrasher,  of  Thawville,  wlio  is  mentioned  else- 
where in  this  work  ;  Nellie,  at  home :  and  George, 

who  assists  in  the  nursery. 

Mr.  Townsend  is  a  member  of  the  IiuiipeiKlent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Thawville,  in  which  he 
is  a  past  grand.  He  is  likewise  connected  with 
Thawville  camp,   M.  W.  A.,  and  his  wife  is  a 


632 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


member  of  the  Congregational  church.  In  poHtics 
he  is  a  democrat  where  state  and  national  issues 
are  involved  but  at  local  elections  votes  independ- 
ently. He  has  served  as  highway  commissioner 
for  nine  years  and  has  been  on  the  town  board 
for  three  years  or  since  its  organization.  Ho  is 
much  interested  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  growth 
and  development  of  the  village  and  his  co-opera- 
tion can  always  be  counted  upon  to  further  any 
movement  for  the  public  good.  He  has  never  had 
occasion  to  regret  his  determination  to  come  to 
America  to  enjoy  the  better  business  privileges 
and  opportunities  of  the  new  world,  for  here  he 
has  made  steady  progress  and  occupies  now  an  en- 
viable place  in  business  circles  in  Iroquois  county. 


WILLIAM  H.  HUDSOX. 

William  11.  Hudson,  living  on  ^section  18. 
liclmont  townshij).  his  fanning  interests  em- 
bracing four  hundred  acres  of  arable,  productive 
land,  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  resides 
December  16.  1855.  His  father.  Jnhn  Hudson, 
is  a  native  of  Delaware,  born  Xovember  6,  181 4, 
and  is  a  son  of  John  Hudson,  Sr..  who  brought 
his  family  to  Illinois  in  1830.  the  tri]j  being 
made  by  team,  with  one  horse  hitched  to  a  light 
wagon  and  three  to  a  large  wagon.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  iliree  sons  and  three  dau.ghters  and 
the  four  children  of  one  daughter,  who  was  then 
a  willow.  The  family  settled  in  Iroquois  county 
in  1834  and  tlie  .grandfather  erected  the  first 
frame  building  on  his  side  of  the  creek.  Seven- 
ty-two years  have  come  and  gone  since  the  Hud- 
son family  located  here.  brin,ging  nian\-  chan,ges, 
for  at  that  ])eriod  Indians  still  lived  in  this  sec- 
tion of  the  state  and  there  had  l)een  few  set- 
tlements made.  Here  and  there  was  a  little  iiatcli 
of  ground  cultivated,  showing  that  the  fir.st  seeds 
of  civilization  had  been  iilanted.  The  homes 
were  mostly  log  cabins  and  all  of  the  conditions 
of   ])ionecr   life   were  to   be   met. 

Amid  such  environments  John  Hudson.  Jr.. 
was  reared  and  when  he  had  arrived  at  years  of 
maturity  he  married  Rebecca  Horner.  wIki  was 
a  widow  with  six  children.  I'ollowing  his  mar- 
ria.ge  he  turned  his  atlentinn  to  merchandising 
in  .\Iilfiird,  wlure  lie  carried  cm  business  for  sev- 


eral vears.  He  then  sold  out  and  jnirchased  rail- 
road land  on  section  18,  liclmont  township, 
where  he  still  resides.  He  built  a  house  there 
and  has  continued  upon  the  farm  since  that  time 
with  exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  W'at- 
seka.  He  is  today  one  of  the  most  venerable 
citizens  of  the  county,  having  reached  his  ninety- 
second  year,  and,  moreover,  he  is  one  of  its  old- 
est settlers,  for  the  period  of  his  residence  here 
covers  more  than  the  Psalmist's  allotted  span  of 
three  score  years  and  ten.  He  cast  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  ^^'illiam  Henry  Harrison. 
His  wife  died  in  1885.  There  were  but  two 
children  in  the  family,  the  elder  being  John,  who 
died   in   infancy. 

William  H.  Hudson  was  reared  upon  the  home 
farm  and  had  but  common-school  advantages. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  in  partnership  with 
his  father  and  has  long  since  relieved  him  of  all 
active  work  and  care  of  the  farm.  He  has  lived 
a  life  of  industry  and  enterprise  and  has  added 
man\-  modern  ecjuipments  to  the  farm.  He  has 
made  additions  to  the  dwelling,  has  built  a  .good 
barn  and  shed,  has  tiled  and  fenced  the  place 
and  has  e(|ui])ped  it  with  all  modern  accessories. 
He  has  likewise  raised  good  graded  stock  and 
he  annually  harvests  large  crops.  In  T(P4  he 
bought  a  steam-threshing  outfit  and  corn-sheller 
and  now  does  threshing  over  a  considerable 
territory. 

( )n  the  lOtli  of  A])ril.  1883,  .Mr.  Hudson  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  l'"rances  Smith,  who 
died  eight  vears  later,  leaving  two  children,  while 
one  had  passed  away  in  infancy.  Those  still 
living  are  Jessie  I'l..  who  is  now  married;  and 
Porter  Ray,  at  home.  In  hebruary,  1897,  Mr. 
Hudson  was  again  married,  his  second  union 
being  with  Mrs.  Matilda  Metcher.  a  widow,  who 
had  two  children:  Laiu'a,  now  the  wife  of  John 
I  lurd  ;  and  May,  the  wife  of  Harry  Kissick. 
Lnto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hudson  has  been  born  one 
son,  William,  whose  natal  day  was  January  18, 
1902. 

Mr.  Hudson  belongs  to  the  Modern  Woodmen 
camp  at  Watseka,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  con- 
nected with  the  Royal  .Xeighbors.  They  attend 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Woodland 
and  in  politics  he  is  an  earnest  republican  where 
the  issues  of  the  countrv  are  involved  but  at  local 
elections  casts  an  indeix-ndent  ballot,  nor  has  he 


|i  >ll\   lllDSdN. 


•^SITV  Of  ILLIKOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


f>ii 


ever  soiij^ln  or  ilcsircil  i)ffico  as  a  reward  idr 
|)art\'  feally.  llis  life  has  been  active  ami  his 
(lilij^eiice  aiul  capable  discernment  in  business 
affairs  have  br(iiif;lu  him  a  jjimkIIv  measure  of 
success.  In  the  county  where  he  has  always  lived 
he  enjoys  to  the  fullest  extent  the  confidence  and 
gCKxl  will  of  those  whi>  know  him  and  has  made 
a  creditable  record  in  business  circles  as  a 
straightforward,  trustworthy  man.  The  work 
instituted  by  his  jjrandfather  and  continued  by 
his  father  is  now  beinjf  carried  on  by  him  anil 
he  is  a  worthy  re])resentative  of  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  honored  pioneer   families. 


LY.M.VX   DARLlXt;. 


Lyman  Uarliufj.  a  retired  farmer  living  in  Shel- 
don, was  born  in  Coshocton  county.  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 6.  1840.  His  father.  Jacob  Darling,  was  a 
native  of  Hardy  county.  West  \irginia.  anil  in 
1806,  only  a  few  years  after  the  admission  of 
Ohio  into  the  I'nion.  he  was  taken  to  that  stale 
by  bis  parents.  His  birth  bad  occurred  in  1800. 
so  that  he  w-as  a  little  lad  of  only  alx)ut  six  years 
at  the  time  the  family  home  was  cstablislieil  in 
the  Uuckeye  state.  There  be  was  reared  to  man- 
hood and  engaged  in  fanning,  having  two  hun- 
drefl  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land  in  Coshocton 
county,  which  he  tleveloped  into  a  good  farm.  He 
married  Temperance  Evans,  of  that  county,  and 
tbe_\  became  the  jiarents  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  four  are  now  living. 

Of  this  number  Lmian  Darling  is  now  a  resi- 
dent of  Iroijuois  county.  The  days  of  his  lx)yhood 
and  youth  were  passed  in  the  state  of  his  nativity 
and  he  early  became  familiar  with  all  the  duties 
and  lalxirs  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  agriculturist. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  public  schools, 
which  he  attended  through  the  winter  nronths, 
while  in  the  summer  seasons  be  worked  on  the 
hon)C  farm.  In  the  year  i8<'i7  he  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Illinois,  making  the  journey  by  wagon — 
a  distance  of  four  hundred  miles.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  after  traveling  for 
eleven  days  they  arrived  in  Iroquois  county.  Mr. 
Darling  then  purchased  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
three  acres  of  land  on  sections  2.  11  and  13,  Con- 
cord township,  from  B.  Fry.  He  paid  thirty  dol- 
37 


lars  per  acre  for  this  pn>pert\.  which  is  today 
worth  one  Innnlred  and  fifty  dollars  per  acre. 
There  was  a  small  house  u|Min  the  place,  to  which 
be  afterward  added,  making  a  CDn)fort;d)Ie  and 
commodious  residence.  He  aNo  built  barns  and 
put  up  corn  cribs  and  other  outbuildings  for  the 
atlei|uate  shelter  of  grain,  stock  and  farm  ma- 
chinery. He  likewi.se  fenced  the  fields  and  put 
in  four  miles  of  tiling.  He  now  owns  one  hun- 
dred anil  si.Nty-three  acres  of  land  on  .section  t^. 
Concord  township,  and  has  eight  and  a  half  acres 
in  timlK-r.  Day  after  day,  month  after  month  and 
year  after  year  he  continued  the  work  of  the  farm, 
bringing  his  land  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation 
and  adding  to  tlie  |)Iac^'  many  nxidern  equipments. 
He  tilled  the  fields  and  also  raised  hogs  and  cattle 
and  was  thus  actively  engaged  with  farming  inter- 
ests until  i8<>8.  when  he  put  aside  the  active 
duties  of  business  life  and  removed  to  Sheldon, 
l)urchasing  a  home  on  l-irst  and  Center  streets. 
I  le  has  remodeled  and  added  to  this  property  and 
is  now  very  comfortably  situated  in  life.  Since 
leaving  the  farm  his  .son  Frank  has  operated  it. 

On  the  22(\  of  Xovember.  1866,  in  Coshocton 
county.  Ohio.  .Mr.  Darling  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Xancy  E.  Crouch,  who  was  born  in  that 
state  in  1846.  They  liavc  become  the  parents  of 
two  children  but  the  elder  son,  William  J.,  is  now 
deceased.  In  his  ])olitical  views  .Mr.  Darling  has 
long  been  a  stalwart  democrat  and  served  as  road 
commissioner  for  one  term.  He  also  filled  the 
office  of  school  director  but  his  business  interests 
claim  the  greater  part  of  his  time  and  attention 
to  the  exclusion  of  active  |)articipation  in  political 
interests.  He  belongs  to  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  his  life  has  been  honorable  and  upright,  in 
strict  conformity  with  his  professions.  He  has 
won  lx)th  succe.ss  and  an  honorable  name  and 
well  deserves  mention  in  the  history  of  this  comi- 
ty, having  for  many  years  Ix-en  closely  associated 
with  its  agricultural  interests. 


I<  )HX    I).   W  IIITR. 


John  D.  \\hite.  a  worthy  representative  of  the 
farming  interests  of  Sheldon,  his  native  town- 
ship, was  here  l>orn  January  6.  1868.  His  father, 
David  White,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  whence  he 


636 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  ( )r 


emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  i860  and  made 
his  way  to  Sheldon  township,  this  county,  in 
1867,  where  he  purchased  a  tract  of  forty  acres, 
situated  on  section  28.  tie,  however,  added  to 
his  original  purchase  from  time  to  time,  owning 
at  present  two  hundred  and  fourteen  acres  on 
section  2?>  besides  another  tract  of  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  on  section  32.  He  made  all  of 
the  improvements  which  are  today  seen  on  the 
place  and  continued  in  agricultural  pursuits  un- 
til 1900,  when  he  retired  and  removed  to  Sheldon, 
where  he  has  since  made  his  home.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Amanda  Himelright,  and  of 
their  eleven  children  ten  are  now  living. 

John  D.  White  supplemented  his  early  educa- 
tion, acquired  in  the  country  schools,  by  a  course 
in  a  business  college  at  Onarga.  He  remained 
with  his  father  on  the  home  farm  until  he  had 
attained  his  majority,  when  he  started  out  upon 
an  independent  business  career  by  renting  land  in 
Prairie  Green  township,  carrying  on  general  ag- 
ricultural pursuits  there  for  several  years,  or  un- 
til 1903.  wlien  he  took  up  his  abode  on  the  farm 
belonging  to  his  father,  the  place  comprising  one 
hundred  au'l  sixty  acres  on  section  32.  Sheldon 
township.  He  has  made  many  improvements 
since  coming  to  this  place  and  is  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock-raising. 

^Ir.  ^^'hite  was  married  in  Chicago,  in  19OT. 
to  Miss  Pearl  Goodland.  who  was  born  in  Simcoe. 
Norfolk  county.  Canada,  in  18S2.  and  by  her  mar- 
riage she  has  become  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren. Ada  ATay.  John  Wilber  and  Elmer  Eugene. 
Mr.  White  gives  his  political  support  to  the  dem- 
ocratic parly.  TTc  is  progressive  in  carrying  on 
his  business  interests,  in  which  he  is  meeting  with 
good  success,  and  no  doubt  the  future  holds  in 
store  for  him  still  greater  success. 


CHARLES  C.  SHRIMPLTN. 

Charles  C.  Shrimplin  is  one  of  the  voung  and 
enterprising  farmers  of  Concord  township,  who 
has  a  wide  circle  of  warm  friends  and  is  popular 
with  those  who  know  him.  PTe  was  born  in  Knox 
county.  Ohio.  September  23,  1880.  and  is  a  brother 
of  Robert  Sanford  Shrimplin.  who  is  mentioned 
on  another  page  of  this  work,  and  in  connection 


therewith  is  given  a  history  of  the  family. 
Charles  C.  Shrimplin,  reared  under  the  parental 
roof,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  On 
attaining  his  majority  he  began  farming  on  his 
own  account  upon  land  belonging  to  his  father, 
and  he  has  since  devoted  his  time  and  energies 
to  the  work  of  tilling  the  soil  and  raising  stock. 
He  now  farms  three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of 
land  which  under  his  care  and  supervision  is 
highly  cultivated,  and  for  two  years  he  has  also 
owned  and  operated  a  threshing  machine,  doing 
a  good  business  in  this  way  through  the  harvest 
season.  He  owns  and  raises  nothing  but  very  high 
grade  horses  and  has  some  fine  animals  upon  his 
place.  He  believes  in  attaining  the  highest  degree 
of  perfection  possible  in  all  of  his  work  and  has 
kept  in  touch  with  the  progressive  spirit  of  the 
times  as  manifested  in  all  lines  of  business  life. 
His  political  allegiance  is  given  to  the  democracy 
but  he  has  never  sought  or  desired  office,  prefer- 
ring to  concentrate  his  time  and  energies  upon  his 
business  afifairs,  and  although  a  young  man  he 
has  made  a  creditable  name  for  himself  as  an 
enterprising  farmer  and  one  thoroughly  reliable 
in  all  business  transactions.  He  is  a  member  of 
Sheldon  lodge.  No.  609.  A.  F.  &  A.  M..  and 
when  he  joined  the  organization  he  was  its  young- 
est member  in  Sheldon. 


JOSEPH  SCHAFER. 

Joseph  .Schafer,  a  very  successful  farmer,  who 
for  the  past  thirteen  years  has  cultivated  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres  of  land  on  sections  16  and 
17,  Chebanse  township,  was  born  in  Kendall 
county,  Illinois,  Februar\-  9.  1S64.  and  is  a  son 
of  Anton  and  Katie  (Eong)  Schafer.  The  father 
was  born  in  Westphalia.  Germany,  and  on  com- 
ing t(i  the  new  world  in  1851,  settled  in  Bristol. 
Kendall  county.  Illinois.  He  was  married  in 
Aurora.  January  12.  1856.  to  Katie  Long,  a 
daughter  of  M.  Long,  and  in  1856  they  came  to 
Iroquois  county,  locating  on  a  farm  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty  acres.  Mr.  Schafer  subsequently 
I)urchased  another  tract  of  eighty  acres  and  still 
later  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  in 
Kankakee  county.  In  connection  with  general 
farming   he    gave    considerable   attention    to   the 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINCJIS. 


637 


raising  :iiul  feeding  of  stock  and  in  his  business 
undertakings  was  very  successful,  so  tliat  he  was 
able  to  retire  from  active  labor  in  i8«ji.  He 
spent  his  last  years  in  t'helwnse,  where  he  ilied  in 
June,  1906,  ami  where  his  widow  is  still  living;. 
Although  he  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  he 
afterward  became  a  democrat  and  held  the  offices 
of  road  commissioner,  school  director  an<l  trustee. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Catholic 
church  of  Chebanse,  of  which  he  was  a  faithful 
member,  and  was  honore<l  and  respected  wherever 
known. 

.\t  the  usual  aj;e  Joseph  Schafcr  entered  the 
public  schools  and  therein  mastered  the  branches 
of  learning  that  qualified  him  for  the  <luties  of  a 
business  life.  He  received  ample  training  in 
farm  work  on  the  old  homestead  and  has  always 
enpajjed  in  general  agricultural  pursuits  though 
for  the  period  of  ten  years  between  18K4  and 
i8<>4.  he  also  devoted  considerable  attention  to 
the  manufacture  of  tile  in  the  village  of  Che- 
ban.sc.  On  the  expiration  of  that  jieriod  he  re- 
tiretl  from  the  latter  pursuit  and  is  now  success- 
fully devoting  his  time  and  energies  to  the  task 
of  tilling  the  soil  and  caring  for  the  crops. 

On  the  otli  of  February.  iS«)2.  in  Kankakee. 
Illinois.  Mr.  Schafer  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  -Xnna  Clark,  and  unto  them  have  birn  lK>rn 
five  children :  Harry  \\'..  Florence  C,  N'ellie, 
Joseph  and  Hazel.  The  parents  are  communi- 
cants of  the  Catholic  church  at  Chelianse  and 
^^r.  .Schafer  is  a  meml)er  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men camp,  Xo.  c)f)4,  in  that  village.  His  study 
of  the  political  issues  and  f|uesiion';  >>f  thi-  rlay 
has  led  him  to  give  his  allegiance  to  the  demo- 
cratic party  but  he  has  never  been  a  i)olitician 
in  the  sense  of  office  seeking,  preferring  to  devote 
lii<  tttnf  .niid  fiK-rrriis  tn  Ills  1iii<inf^s  .TfT.iir^ 


T.  G.  WILLIAMS. 


J.  G.  Williams,  president  of  the  Citizens'  State 
IJank  of  Walseka.  has  througliout  his  entire  busi- 
ness career  l)een  connected  with  financial  inter- 
ests, so  that  bankin.j  is  entirely  familiar  to  him 
in  its  various  branches.  He  was  instrinnental, 
with  his  associates,  in  establishing  the  institution, 
of  which  he  is  now  the  head,  on  a  safe,  substan- 


tial basis,  which  las  awakened  unifunn  confi- 
dence, and  in  his  business  life  has  commanded 
the  nnc|ualihed  trust  and  goiMl  will  of  all. 

A  native  of  Irotjuois  county,  .Mr.  Williams  was 
bom  in  Itclmont  tuwn&hip.  July  11.  iiM9.  a  son 
of  .Samuel  and  L'atharine  Williams,  who  came 
U)  Ir»K|Uois  county  in  the  early  '40s  and  entered 
lantl  from  the  government,  making  their  home 
thereon  until  the  death  of  the  father  in  iK«/).  He 
took  an  active  and  helpful  part  in  public  affairs 
of  the  county,  asitle  from  his  agricultural  inter- 
ests, and  was  county  judge  for  one  temi.  He 
was  also  president  of  the  h'irst  Xaiiciual  Hank 
for  ciglnecn  years  and  later  was  connected  with 
the  Citizens'  Hank.  The  extent  and  imixTlance 
of  his  business  interests  made  him  one  of  the 
substantial  citizens  of  the  county  and  in  all  life's 
relations  he  sustaine-.l  an  unassailable  reputation, 
that  made  him  valued  in  business,  in  public  and 
in  social  life.  In  the  family  were  fcMir  sons,  all 
yet  living:  J.  Ci..  of  this  review;  (ieorge  M..  at 
Wixxlland,  this  county  ;  John  S.,  at  <  )narim  :  and 
I'rank  L.,  at  Guthrie,  Oklahoma. 

.\fter  mastering  the  comnion  brauiiics  ut 
learning  in  the  district  scIkxjIs,  J.  (j.  Williams 
became  a  student  in  Graml  Seminary  and  Com- 
mercial College,  at  Onarga,  his  education  being 
'afong  practical  and  business  lines.  He  was 
graduatetl  in  1869.  His  early  boyhooti  days  ha<l 
been  sjn-nt  u|M>n  his  father's  farm,  where 
through  the  siunmer  months  he  assisted  in  the 
labors  of  the  fields,  but  after  his  graduation  he 
was  given  a  |'Osition  in  the  I-'irst  National  I^ink 
of  Watseka.  as  lx)okkee]K-r.  while  later  he  was 
assistant  cashier,  remaining  in  the  employ  of  the 
iKink  for  eighteen  \ears.  In  18A)  he  took  an  in- 
terest in  the  Citizens'  Hank  of  Watseka,  in  con- 
nection with  his  father.  W.  M.  Coney  and  F. 
I*.  .Martin.  The  strong  financial  combination 
and  the  wide  acquaintance  of  the  meml)ers  of  the 
firm  soon  built  up  a  large  business  and  in  1904 
the  institution  was  nicor]K)rate<l  imder  the  laws 
of  the  state  ami  is  now  the  Citizens'  State  Rank 
of  Wat.seka,  with  J.  G.  Williams  as  president.  It 
is  now  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  reliable 
moneyed  concerns  of  the  county,  the  policy  which 
has  ever  In-en  followe<l  conmicnding  it  to  the  con- 
fidence and  support  of  a!!  In  addition  to  his 
Innking  interests  Mr.  Williams  owns  several 
himdre<I  acres  of  gootl  farm  land  and  is  also  in- 
terested in  live-stock  raising,  especially  in  pure- 


638 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


bred  shorthorn  cattle,  of  which  he  owns  a  fine 
herd. 

In  1871  Mr.  W'ilUanis  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Orra  A.  Benson  and  they  are  most  widel}' 
and  favoraliy  known  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Wilhams  belongs  to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  work  and  for  many 
years  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday- 
school.  While  loyal  to  his  church  and  his  pastor, 
he  is  not  sectarian,  believing  that  there  is  much 
good  in  all  churches  and  manifesting  at  all  times 
the  liroad  humanitarian  spirit  which  does  not  ad- 
mit of  harsh  criticism  of  those  who  differ  from 
him. 

In  politics  Mr.  \\'illiams  is  a  republican  but  is 
not  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  served,  however, 
for  one  term  on  the  board  of  county  supervisors 
and  two  terms  in  the  city  council.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  public  library  board  and  is  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  Welles  estate  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  school  for  poor  boys.  He  has  had 
a  large  experience  in  the  settlement  of  estates 
and  enjoys  the  unlimited  confidence  of  the  public 
who  have  placed  in  his  care  a  large  amount  of 
property.  Thoroughly  reliable,  broad  minded 
and  liberal  in  his  views,  and  living  up  to  high 
ideals  concerning  man's  relations  to  his  fellow- 
men,  there  is  no  citizen  of  Watseka  more  hon- 
ored and  respected  than  J.  G.  Williams. 


CARL  THEESFELD. 


A  good  farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixtv  acres 
on  section  25,  Onarga  township,  is  the  property 
of  Carl  Theesfeld,  who  since  1868  has  lived  in 
Iroquois  county,  coming  to  this  state  immediately 
after  crossing  the  Atlantic  from  Germany,  his 
native  country.  He  was  born  in  the  fatherland, 
September  22,  1840,  and  the  years  of  his  boyhood 
and  youth  were  there  passed,  while  his  education 
was  acquired  in  the  public  schools.  Having 
heard  favorable  reports  of  business  conditions 
here  and  the  opportunities  which  were  open  to 
ambitious,  industrious  young  men,  he  resolved 
to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  new  world  and  bade 
adieu   to   friends   and    native  cnuntrv.     He  then 


secured  passage  on  a  sailing  vessel  at  Bremen 
and  after  eight  weeks  on  the  broad  Atlantic 
landed  at  Baltimore  in  December,  1868.  He  did 
not  pause  in  his  journey  there,  however,  but  con- 
tinued on  his  westward  way  until  he  had  arrived 
in  Illinois,  making  his  first  settlement  in  Wood- 
ford county,  where  he  joined  some  friends  of 
his  own  nationality.  He  then  worked  by  the 
month  as  a  farm  hand  for  a  year,  after  which  he 
joined  another  man  in  cultivating  a  rented  farm. 
They  were  together  for  a  year,  after  which  Mr. 
Theesfeld  began   business  independently. 

He  was  first  married  in  Woodford  countv  in 
1870  to  [Nliss  Anna  Jansen,  after  which  he 
rented  a  farm  and  carried  on  general  agricultural 
pursuits  on  his  own  account  in  Woodford  countv 
for  several  years.  He  carefully  saved  his  earn- 
ings during  that  period,  living  as  economically 
and  frugally  as  possible  and  when  his  capital  had 
become  sufficient  to  justify  his  purchase  of  land 
he  bought  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  The 
fact  that  the  farm  was  his  own  was  an  impetus 
for  renewed  effort  and  a  stimulus  for  closer  ap- 
plication. Accordingly  he  at  once  began  to  break 
the  soil  and  fence  the  fields.  He  also  built  a 
house  on  the  property  and  carried  forward  the 
work  of  development  and  improvement,  placing 
many  rods  of  tiling  upon  the  farm  and  thus 
draining  the  land.  As  the  years  have  advanced 
he,  too,  has  progressed  in  his  methods  of  farm 
work  in  keejiing  with  the  spirit  of  modern  ad- 
vancement and  now  has  a  well  improved  prop- 
erty, his  richly  cultivated  fields  surrounding  sub- 
stantial farm  buildings.  In  the  rear  of  the  house 
stands  a  good  barn  and  windpump,  together  with 
sheds  and  the  latest  improved  farm  machinery. 
The  fields  annually  return  rich  har^'ests  and  in 
addition  he  raises  good  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 

In  1882  Mr.  Theesfeld  was  called  upon  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  first  wife,  who  died  leaving 
two  children:  Maggie,  now  the  wife  of  Dan 
Hasburger,  a  farmer  of  Onarga  township ;  and 
John,  who  has  started  out  in  business  for  himself. 
Afr.  Theesfeld  was  married  again,  his  second 
union  being  with  .-Xnna  Defrecse,  a  German  lady, 
who  was  reared  in  the  fatherland.  There  were 
five  children  by  this  marriage  and  the  four  sons, 
Ulrich,  Harm,  Henry  and  Herman,  are  still  liv- 
ing. They  also  lost  a  daughter,  Mary,  who  died 
in  infancv. 


IkdOfom  COUNTY.  ILLIN'om 


•.V» 


Since  lit'oimiii)^  a  naturalucil  Ana  in  an  1iti7.cn 
Mr.  TIktsIcIiI  lia.s  Ik-hi  an  larncsi  npulilican  and 
ha.-i  kc|>t  well  infonniil  on  tho  political  sittiatiun 
of  the  country  and  the  i.>.snes  which  diviile  the 
two  great  parties.  He  has  served  lor  some  >ears 
as  a  school  director,  acting  in  that  ca])ucit)  alto- 
gether for  si.Meen  vears,  and  at  this  writing  he 
is  president  of  the  txiard.  He  and  his  wife  are 
nieinlxTS  of  the  Lnlheran  chnrch,  in  the  faith  of 
which  they  were  reared.  Thirty-eight  years  have 
come  and  gone  since  .\lr.  Iheesfeld  tonk  np  his 
alxKle  in  Illinois  and  while  carrying  forward  his 
own  i)nsiness  interests  he  has  at  the  >ame  time 
ailvanced  the  jjro.^perity  <»f  the  community 
through  his  farm  work.  There  have  come 
])eriods  of  hardship  and  discouragement  to  him 
and  he  has  suffered  many  privations  and  trials  in 
estahlishing  his  home  here  and  in  gaining  a  start 
in  Imsiness.  hut  he  has  persevered  and  in  the 
end  has  triumphed  over  adversity  until  his  posi- 
tion among  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Onarga 
township  is  now  as-^urcd. 


CH.XRLF.S  C.   HROCK. 

Charles  C.  Brock  is  a  general  farnier.  devoting 
his  time  and  energies  to  the  cultivation  of  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  on  sections  t^2  ami  ^^.  Che- 
l>an>e  township,  and  in  addition  to  tilling  the  tieids 
he  makc-s  a  specialty  of  the  raising  of  Poland 
Oiina  hogs.  He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Brock)  Brock,  who  came  fnnn  Kngland  to  the 
United  States  in  1S54  and  scttletl  at  Plainfield, 
Will  county,  Illinois,  where  they  remainerl  until 
1870.  In  that  year  they  came  to  Chekinse  town- 
ship. Iro<iiiois  county,  and  followed  fanning  un- 
til i88<;.  the  father  giving  his  attention  to  gen- 
eral agricultural  pur.-uits  until  he  put  aside  busi- 
ness cares  altogether,  lie  is  now  living  retired 
in  Clifton.  The  family  numlxTed  six  children, 
of  whom  Charles  C.  is  the  third  in  order  t>f  hirth. 
the  record  being  as  follows:  William  F..  a  resi- 
dent of  Clifton:  (ioirge  .\l..  who  is  mayor  of 
Clifton  and  also  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county; 
Charles  C:  .Mfred  S.;  Richard  H.;  and  Kdith. 
the  wife  of  Charles  Trimble,  who  is  principal  of 
the  sclux^ls  at  Clifton. 


The  birth  oi  Lhark>  C  Brock  occurred  m 
I'laintield.  Will  county,  llhnoi.s.  on  the  i  ith  of 
NoveniIxT,  1859.  and  at  the  usual  age  lie  entered 
the  public  schools,  where  he  ac(|niriil  his  educa- 
tion. He  was  ri*ared  to  the  occupation  of  farm- 
ing and  throughout  almost  his  entire  life  lias  fol- 
lowed that  pursuit.  At  one  time  he  engage<l 
<|uite  exten'>ively  in  shipping  slcxk  bm  in  more 
recent  years  has  given  up  that  business  and  now 
devotes  his  imdivide<l  attention  to  the  operation 
of  the  farm,  which  he  lias  brought  tmder  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  so  that  he  annually  gathers 
therefrom  rich  and  aliuntlant  harvests.  He  is 
]>ractical  in  his  methods,  systematic  in  all  that 
he  does  and  displays  an  aptitude  for  successful 
management  thai  is  manifest  in  the  pros|HTity 
that  has  .Utended  him.  Asitle  from  the  tilling  of 
the  soil  he  now  makes  a  specially  of  the  raising 
of  Poland  China  Ikv^s. 

.Mr.  Brink  was  happily  married  on  the  loth  of 
l"ebruary,  itjo^,  at  Clifton,  the  lady  of  his  choice 
iK-ing  Miss  ,\dda  K.  Bosley.  and  unto  them  has 
Ixen  Ixim  a  daughter.  Kdith  F.  .Mr.  Bn)ck  is 
recognized  as  a  stalwart  advocate  of  republican 
]>rinciples  and  in  if<«;j  he  serve<l  as  marshal  of 
tlillon.  He  attends  and  supjxirts  dilTerent  local 
churches  and  is  interested  in  the  general  improve- 
ment and  upbuilding  of  the  county  aUmg  ma- 
teri;tl.  intellectual.  |x)lilical  aiul  moral  lines.  The 
spirit  of  enterprise  which  has  l»een  the  dominant 
factor  in  the  upbuililing  of  the  middle  west  is 
manifest  in  his  life  and  has  maile  him  a  substan- 
tial and  representative  farmer  of  Chelxnnse  town- 
shi]). 


FRKl)  W.  SIEDKNTOP. 

F'red  W.  Sii*dcnlop.  one  of  the  leading  and 
promineiU  farmers  of  Milks  (irove  township,  is 
the  only  son  of  Henry  and  !'"li«alKtli  .Siedentop. 
who  came  to  the  l'nite<!  States  from  (lermany  in 
the  early  Yos  an<l  locatetl  in  Livingston  county, 
Illinois,  where  the  father  followe*!  ihe  occupation 
of  farming  until  1871.  He  then  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  .Milks  (irove  township.  IriKjuois  county, 
and  purchased  land  on  si-ction  j<>,  which  he  still 
owns. 

The  birth  of  I'red  W.  .Siedento|)  ttccnrrcd  in 
SunlK-rry   township,    Livingston   county,   on   the 


640 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


lotli  of  January,  1872,  and  his  education  was 
acquired  in  the  common  schools.  He  worked  in 
the  fields  when  not  busy  with  his  text-books  and 
has  never  sought  to  change  his  occupation  but 
has  always  continued  in  that  line  of  business  life 
in  which  he  was  reared.  As  the  years  have  gone 
by  he  has  met  with  creditable  prosperity  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  an  excellent  farm  of  three  hun- 
dred and  twenty  acres  on  section  24,  Alilks  Grove 
township.  The  land  is  very  arable  and  productive, 
responding  readily  in  rich  harvests  to  the  care 
and  labor  which  he  bestows  upon  it.  In  the 
midst  of  the  fields  stands  good  farm  buildings, 
including  a  pleasant  residence  and  substantial 
barns  and  sheds.  Everything  is  kept  in  a  good 
state  of  repair,  the  latest  improved  machinery  is 
used  to  facilitate  the  work  of  the  fields  and  the 
stock  raised  is  of  good  grades. 

Mr.  Siedentop  was  married,  March  5,  1899, 
upon  his  father's  farm  in  Milks  Grove  township, 
to  Miss  Mary  Hintz,  and  unto  tliem  have  been 
born  two  children :  Walter,  born  May  27,  1901  ; 
and  Ilda,  April  28,  1905.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church  and  Mr.  Siedentop  at- 
tends its  services.  He  votes  with  the  republican 
party  and  keeps  well  informed  on  the  questions 
and  issues  of  the  day  but  has  never  been  an  as- 
pirant for  office,  preferring  to  concentrate  his 
attention  upon  his  business  affairs,  in  which  he  is 
meeting  with  signal  and  gratifying  success.  In 
manner  he  is  pleasant,  genial  and  cultured  and  his 
good  qualities  have  made  him  a  favorite  with  a 
large  circle  of  friends,  while  in  business  circles  he 
sustains  an  unassailable  reputation  for  enterprise 
and  integrity. 


JOHN  CROUCH. 


John  Crouch  is  numbered  among  tlie  leading 
farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Iroquois  county, 
owning  and  operating  about  one  hundred  and 
fifteen  acres  of  well  improved  and  valuable  land 
in  Concord  township,  his  home  being  situated  on 
section  8.  He  is  a  native  of  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  born  January  22,  1838,  a  son  of  William 
and  Sarah  (Lyons)  Crouch,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  the  Buckeve  state.     The  father  fol- 


lowed farming  both  in  his  native  state  and  after 
coming  to  Illinois,  the  year  of  his  arrival  here 
being  1881.  He  is  now  deceased,  his  death  hav- 
ing occurred  in  Iroquois  county  February  24, 
1895.  when  he  was  in  his  eighty-fifth  year.  His 
family  numbered  seven  children,  of  whom  one 
is  deceased. 

John  Crouch  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  county  and  was  reared  to 
farm  life,  which  occupation  he  has  always  made 
his  life  work.  He  was  married  in  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1865,  the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss 
Nancy  E.  Carroll,  who  was  there  born  October 
20,  1843.  Following  their  marriage  they  took 
up  their  abode  in  Coshocton  county,  where  they 
remained  during  the  succeeding  five  years,  when, 
believing  that  he  might  better  provide  for  himself 
and  family  in  the  new  and  growing  west,  in  1870 
he  removed  to  Iroquois  county,  Illinois,  and  rent- 
ed a  farm  in  Concord  township,  whereon  stood 
a  log  house,  in  which  the  family  took  up  their 
abode.  This  building  had  previously  been  used 
as  the  courthouse  of  Iroquois  county. 

In  the  following  spring  Mr.  Crouch  removed 
to  the  Fowler  farm  near  Iroquois,  on  which  he 
made  his  home  for  ten  years.  He  worked  hard 
and  energetically  to  acquire  a  competence,  and 
through  his  economy  and  careful  management 
of  his  business  interests  he  saved  a  sum  sufficient 
to  enable  him  in  1873  to  purchase  a  tract  of 
eighty  acres,  situated  on  sections  8  and  9.  Con- 
cord township.  This  tract  was  the  property  of 
lohn  White,  and  was  entirely  unimproved  when 
it  came  into  possession  of  the  present  owner,  who 
at  once  set  to  work  to  break  the  land,  plow  the 
fields  and  cultivate  his  croiis.  He  also  erected  the 
buildings,  tiled  and  fenced  the  land,  and  in  1887 
erected  a  comfortable  residence,  and  a  good  barn 
thirty-six  by  thirty-two  feet,  with  shed.  As  his 
financial  resources  increased  he  added  to  his  land 
from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  altogether 
one  hundred  and  fifteen  acres,  which  constitutes 
a  good  farm.  He  was  formerly  engaged  in  buy- 
ing and  shipping  stock  ofif  and  on  in  Iroquois  for 
about  twenty  years,  and  now  in  addition  to  carry- 
ing on  general  agricultural  pursuits  he  is  quite 
extensively  engaged  in  the  raising  of  polled  An- 
gus cattle,  and  he  also  raises  some  horses  and 
hogs  for  the  market.  He  has  recently  become  in- 
terested  in    the   industry   of   raising   Shropshire 


%0 


MR.   AND   MRS.   JOHN    (.Roll  II. 


IRDQl'OIS  COUNTY.  II.I.I\"(  )IS. 


'M? 


sluf|>.  iiiiil  in  all  liis  liii>.tiK>s  ;iii,iir>  Ik-  i>  iiiccl- 
iny:  with  very  (lcsiral)lc  and  pralilvinjj  micccss. 

In  his  |M)litical  views  and  affiliations  Mr. 
Cnnicii  is  a  deniucrat,  and  his  wiirth  and  ability 
l)eiiij,'  rec<)>,nnzed  he  has  been  ealled  by  his  fellow 
to\nisnicn  to  fill  a  number  of  public  offices,  hav- 
injr  served  as  siii)ervisor  fur  ten  years  in  ('uncord 
townsinp.  He  was  likewise  collector  for  one 
year  and  has  been  road  conunissioner.  scIuhiI  di- 
rector an<l  school  trustee,  all  of  which  |>osiiions 
he  has  filled  in  a  capable  and  acceptable  manner. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  hold  memlx-rsbip  with  the 
Methodist  Kpisco|)al  dmrch.  The  two  children 
Inirn  to  them.  Willie  ami  X.  IC,  are  Iwith  dc- 
cea.sed.  They  have  reared  a  boy,  Roy  A.  Hamil- 
ton, who  has  made  bis  home  with  them  from  the 
a^e  of  seven  years  and  is  now  nineteen. 

.Mr.  Crouch  has  always  Iwen  fountl  reliable  anii 
trustworthy  in  all  his  business  dealini;s.  ami  to 
his  honesty,  industry  and  ecotinnu  is  diir  the  >inc- 
cess  which  he  has  achievefl. 


FR.WK   niZKNT.KRKV. 

Every  community  has  a  luimlx'r  of  men  who 
stand  at  the  head  of  its  business  interests  and  are 
the  real  ])rumoters  and  upbuilders  of  town  or  city. 
In  this  class  in  Donovan  is  numbered  Frank  Du- 
zenl>erry,  who  is  enj^aj^'cil  in  dealing  in  IuuiIkt, 
building;  materials  and  coal,  and  his  etTorts  are 
so  concentrated  upon  the  substantial  development 
of  his  business  as  to  win  for  him  gratifyinp  suc- 
cess in  the  undertakiufj.  He  was  iKirn  in 
I  leaver  township,  Se]-temlx-r  5.  1873.  and  was  a 
son  of  (larrett  I"),  nuzenberry.  a  native  of  <  )lno, 
who  came  to  IJeaver  township  at  an  early  peritxl 
in  the  tievclopment  of  Iro(|uois  c<ninty.  He 
IhiukIu  a  farm  on  siction  36  and  ma<!e  that  his 
home  until  eij;ht  years  ago.  He  had  three  hun- 
flred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  there,  which  he 
transfonned  front  a  raw  tract  into  richly  de- 
veloped fields.  He  tiled  and  fenced  the  land, 
built  a  comfortable  residence  there  and  carried 
on  peneral  farminp  and  st<Kk-raisinfj  with  |.;iKid 
sticccss.  Kifjht  years  ago,  however,  he  lH)UKht 
eiphty  acres  of  land  in  Concord  township  near 
the  villape  of  InN|uois.  where  he  has  built  n  home 
and    now    resides.      His    wife    liore    the    maiden 


name  oi  Latlitriiie  Karr  and  unt<i  them  have  In-en 
Imrn  seven  children. 

i<'rank  DuzenlH-rrv  snpplrnicnted  his  early 
education,  aci|nirei|  in  the  district  schools,  by 
stutly  in  the  \  al|>araiso  itusiness  College.  He 
live<l  u|Min  the  home  farm  initil  ten  years  a^o  and 
from  early  youth  has  Ix-en  familiar  with  the  Ix-st 
metho<ls  of  tilling  the  soil  and  cnrinj;  for  the 
crops.  I  le  has  fol|owe<l  general  fanuin^.  stock 
raisin};  and  shippiu);.  .Mxiut  six  years  aj^o  he 
came  to  Donovan  and  liouf>ht  out  the  lumlx-r 
business  of  Jo.seph  Ix'jjara.  who  hail  established 
the  eiUerprise  a  <|uarter  of  a  century  In-fore.  He 
handles  all  kinds  of  Ijuildin).;  materials  and  sup- 
plies, lime,  cement  an<l  coal,  and  has  recently 
erected  a  large  hnnlKT  shed,  one  huntlred  by 
fifty-eight  feet.  He  has  develo|ied  his  business 
along  legitimate  lints  of  trade  and  in  keeping 
with  the  spirit  of  modern  progress  and  a  liln-ral 
patronage  is  accorded  him.  He  also  engages  in 
the  purchase  and  shipment  of  live  stock  at  Ixith 
Donovan  and  Irotpiois  and  is  thus  controlling  ex- 
tensive and  imporlaiU  iiUirests. 

.\lr.  Duzenln-rry  takes  a  public-spirited  inter- 
est in  political  affairs  and  gives  loyal  sup|)ort  to 
the  repulilicm  parly,  for  he  I)elieves  its  principles 
contain  the  best  elements  of  good  govenimer.t. 
In  the  .Masonic  fraternity  ho  lias  attained  the 
Royal  .\rch  degree.  He  was  married  in  Heaver 
township.  December  27.  iK»>7.  to  Miss  Maln-I 
Clark,  a  native  <tf  Concord  township,  an<l  they 
n<iw  have  four  children:  Roy.  six  years  of  age; 
Leslie,  five  years  old :  and  .Vmlrey  and  .\ubrey. 
twins,  three  years  of  age.  .Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Dnzen- 
l)erry  have  spent  their  entire  lives  in  tliis  county 
and  the  circle  of  their  friends  has  increased  as 
the  circle  of  their  ac(|uaintance  has  lK(-r- 
tended. 


OTTO  JOHNSON". 

(  >tto  Johnson,  deceased,  was  one  of  ilu-  higbl> 
resiKcletl  .Swedish-.Nmerican  citizens  of  InKjUois 
coimly,  where  for  many  years  he  was  engaged  in 
agricidtural  |>ur<uits.  He  was  l>orn  in  Sweden 
in  iS.'Sand  was  there  reartd  and  educated.  When 
a  >tHing  man  of  twenly-sevcn  years  he  mnigrated 
to  the  I'nited  Stale*,  making  his  way  <Iirect  to 
Ir<M|Uois   c<nmt\.   thi    \ear   of   his   arrival    being 


644 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


1855.  He  purchased  a  farm  of  one  huiKlred  and 
twenty  acres  on  section  18,  Beaver  township, 
which  is  still  owned  and  operated  b}'  his  widow. 
The  land  was  a  tract  of  raw  prairie  when  it  came 
into  his  possession  but  with  the  energy  and  in- 
dustry, so  characteristic  of  the  Swedish  race,  he 
undertook  the  task  of  developing  and  cultivating 
new  land.  He  broke  the  prairie,  plowed  the 
fields,  planted  his  crops,  and  in  due  course  of 
time  gathered  good  harvests.  He  continued  his 
farming  operations  here  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1883. 

Lojal  to  the  best  interests  of  his  country,  i\Ir. 
Johnson  defended  the  Union  cause  by  six 
months'  service  in  the  Fifty-first  Illinois  Regi- 
ment, and  one  year's  service  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-iirst  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  a  re- 
publican in  his  political  views  and  affiliations. 

Mrs.  Johnson  bore  the  maiden  name  of 
Johanna  C.  Johnson,  and  by  her  marriage  she 
has  become  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  three 
daughters,  namely:  Mrs.  Emma  Anderson; 
Frank  F. ;  Mrs.  Minnie  Maurits ;  Ellida,  who 
resides  with  her  mother  ;  Lawrence,  also  at  home  ; 
Clarence,  who  is  practicing  law  in  Chicago ;  and 
Arthur,  at  home.  Since  the  death  of  her  hus- 
band, Mrs.  Johnson  and  her  children  have  con- 
tinued to  operate  the  homestead  property,  thus 
carrying  forward  the  work  of  cultivation  and  im- 
provement which  was  instituted  by  the  husband 
and  father.  They  have  drained  the  land  by  the 
judicious  use  of  tiling  and  have  erected  all  of  the 
buildings  upon  the  place  with  exception  of  the 
residence  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Johnson.  Mrs. 
Johnson  is  an  estimable  lady,  well  liked  by  her 
neighbors  and  friends,  and  through  the  careful 
management  of  her  business  aiTairs  she  is  en- 
abled to  provide  herself  and  family  with  a  good 
living.  The  family  has  lived  in  Beaver  township 
for  a  long  period  and  is  therefore  widelv  and 
favorably  known. 


JOHN  E.  AMOS. 


and  fifty  acres  in  Sheldon  township,  of  which 
he  is  the  owner  of  ninety-two  acres,  situated  on 
section  33.  He  likewise  engages  in  breeding 
and  raising  Norman  and  Shire  horses,  making 
this  an  important  branch  of  his  business.  The 
family  was  founded  in  Illinois  by  the  paternal 
grandfather,  Stepheii  Amos,  who  located  here  at 
an  early  day.  The  father,  William  A.  Amos, 
was  born  in  Warren  county,  Indiana,  and  his 
sketch  appears  elsewhere  in  this  volume. 

John  E.  Amos,  as  stated,  was  born  in  Iroquois 
county,  February  8,  1869,  and  pursued  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  the  public  schools 
of  Sheldon.  He  remained  under  the  parental  roof 
until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he  started 
out  in  life  on  his  own  account  by  engaging  in 
the  business  of  breeding  and  raising  Norman 
and  Shire  horses,  giving  this  his  entire  time  and 
attention  until  about  seven  years  ago,  when  in 
connection  with  handling  horses  he  also  engaged 
in  general  agricultural  pursuits,  taking  up  his 
abode  on  the  old  homestead  property,  situated  on 
section  28,  Sheldon  township.  He  has  since  bought 
and  improved  a  tract  of  ninety-two  acres,  Iving 
on  section  33,  and  now  operates  this  in  connection 
with  his  father's  land.  He  is  a  capable  business 
man  and  is  meeting  with  excellent  success  in  his 
work  both  as  a  farmer  and  a  breeder  of  horses. 

Mr.  Amos  was  married  February  ri,  1903, 
the  lady  of  his  choice  being  Miss  Jessie  Wingard. 
She  died  December  19,  1904,  leaving  a  little 
daughter,  Jessie  lone.  Mr.  Amos  is  a  republican, 
stanch  in  support  of  the  principles  of  his  party. 
Having  spent  his  entire  life  in  Iroquois  county 
he  has  a  very  wide  acquaintance,  and  this  section 
of  the  state  has  become  endeared  to  him  through 
the  associations  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  as 
well  as  those  of  later  manhood. 


ALFRED  W IX  SLOW. 


Among  the  native  sons  of  Iroquois  countv  who 
are  now  carrying  on  the  agricultural  develop- 
ment of  this  part  of  the  state  is  numbered  John 
E.  Amos,  who  operates  a  farm  of  two  hundreil 


A  finely  improved  farm  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  on  sections  2  and  3,  Beaver  township, 
is  the  home  of  Alfred  Winslow,  who  was  born  in 
Sweden  in  i860,  a  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  Wins- 
low,  who  always  remained  in  that  country.  .Mr. 
\\'inslow  emigrated  to  the  United  States  in  1885, 
making  his   way  at   once   to   the  state  of   Iowa, 


IR(»Ol'(1IS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


'<A' 


wluTc  lie  remained  for  uin-  \c;tr,  aiiii  ilicn  came 
to  Inxiiiois  county,  locatinfj  in  Heaver  township. 
He  was  here  employed  until  1889,  when  he  pur- 
chased one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  which 
was  all  wild  and  unimproved  when  it  came  into 
his  possession.  He  has  tiled  the  land,  thus  mak- 
ing the  fields  very  productive.  He  luis  als<i  huilt 
fences,  erected  a  residence  an<l  substantial  out- 
buildings, and  altogether  his  is  one  of  the  valuable 
farms  of  this  section  of  tiie  state.  In  ad<lition  to 
his  own  paiperty  he  cultivates  a  rented  tract  of 
oi>c  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  thus  operating  al- 
togetiier  three  hundred  and  tweitty  acres. 

In  1886.  the  same  year  of  his  arrival  in  I?eaver 
township,  .Mr.  Winslow  was  married  to  Miss 
Minnie  Mo<ire.  a  native  of  Irmjuois  county. 
TJieir  marriage  has  Ikcu  blessed  with  four  daugh- 
ters. Pearl.  .Mary.  Laura  and  Ruby.  .Mr.  Wins- 
low  has  one  brother  and  one  sister  who  came  to 
this  country,  the  former  making  his  home  in 
Donovan.  Illinois,  while  the  latter  resides  in 
Chicago. 

Mr.  Winslow  came  to  the  L'nited  States  twenty- 
one  years  ago  without  capital,  and  with  no 
knowledge  of  the  language  or  customs  of  the 
American  people.  He.  however,  soon  acquired 
the  English  tongue  and  adapted  himself  to  the 
changed  conditions  of  the  new  country  and  has 
through  the  years  which  have  since  come  and 
gone  worked  his  way  steadily  upward  until  he  is 
today  in  jjossession  of  a  comfortable  property, 
which  supplies  himself  and  family  with  all  the 
comforts  of  life  and  ranks  him  with  the  leading 
citizens  of  this  community. 


WILLI.^M  FIDLER. 


.\mong  the  native  sons  of  Irocpiois  county  who 
have  made  fjirming  their  life  work  is  numlK.'red 
William  Fidler,  whose  birth  occurcti  in  Iro<]uois 
township,  March  14.  1839.  His  jarents,  (leorgc 
and  Harriet  (Parker)  Fidler,  were  l)olh  natives 
of  Indiana,  whence  in  1581  they  came  by  wagon 
ti'  IriKjuois  county,  the  father  entering  a  tract  of 
OIK'  hundre<l  and  sixty  acres  in  lriM|Uois  town- 
ship. The  land  was  all  wild  and  unimproved, 
not  a  furrow  liaving  l>ccn  turned,  but  he  at  oikc 
set  to  work  to  perform  the  duties  neccs.sary  to 


the  develo]iment  of  a  new  lann.  lie  broke  the 
land,  plowed  the  lields,  planted  tiie  seed  and  in 
due  course  of  time  gathered  rich  harvests,  and 
he  likewise  erected  a  Ik"»usc  an«!  substantial  '  ' 
buildings.  Hie  family  there  lived  and  lal" 
through  many  years,  sharing  in  the  hardships 
and  privations  incident  to  life  on  the  frontier. 
Ijy  good  manageuKitt  the  father  was  able  to  |)ur- 
chasc  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  on  section  5, 
Iroquois  township,  which  he  likewise  improved 
and  cultivated  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
December  10,  1882,  and  thus  passed  away*one  of 
the  i)rominent  and  iiiHuential  pioneer  farmers  of 
this  section  of  the  state. 

William  I-idler  was  one  of  a  family  of  nine 
chililren  iHirii  of  his  father's  marriage.  He  was 
reared  in  much  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads, 
being  assigned  to  the  duties  of  the  fields  as  his 
age  and  strength  jxTmitted,  ami  during  the  win- 
ter months  he  pursued  his  studies  in  the  district 
schools  near  his  father's  home,  thus  acquiring  the 
knowledge  that  fitted  him  to  later  carry  on  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account.  He  remained  with  his 
parents  until  he  attained  his  majority,  when  he 
rented  a  farm  in  Iroquois  township,  cultivating 
the  same  during  the  succce<ling  five  years.  In 
the  meantime  his  father  died  and  in  the  division 
of  the  estate  he  re<:eive<i  forty  acres,  this  being 
lixated  in  IriMjuois  township.  He  later  added  a 
tract  of  eighty  acres  to  his  original  forty,  this 
giving  him  one  hundre<l  and  twenty  acres.  He 
made  many  improvements  thereon,  which  greatly 
enhanced  the  value  of  his  property,  so  tliat  he 
later  dis|K)se<I  of  it  to  good  advantage,  and  in 
K/x)  came  to  Martinton  township  and  bought 
front  .\.  M.  I^roche  a  fami  of  one  hundred  and 
sixty  acres  of  lanti,  lying  on  section  18.  He  has 
laid  two  carloads  of  tiling  on  his  place,  tints  giv- 
ing good  drainage  to  his  farm,  whereby  the  .soil 
has  Ixren  made  very  productive.  In  lyoi  he 
erectecl  a  mo<Ierii  country  Itome,  containing  seven 
r<Mims,  built  a  barn  thirty-six  by  thirty-eight 
feet,  and  his  place  i><  also  supplied  with  com  cribs 
and  other  outbuildings  necessary  to  a  farm  prop- 
erty. In  addition  to  carrying  on  general  agricul- 
tural pursuits  he  also  raises  horses,  cattle  and 
lK>gs  of  good  grades,  and  l)oth  branches  of  his 
business  arc  yielding  him  an  excellent  return. 

In  Iroquois  township,  in  1880,  occurred  the 
marriage  of  Mr.  I'idler  and  Miss  .\melia  J.  Ort- 


646 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


mail,  who  was  burn  in  Lajjorte,  Indiana,  in  1838. 
riu'ir  union  lias  been  blessed  with  a  son  and 
daut^hter:  George  E..  who  is  now  a  college  stu- 
dent at  Ann  Arbor.  Michigan;  and  Bernice  A., 
a  student  in  the  Martinton  schools. 

Mr.  Fidler  has  served  as  school  director  for 
fifteen  years  but  aside  from  this  has  taken  no 
active  jiart  in  public  office,  preferring  to  give  his 
entire  time  and  attention  to  his  private  bvisiness 
interests,  which  enables  him  to  provide  a  com- 
fortable home  for  himself  and  family  and  like- 
wise ^ive  to  his  children  good  educational  priv- 
ileges. In  his  fraternal  relations  he  is  connected 
\\ith  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Modern  \\'oodmen  of  America.  Mr.  Fidler 
and  his  family  are  highly  esteemed  in  the  local- 
ity where  they  reside,  and  the  hospitality  of  their 
])leasant  home  is  greath-  enjoyed  bv  their  mam- 
friends. 


C.  O.  SHA\^■. 


C.  ( ).  Shaw,  representing  the  agricultural  inter- 
ests of  Iroquois  county,  owns  and  operates  a 
farm  on  section  35.  Martinton  township,  which 
has  been  his  home  continuously  since  1865.  He 
was  born  in  Tippecanoe  county,  Indiana.  June  2, 
1863.  where  his  father  died  in  1864.  our  subject 
being  then  only  a  year  old.  His  mother  was 
then  left  with  the  care  of  eleven  children,  of 
whom  three  sdns  and  three  daughters  still  survive. 
In  1865  the  mother  removed  with  her  family 
to  Iroquois  county,  where  she  purchased  from 
.\.  Rush  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  situated  on  sec- 
tion 35.  Martinton  township.  This  tract  had 
few  improvements  upon  it  Inn  with  the  aid  of  her 
elder  sons  she  cultivated  and  improved  the  land, 
to  whicli  she  added  an  additional  tract  of  forty 
acres.  When  C.  O.  Shaw  was  a  lad  of  twelve 
years  lie  and  his  elder  brother.  S.  P..  who  was 
two  years  his  senior,  took  charge  of  the  farm  for 
their  mother,  operating  the  land  for  twelve  or 
fourteen  years,  when  the  latter  went  to  Colorado. 
The  mother  maile  her  home  <in  her  farm  until 
her  death,  which  occurred  in  March.  UJ04. 
She  was  a  woman  of  e.xcellent  business  abilitv. 
capably  managing  her  private  aiTairs.  while  at 
the  same  time  she  carefuUv  reared  and  educated 


her  children.  In  her  death  the  community  lost 
a  kind  neighbor  and  friend  and  her  family  a 
devoted  and  loving  mother. 

C.  O.  Shaw  was  reared  and  educated  in  Mar- 
tinton township,  and  has  been  engaged  in  farming 
throughout  his  entire  business  career.  He  pur- 
chased the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  old 
home  property  and  has  since  bought  land  on 
sections  i  and  2.  Middleport  township,  so  that 
his  landed  possessions  now  aggregate  two  hun- 
dred and  forty  acres.  About  four  years  ago  he 
erected  a  modern  nine-room  house,  a  good  barn 
thirty-six  by  fifty  feet,  wdiile  corn  cribs  and  other 
outbuildings  furnish  ample  shelter  for  grain, 
stock  and  farm  implements.  He  has  laid  consid- 
erable tile  and  thus  his  fields  have  been  made 
very  jjroductive.  In  addition  to  his  farming 
interests  he  is  engaged  quite  extensively  in  rais- 
ing stock  for  the  market,  where  he  always  re- 
ceives the  highest  prices. 

Air.  Shaw  was  married  in  iSyo  to  Miss  Rosie 
Pearce.  the  wedding  being  celebrated  in  Concord 
township.  Her  birth  occurred  in  Milford  in 
1864,  and  by  her  marriage  she  has  become  the 
mother  of  a  daughter  and  son :  Clara,  who  is 
now  eight  years  of  age;  and  Elmer,  a  little  lad 
of  five  years. 

Mr.  Shaw  gives  his  political  support  to  the 
democratic  part\-  but  has  never  been  active  as  an 
office  seeker,  preferring  to  concentrate  his  time 
upon  his  private  business  interests  which  are 
now  extensive  and  thus  claim  his  entire  attention. 
He  is  a  worthy  and  highly  esteemed  citizen  of 
Martinton  township  and  is  known  among  his 
luisiness  associates  as  a  man  of  upright  principles 
and  honest  dealing. 


RCJUERT  C.  HITCTIIXGS.  M.  D. 

Dr.  Robert  C.  Hitchings.  who  for  seventeen 
years  has  been  engaged  in  the  jiractice  of  medi- 
cine in  Donovan,  was  born  in  N^ewton  county, 
Indiana,  in  1865,  and  is  a  .son  of  John  C.  Hitch- 
ings, a  native  of  Maine,  who,  removing  west- 
ward to  Indiana,  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  early 
settlers  of  that  state  in  the  year  1840.  He  was 
always  a  farmer  and  became  the  owner  of  four 
hundred  acres  of  good  land.     He  wedded  Mary 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


(.47 


*>\vi{;iTt,  of  .M;ir\  Intnl.  ;iiim  nm..  ilnm  wi-ri-  Uirn 

even  children. 

Rol)crt  C  Hitcliiiif;s  Nvas  ciiiicatcd  in  llic  coni- 
nion  schixils  and  in  X'alparaiso  and  l>:invillc, 
Indiana.  When  ho  liad  completed  his  literan 
nirse  he  entered  uiMin  the  stndy  of  medicine 
.md  in  iS8«>  was  j^'-idnated  from  the  Kcntncky 
School  of  Medicine  at  Lonisville.  When  he  had 
com[)leled  a  fnll  conrsc  he  entered  npon  the  prac- 
tice of  his  chosen  profession  at  Donovan  in  the 
year  iS<>o  and  iMinyht  out  Dr.  l-Twin.  For  sev- 
enteen years  he  has  continued  in  active  practice 
in  this  county  and  has  been  accorded  a  liberal 
patronage  in  rect)j^iition  of  his  skill  and  ability. 
He  makes  the  best  possible  use  of  remedial  agen- 
cies, understands  the  uses  of  diet,  of  rest  and. 
hygienic  appointments   and   kee])s   in  touch   with 

nodern  progress  in  his  profession  by  perusal  of 
the  leading  medical  journals  and  Imoks  of  refer- 
ence. In  additinn  to  his  i)ractice  he  is  conduct- 
ing the  drug  store  which  he  purchase<l  from  K. 
I,.  Jiniison.  carrying  a  full  line  of  drugs  and  kin- 
dred goods.  He  purchased  the  building  in  which 
this  store  is  located.  It  is  a  story  and  a  half 
structure,  twenty-two  by  sixty  feet,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  drugs  he  also  handles  a  full  line  of  wall 
paper,  paints  and  oils,  a  lilx-ral  patronage  being 
accorded   him. 

Dr.  Hitcliings  is  a  mcmlx-r  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  fraternity.  He  gives  his  political  alle- 
giance to  the  democracy  and  has  served  for  one 
term  as  supervisor  of  Heaver  township.  F.nter- 
inp  upon  a  profession  in  which  advancement  dc- 
I)ends  entirely  upon  individual  merit,  he  has 
made  steady  progress  and  his  knf»\vle<lge  and 
skill,  combined  with  the  conscientious  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  that  devolve  upon  him.  have 
gained  him  rank  among  the  able  medical  practi- 
tioners in  Donovan  and  this  locality. 


ALONZO  C.\RM.\N. 


Alonzo  Carman  is  accounted  one  of  the  prom- 
inent farmers  of  Fountain  Creek  township,  where 
he  owns  and  cultivates  an  excellent  tract  of  land 
of  two  hundred  acres  adjoining  the  village  of 
Goodwnnc.     Since  the  fall  of  1868  he  has  con- 


tuiuuusly  made  his  home  in  this  county,  ami  he 
is  a  western  man  by  birth,  training  and  exi^vri- 
ence.  His  birth  LK'curred  in  I'erry.sville,  \'cr- 
milion  county,  Indiana,  IkveniU'r  i,  1H43,  and 
there  the  days  of  his  boylnxMl  and  wuih  were 
passed.  His  father.  Jacob  (.arman.  ilieil  in  that 
county  in  i8«>i,  and  in  the  f.ill  of  1X4^  the  mother 
nwrrietl  again.  .\t  that  time  .Mon/o  Cannan 
went  to  Montgomery,  Indiana,  and  worked  at 
farm  lalxir  for  liftei-n  dollars  |K-r  month  in  the 
employ  of  his  uncle  I'hilip  Limger.  He  after- 
war<l  engaged  in  raising  crops  on  the  shares  on 
his  uncle's  farm  and  remainetl  n|Hin  that  jiiace 
for  some  time,  continuing  its  operation  after  the 
death  of  his  aunt  and  his  imcle  and  also  their 
son,  who  joine«l  the  I'nion  .\rmy,  was  captured 
and  died  in  .\ndersonvillc  pri-son.  All  three  died 
within  a  year  and  there  was  left  a  family  of  five 
ilaughters. 

Mr.  Carman  continued  to  engage  in  farming 
on  his  uncle's  place  until  1868.  In  the  meantime 
he  was  marrie«l  in  .Montgomery  county,  .May  10, 
18^16,  to  Miss  Mercy  .\nn  Lunger,  a  native  of 
Indiana,  who.  prior  to  her  marriage,  engaged  in 
te.iching.  They  l)egan  their  domestic  life  u|ion 
the  farm  which  had  Ix-longed  to  Mr.  Cannan's 
imcle  and  there  live<l  for  aliout  two  years,  when 
they  came  to  Iroquois  county,  here  purchasing 
three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land  on  sec- 
tion 9,  Fountain  Creek  township.  I^ter  he 
Ixnight  forty  acres  more  and  continued  the  work 
of  improving  his  farm,  which  he  ilitched  anil 
drained,  residing  there  until  1875.  .\t  length 
he  sold  that  pro|K-rty  and  iHuight  another 
fann  nearer  .Milford,  of  four  hundreil 
and  twenty  .icres.  making  his  home  there  for 
alKiut  a  year,  after  which  he  miM  out.  He  next 
|iurcha.sed  the  William  lioiHlin  fann  of  three 
hnndretl  and  twenty  acres  and  continue<l  the  work 
of  improvement  and  <leveU)pmcnt  there.  .As 
time  passed  he  a<lded  to  his  land  by  additional 
jiurchases  until  he  owned  seven  lumtlred  and 
twenty  .ncres.  The  tiling  which  he  did  converted 
the  swampy  land  into  fertile  tichls  and  he  con- 
tinued the  tilling  of  the  soil  until  alxnit  |8<^. 
I^tcr  he  s|K'nt  two  years  on  another  farm,  and 
in  icjcx)  he  built  a  gixnl  residence  in  the  town, 
since  which  time  he  h.is  resided  in  ("KKxIwine. 
He  was  one  of  the  stockholders  and  directors  of 
the  Farmers  elevator,  in  which  he  still  owns 
an  interest      Hi-  ttn<  Inid  "ff  .-ui  addition  to  the 


648 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


town  and  his  son  Frank  has  also  recentl\-  made 
an  addition. 

Unto  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carman  were  born  three 
sons:  ^\■i^iam,  who  is  married  and  follows 
farming  near  Claytonville,  having  two  himdred 
and  forty  acres  of  land ;  Frank,  who  is  married 
and  owns  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  adjoining  Goodwine;  and  Lewis  W.,  who 
is  married  and  owns  about  three  hundred  acres 
of  land.  He,  however,  occupies  the  old  home- 
stead. 

Politically  Mr.  Carman  is  a  stalwart  republican 
but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker.  He  served 
as  highway  commissioner  for  eleven  years  and 
has  been  township  trustee  for  a  few  years  but 
has  always  attempted  to  avoid  office  and  only 
at  the  solicitation  of  his  friends  and  fellow  cit- 
izens has  he  consented  to  accept  positions  of 
political  preferment.  His  wife  is  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  they  are 
a  most  worthy  couple,  who  enjoy  in  large  meas- 
ure the  good  will  and  esteem  ol  all  v/ho  kmiw 
them.  Mr.  Carman  has  been  the  architect  and 
builder  of  his  own  fortunes  and  though  he  com- 
menced life  empty-handed  he  is  now  one  of  the 
prosperous  residents  of  the  county,  having  ac- 
quired large  real-estate  interests.  The  utilization 
of  the  opportunities  which  surround  all,  com- 
bined with  close  application  and  unfaltering  dili- 
gence, constitute  the  foundation  upon  which  he 
has  buikled  tlie  superstructure  of  his  success,  and 
his  life  record,  too.  proves  that  a  competence  and 
an  honored  name  mav  be  won  simultaneouslv. 


ORREN  G.  SAHTH. 


Orren  G.  Smith,  a  prominent  representative 
of  commercial  interests  at  Sheldon,  wdiere  he  is 
engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  was  born  in  Iroquois, 
January  9,  1854.  His  father,  William  Smith, 
was  a  native  of  \'irginia  and  came  to  this  county 
when  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  entered  into 
general  merchandising  with  Mr.  Donovan  in  the 
village  of  Iroquois,  where  he  remained  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  in  1859,  when  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad  was  built,  he  re- 
moved his  stock  of  goods  to  Sheldon  and  erected 
the  first  building  of  that  town.     It  was  a  two- 


story  frame  structure,  twenty-four  by  sixty  feet. 
The  lower  floor  was  used  for  a  store'  and  the 
second  floor  as  a  dwelling.  ^Ir.  Smith  then  fol- 
lowed general  merchandising  at*  Sheldon  up  to 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1861, 
and  he  was  an  enterprising,  wide-awake  and  pro- 
gressive business  man,  who  met  with  success  in 
that  town.  In  addition  to  his  commercial  inter- 
ests he  owned  several  tracts  of  land,  together 
with  town  property.  In  his  political  views  he 
was  a  Douglas  democrat.  He  married  Malie 
Ketchum,  of  New  York,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  two  children  but  one  has  passed  away. 
The  maternal  grandfather  of  our  subject  was 
]\Iajor  George  P.  Ketchum,  who  served  in  the 
war  of  181 2  and  was  in  charge  of  the  troops  at 
Fort  Erie  for  a  time. 

Orren  G.  Smith,  whose  name  introduces  this 
review,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  began  work  in  the  employ  of  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railroad  and  the  old  C,  L.  & 
C.  Railroad,  with  which  he  remained  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  He  then  entered  the  grain  business 
in  the  employ  of  R.  G.  Risser  and  was  with  him 
for  about  seven  years.  In  1889  he  formed  a 
partnership  with  a  Mr.  Hutchins  and  they  now 
own  two  elevators  at  Milford  w'ith  a  capacity  of 
one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  bushels,  one  at 
Donovan  with  a  capacity  of  sixty  thousand 
bushels  and  one  at  Iroquois  with  a  capacity  of 
ninety  thousand  bushels.  They  buy  all  kinds  of 
grain  of  the  farmers  and  also  other  dealers  and 
have  their  head  office  at  Sheldon.  They  are  among 
the  most  extensive  grain  dealers  of  the  county 
and  their  business  is  of  benefit  to  the  district, 
furnishing  an  excellent  market  for  the  producers. 
At  the  same  time  they  are  meeting  with  very 
gratifying  success,  having  made  steady  progress 
since  the  organization  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Smith 
also  bought  a  farm  of  eightv  acres  in  Concord 
township  from  John  Sheets  and  Joseph  McNear. 
He  placed  all  of  the  improvements  upon  it  to  the 
value  of  about  three  thousand  dollars,  and  in 
1 87 1   he  erected  a  substantial  residence  there. 

On  the  1 6th  of  October,  1879,  Mr.  Smith  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Inez  Potter,  who  was 
born  in  llcaver  township  and  was  a  daughter  of 
M.  G.  Potter,  a  native  of  New  York,  wlio  came 
to  Iroquois  county  at  an  early  period  in  its  de- 
velopment and  entered  land  from  the  governiuent 


\\  U.l.lAAl    ■-.Ml  1  II. 


:!S 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


^^51 


ill  I5iavcr  township,  wlicrc  lie  dcvcl<ijx-«l  a  farm 
and  narwl  liis  family.  L'nto  Mr.  anil  Mr;.. 
Smith  have  been  born  five  children:  Ilarrv. 
Hazel,  linicc,  (icrtnule  and  William  l^wrcnce. 
Mr.  Smith  gives  his  political  allegiance  to  the 
republican  i)arty.  1  le  has  served  on  the  school 
board  of  Sheldon  but  has  never  sought  or  de- 
sired |)ublic  office,  for  his  business  interests  fully 
claim  his  time  and  attention.  lie  has  shi.wn  a 
genius  for  devising  and  executing  the  right  thing 
at  the  right  time,  combiiud  with  that  substantial 
quality  which  for  want  of  a  better  term  has  been 
called  common  sense.  He  is  smuid  in  business 
judgment,  progressive  and  alert,  and  in  all  his 
undertakings  endeavors  t<>  reach  the  highest 
point  of  perfection  attainable. 


SILAS   IK  •l(.I..\.\I). 


Silas  Hougland.  who  is  engaged  in  the  op- 
eration of  a  tract  of  land  comprising  one  luni- 
<Ired  and  sixty  acres  in  Sheldmi  tuwnshi]).  was 
lx>rn  in  Concord  township.  .\i)vember  30,  iHjU. 
His  paternal  grandfather.  James  Hougland.  come 
by  wagon  frum  ( )hio  t<>  lro(|uois  county.  e>lab- 
lishi!ig  his  home  in  Concord  township.  The  father. 
Eli  Hougland.  was  born  in  ( )hio.  November  8. 
1837.  and  in  his  native  state  .nc(iuiri'd  his  educa- 
tion. He  accompanied  his  father's  family  t(»  this 
state,  remaining  under  the  parental  roof  until  he 
attained  man's  estp.te.  when  he  located  on  a  farm 
on  section  33.  Sheldon  township,  whereon  he  has 
made  his  home  for  the  past  twenty-seven  years. 
He  was  united  in  marriage.  Janu:iry  i'>.  i8<>j. 
to  Miss  Adelia  .Mantor.  who  was  born  in  Ham- 
ilton county.  Ohio,  and  who  survive<l  her  mar- 
riage but  little  more  than  a  year,  her  death  oc- 
curing  May  19,  1863. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Kli  Houglaixl  enlisted 
for  service  in  the  Civil  war.  on  the  nth  of  Au- 
gust. iiV>2.  joining  Com])any  !•!.  .Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  Infantry  under  command  of  Colonel  A. 
W.  Mack.  Mr.  Hougland  participated  in  no 
regular  battles  but  saw  service  in  Kentucky. 
Tennessee  and  Mississippi  under  Hcneral  Hurl- 
but.  f)n  the  i''>tli  of  (  Ktober.  18/1J.  Mr.  Houg- 
land was  taken  ill  with  measles,  after  which  he 
had  an  attack  of  jaundice  and  rheumatism.  Iwing 


confined  in  a  ho>pital  at  .Memphis,  Tennessee, 
until  he  was  honorably  discharged  <»n  tlic  J5t!i 
of  March,  1W13,  for  hi-,  illness  had  iiica|>acitated 
him   for   further  service  in  the  arnn. 

Ketiiniing  home  Mr.  Hougland  s|K-nt  the  suc- 
cee«ling  year  in  recuinTating  his  health,  subse- 
<pient  to  which  lime  he  began  farming  on  his 
father's  lan<l.  continuing  its  o]KTation  for  alxjut 
four  years.  In  the  meantime,  having  lost  his  first 
wife  while  absent  in  the  war,  he  was  married 
to  Mi.ss  Helen  .M.  liariies.  their  marriage  iK-ing 
celebrated  in  Concord  township,  <in  the  Sth  of 
Novemlier.  iHitit.  .She  was  a  native  of  Kochester, 
I'ulton  county,  Indiana,  Ixirn  Ncivemlwr  24,  1849, 
a  daughter  of  Klijah  and  .Sarah  Manies.  Ixith 
of  whom  <lie«l  during  the  earl\  girlho<K|  of  .Mrs. 
Hougland.  Her  farther  was  a  car|>enter  and 
joiner  by  tratie.  .Mrs.  Houglan<l  was  edu- 
cated ill  the  scho<ils  of  Indiana  ami  Illinois, 
ami  by  her  marriage  she  became  the 
mother  of  seven  sons:  Ira,  Ivlgar.  diaries 
and  James  Oscar,  all  of  whom  were  Imihi 
in  I'.ates  county,  .Missouri;  Silas,  of  this 
review  :  and  I'rnest  and  F.arl,  twins,  w  lir>  were 
born  in  Concord  township.  Inxpiois  coiintx.  .Mr. 
and  .Mrs.  Kli  Hougland  made  their  home  in  Iro- 
<|Uois  county  for  almut  a  year  after  their  mar- 
riage. subse<|tient  t<>  which  time  he  purchased  a 
farm  of  one  hundriil  and  sixty  acres  in  I'.ates 
county.  .Missouri,  and  removing  to  that  place 
made  his  home  there  for  alx'Ut  eight  vears.  when 
he  again  returneil  to  Iro(|Uois  county,  having 
traded  his  property  in  Missouri  for  one  hundred 
and  fifty-four  acres  in  Concord  township.  This 
has  since  been  his  home  to  the  present  time 
and  he  is  numbered  among  the  prominent  farmers 
of  this  section  of  the  state.  His  first  presidential 
vote  was  c.nst  for  .\braham  Lincoln  in  i8f>o, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  meml)ers  of  the  Cnited 
r.rethreii  church. 

Silas  Hougland  was  early  trained  to  the  lalxirs 
of  the  farm,  and  during  the  winter  months  he 
pursue<l  his  education  in  the  comuKin  schools 
near  his  father's  home.  He  remained  uiuler  the 
ji.-irental  riM>f  until  he  had  reacheil  man's  estate, 
when  he  st.'irted  out  in  the  business  world  on  his 
own  account  by  operating  land  which  lK"longe«! 
to  his  father  and  graiulfather  in  i8<>i>.  On  the 
30th  of  January.  l«jno.  he  and  his  bride  com- 
menced hfMisekecping  on  his  father's  farm,  where 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


they  still  live.  He  keeps  everything  about  the 
place  in  good  condition,  while  his  fields  have  been 
placed  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  so  that 
he  annually  gathers  good  crops  therefrom.  In 
addition  to  Itis  general  farming  interests  he  like- 
wise engages  in  raising  stock  for  the  market. 

On  the  3d  of  January,  1900,  occurred  the  mar- 
riage of  Mr.  Hougland  and  Miss  Mary  E.  Goosey. 
who,  like  her  husband,  is  a  native  of  Iroquois 
county.  Their  marriage  has  been  blessed  with  an 
interesting  little  son  and  daughter,  George  Leslie 
and  Mabel  Alarie.  Both  Mr.  and  Airs.  Hougland 
are  popular  young  people  and  have  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  in  this  county,  where  they  have  spent 
their  entire  lives. 


GEORGE  \\'.  BRAINARD. 

George  \\'.  lirainard,  a  representative  of  the 
grain  trade  in  Donovan,  was  born  in  Kankakee, 
Illinois.  July  13,  1853.  He  is  a  son  of  William 
Brainard,  a  native  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
born  in  Cleveland,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois 
at  an  early  day,  settling  at  Kankakee  before 
there  were  any  railroads  in  this  part  of  the  state. 
He  married  Lydia  Jane  Woods,  who  was  born 
in  Kalamazoo  county,  Alichigan,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Kankakee,  Illinois.  Her  father 
was  Alonzo  Woods,  who  entered  from  the  gov- 
ernment a  half  section  of  land,  upon  which  the 
Kankakee  hospital  now  stands.  The  farm  which 
he  bought  for  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  per  acre  he 
afterward  sold  for  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  dollars  per  acre,  and  he  owns  lots  in 
Donovan. 

No  event  of  special  importance  occurred  to 
vary  the  routine  of  farm  life  for  George  W. 
Brainard  in  his  boyhood  and  youth.  At  an  early 
age  he  became  familiar  with  the  task  of  plowing, 
planting  and  harvesting,  and  he  remained  at 
home  until  1877,  when  he  came  to  Donovan, 
where  he  has  since  been  identified  with  shipping 
interests.  For  six  years  he  was  engaged  in  the 
purchase,  sale  and  shipment  of  poultry,  which  he 
bought  and  dressed  and  shipped  to  New  York, 
buying  as  high  as  ten  thousand  dollars  worth  in 
a  single  year.  On  the  expiration  of  that  period  he 


formed  a  partnership  with  a  Mr.  Johnson  in  a 
general  merchandise  venture  and  on  selling  out 
bought  lots,  upon  which  he  erected  a  building 
twenty-two  by  fifty  feet.  He  carried  on  general 
merchandising  there  for  five  years  and  about 
five  years  ago  he  took  charge  of  the  elevator  for 
L.  T.  Hutchins  &  Company,  since  which  time  he 
has  built  on  a  clipper  room.  He  handles  corn, 
oats  and  other  cereals  and  is  controlling  an 
extensive  trade  at  this  point.  He  has  bought  lots 
and  built  a  fine  home  in  Donovan. 

The  lady  who  bears  the  name  of  Mrs.  Brainard 
and  presides  over  his  attractive  home  was  in  her 
maidenhood  Aliss  Alary  Alta  Donovan.  She 
was  born  in  Kankakee,  Illinois,  in  1876  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Frank  Donovan.  The\-  now  have  one 
child,  Leslie  True.  Both  Mr.  and  Airs.  Brainard 
are  quite  prominent  in  fraternal  circles  in  this 
town.  Air.  Brainard  belongs  to  the  Alodern 
^^'oo<lmen  camp  and  to  the  Alasonic  fraternity 
and  his  wife  is  Oracle  Woodman  and  matron  in 
the  Eastern  Star  chapter.  Pie  holds  inenibership 
in  the  Alethodist  church  and  his  political  support 
is  given  to  the  republican  party.  He  helped  to 
organize  and  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the 
board  of  trustees,  has  been  township  clerk,  was 
supervisor  of  Beaver  township  for  eight  years, 
and  cliairnian  of  the  board  of  supervisors  for  two 
terms.  Plis  public  service  is  commendable  be- 
cause of  his  fidelity  to  a  high  standard  of  con- 
duct in  office,  and  in  the  business  world  he  has 
attained  a  creditable  measure  of  success,  while 
throughout  his  entire  life  he  has  manifested  those 
sterling  traits  of  character  which  endear  man  to 
his  fellowmen. 


TPIOAIAS  ASKEW. 


Thomas  Askew,  deceased,  commanded  the  re- 
spect, good  will  and  confidence  of  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  him.  He  was  bom  January  10, 
1822,  in  Westmoreland,  England,  his  parents  be- 
ing Richard  and  Elizabeth  Askew,  also  natives  of 
England.  His  father  was  a  farmer  with  whom 
he  spent  his  boyhood  days,  assisting  him  in  the 
work  of  the  fields  when  not  in  school  up  to  the 
lime  of  his  marriage,  which  occurred  in  1846. 


IRDOUOTS  rnUNTY.  If.I.IN'olS. 


'^'5.^ 


Mr.    Aski'w    was   united   in   iii.uii.il;'    i"    .mi>^ 
Isabella  Taylor  ami  ilicn  tuRaKol  in  I'arniinK  un- 
til the  fall  of  1849,  when,  thinking  that  he  inight 
enjov   better  business   opportunities   in   the   new 
world  for  he  hail  heard  must  favorable  reports  of 
the  conditions  here,  he  sailed  for  America.     Mak- 
injj  his  way  into  the  interior  of  the  coiuitry  he 
was   en}.ja{jed   at    farm   lalior   in   Kankakee   until 
i85'>.     In  the  meantime  he  had  saved  his  earn- 
ings  and   made  arrangements    for  his   wife  and 
two  children  to  join  him  in  the  L'liited  States.  Ac- 
cordingly they  left  their  native  country  in  the  fall 
of   1851   and,  after  landing  on  American  shores. 
Mrs.  Askew  and  her  children  journeyed  as  far 
west  as  Buffalo,  New  York,  but  found  that  the 
lakes  were  frozen  over  and  traffic  had  ceased  so 
she  could  not  join  her  luisljand  until  the  spring  of 
1852.      In    1856    Mr.    Askew    rented   a    farm    in 
]>eavcr   township.   Iro<|uois   county,  and   in    1859 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  tirst  house  he  had  ever 
owned,   it   standing  in   the  midst  of  forty   acres 
which  he  had  purchased.    He  then  resolutely  took 
u])  the  task  of  improving  the  pro|;erty,  working 
from  early  morning  until  late  evening  anil  i)Utting 
forth  earnest  and  strenuous  effort  to  ac(iuire  suc- 
cess.    He  carefully  cultivated  his  fields  and,  as 
the  years  passed  by,  was  enabled  to  add  to  the 
property  from  time  to  time,  until  he  Ix'came  the 
owner  of  a  good  farm  of  two  hundred  and  eighty 
acres.      Me  certainly   deserved   much   credit    for 
what  he  accomiilished  as  his  success  was  honor- 
ably won  and  his  life  record  may  well  serve  as 
an  example  and  source  of  inspiration  to  others, 
showing    what    may    be    accomplished    1>\     do- 
termined  and  honorable  purpose. 

The  marriage  of  Thomas  .-\skew  ami  IsalK-lla 
Taylor,  which  was  celebrated  in  Westmoreland, 
England,  on  the  6th  of  May.  1846.  was  blessed 
with  a  family  of  nine  children,  namely :  Richard 
(;. :  John  ;  John  T..  Jr. ;  Dion  .-\. ;  Wellington  C. ; 
Kdward;  .\gnes  E. ;  Maud  M. ;  and  George  C. 
'Hie  second  son.  John,  died  during  .Mrs.  .Xskew's 
stay  in  New  York  in  1852,  while  (leorge  l". 
passed  away  in  1884.  The  others  are  still  living 
and  Wellington  C.  now  owns  and  operates  the 
old  homestea<l  farm  which  l)elonged  to  his 
father.  The  mother  died  in  the  year  187W.  and 
Thomas  .Xskcw  jiassed  away  in  i88<j.  after  a 
residence  of  forty  years  in  Illinois.  His  fellow 
townsmen,  recognizing  his  worth  and  ability,  fre- 
38 


<pu"iili\    i.iiu'i    II11I1   I''   jiimiu    '  tilt  t'   .iiiti    in-    ^ti\i-i| 

as  supcrvi.scjr,  highway  commissioner,  justice  of 
the  |K'acc,  school  trustee  and  school  director.  He 
was  a  democrat  in  fiolitics  and  was  loyal  to  the 
lK;st  interests  of  his  community  and  the  institu- 
tions of  his  adopted  country.  He  held  member- 
ship in  the  Christian  church  and  his  life  was 
upright  and  honorable. 


WII.IJ.\.\I   E.  ALr.KKiHT. 

William  E.  .Mbright,  who  i>  engaged  in  gen- 
eral farming  and  in  the  raising  of  |)olled  .\ngxis 
cattle  and  Norman  horses,  making  his  home  on 
section  .^4,  .Martinton  township,  was  Ijorn  in  Kan- 
kakee. Illinois,  .\ovember  i,^,  iHdy.  His  father, 
Charles  I".  .Mbright.  a  native  of  ( lermany.  came  to 
America  in  1853.  settling  first  in  (  Hiio.  where  he 
resided  until  iHiitt.  when  he  removed  ti>  Kan- 
kakee. Illinois.  He  big:in  farming  here  and  lived 
in  the  vicinity  of  .Martinton  until  alK)ut  three 
years  ago.  when  he  removed  to  Waldron.  Illinois. 
His  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name  of  So- 
phronia  Nabb  and  was  born  in  ( )hio.  died  in 
K/33.  In  their  family  were  nine  children,  all  of 
whom  are  yet  living.  The  father  holds  memlK-r- 
ship  in  the  Masonic  lodge,  also  the  Inile|)endent 
( )riler  of  Odd  I-'ellows  and  the  .Modern  WtxNlmen 
camp. 

William  E.  .Mbright  acquired  his  education  in 
the  city  schcnds  of  Kankakee  and  came  to  Iro- 
(juois  county  alxnit  1887.  settling  in  .Martinton 
town.ship.  I  le  was  engaged  in  fanning  by  the 
month  for  two  years  and  then  began  farming  on 
his  own  account  i)y  renting  land  in  .Xshkum 
townshi]!  for  .seven  years.  He  afterward  settled 
in  -Martinton  township.  Kankakee  county,  where 
he  lived  for  one  year,  since  which  time  he  has 
rentc<l  two  hundred  acres  of  lan<l  on  section  34. 
.Martinton  township,  Iro<|nois  county,  which  is 
llie  pro|erty  of  William  Scoon.  Mr.  .Mbright 
owns  a  residence  antl  other  property  in  .Martinton 
townshi)).  which  he  rents.  His  time  and  energies 
are  given  to  gmeral  agricultural  |:ur>uits  and 
stock-raising  and  he  has  brought  his  fielils  under 
a  high  state  of  cnltivatinn.  In  connection  with 
the  raising  of  the  cereals  best  adapted  to  soil 
and  climate  he  als,)  raises  [x»Iled   .Xngiis  cattle. 


>54 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Norman  liorses  and  a  liigli  ,t;"'"'"lc  of  hogs,  and  he 
tinds  tliis  a  profitable  source  of  income. 

-Mr.  Albright  was  married  in  ^lartinton  town- 
ship, in  1893,  to  Miss  Lena  E.  Scoon,  who  was 
born  here  in  1868.  Her  father.  James  Scoon, 
came  from  New  York  at  an  early  day  in  the 
development  of  Iroquois  county,  took  up  his 
abode  witliin  its  borders,  broke  the  land  and 
built  a  home.  His  wife,  who  in  her  maidenhood 
was  ]\Iarv  Thompson,  was  born  in  \'ermont. 

Mr.  .\lbright  gives  his  political  allegiance  to 
the  republican  party.  He  served  as  collector  of 
Ashkum  township  for  one  term  and  in  April. 
T906,  was  elected  supervisor  of  Martinton  town- 
ship, so  that  he  is  now  filling  the  oiifice  at  the 
present  time.  He  is  an  energetic  farmer,  of  good 
Inisiness  capacity,  thoroughly  conversant  with  liis 
line  of  work  and  meeting  therein  a  creditable 
measure  of  success. 


F.  FRONVILLE. 


F.  I*"roiiville  is  a  retired  agriculturist  living  in 
the  village  of  Clifton  and  a  representative  of  one 
of  the  pioneer  families  of  Iroquois  county.  His 
parents.  Joseph  and  Catherine  (Theiry)  Fron- 
ville,  were  natives  of  Belgium  and  became  resi- 
dents of  this  county  in  1856  when  the  work  of 
settlement  and  develojjment  had  scarcely  begun 
here.  Their  son,  the  subject  of  this  review,  was 
l^orn  in  I'.onefYe,  Belgium,  April  12,  1838,  and 
was  therefore  a  youth  of  eighteen  years  at  the 
time  of  the  emigration  of  the  family  to  the  new 
world.  1  Ic  had  acquired  only  a  limited  educa- 
tion in  his  native  land  and  since  1856  he  has  re- 
sided continucfusly  in  this  county,  being  actively 
associated  for  manv  years  with  its  agricultural 
'nterests. 

In  1862,  at  Clifton,  he  married  Miss  Rosalie 
Ponton  and  unto  them  ten  children  liave  been 
bf)rn :  Rosalie,  now  the  wile  of  .\lfrcd  Cailtue.x, 
a  farmer  of  Clifton  townshi]) ;  Louise,  the  wife 
of  Joscpli  Detour,  a  resident  farmer  of  .\shkuni 
townsliip;  Mary,  the  wife  of  Louis  .Schultz,  a 
farmer  living  near  Watseka ;  Eugene,  a  mail  car- 
rier of  .\slikum  township;  Malina,  deceased: 
Fmile,  wiio  oijeratcs  his  father's  farm  in  Clifton 
township :  .\millia,  at  hoiue ;  Louis,  who  married 


Eugenie  Petit  and  rents  one  of  his  father's  farms 
in  Chebanse  township ;  Josephine,  the  wife  of 
George  Prault,  a  farmer  of  Ashkum  township; 
and  Eliza,  the  wife  of  Emile  Matby,  a  farmer  of 
Ashkum  township.  After  losing  his  first  wife 
I\[r.  Fronville  was  again  married  on  the  21st  of 
July,  1902,  at  L'Erable.  Illinois,  his  second  union 
being  with  Clementine  Mazy,  a  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Catherine  jNIazy,  of  Clifton. 

Mr.  Fronville  is  an  independent  democrat  and 
has  filled  various  local  offices  in  creditable  man- 
ner, serving  as  highway  commissioner  for  six 
years,  as  school  director  for  a  similar  period  and 
as  pathmaster  for  eleven  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Catholic  church  of  Clifton  and  has  made 
his  home  in  the  town  since  1902.  Throughout 
his  active  business  life  his  time  ^nd  energies  were 
devoted  to  general  agricultural  pursuits  and  the 
years  witnessed  his  accjuirement  of  a  comfort- 
able competence,  for  he  i^now  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  thirty  acres  of  land  in  Clifton  town- 
ship and  one  hundred  and  sixty-two  acres  near 
Elreno,  Oklahoma.  He  likewise  owns  his  resi- 
dence on  Second  avenue  in  Clifton,  two  houses 
on  Third  avenue  in  Clifton  and  one  in  Ashkum.. 
His  property  interests  are  thus  valuable  and  are 
as  a  monument  to  his  life  of  thrift  and  enterprise. 


EDWARD  M.  LYON. 


Edward  M.  Lyon,  a  resident  farmer  of  Ridge- 
land  town.<hip,  started  out  in  life  on  his  own  ac- 
count when  fourteen  years  of  age  and  has  since 
l>een  dependent  u]ion  his  own  resources,  so  that 
he  well  deserves  the  praise  that  is  implied  in  the 
term  "a  self-made  man."  All  through  his  life  he 
has  worked  diligently  and  persistently  and  he  is 
now  successfully  cultivating  the  Lyon  liomcstead 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres.  A  native  of 
this  countv.  he  was  born  in  (")narga  township, 
( )ctol)er  17.  1866,  and  is  a  son  of  Lloward  Lyon, 
a  native  of  \"ermont,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  18^14 
and  who  is  mentioned  on  another  page  of  this 
work  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  his  son. 
James  A.  Lyon. 

lulward  M.  Lyon  was  one  of  five  brothers  and 
was  reared  in  the  usual  manner  of  farm  lads  of 
the  locality  and  period.    At  the  usual  age  he  liegan 


MR.  AM)   MRS.   I'.  IR(  iW  II.I.K. 


.     .HE 
i^!;VhRS!!V  Of  ILLINOIS 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


''•57 


attciulinp  the  district  schools  ami  when  a  youtli 
of  fourtw-n  he  worked  out  as  a  fann  hand  for 
thirteen  dollars  per  month.  He  was  employed  in 
that  capacity  for  eleven  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  he  was  married  on  tiic  8tl>  of  October, 
|8<>I.  to  Miss  Sadie  Heller,  a  native  of  Irrxjuois 
comity  and  a  dauKliter  of  (ieorge  llellcr,  wlio 
was  bom  m  Missouri,  whence  he  came  to  Illinois. 
He  lived  for  some  time  in  Inxjiiois  county  but  is 
now  residing:  in  Hlooniin!.jton. 

Following  his  marriage  .\lr.  Lyon  located  upon 
a  rented  fann,  which  ne  cultivated  for  three  years. 
He  then  worked  out  by  the  month  for  a  year,  at 
the  end  of  which  time  he  took  up  his  al)o<le  upon 
his  father's  farm.  On  the  expiration  of  that  ]k'- 
riod  he  removed  to  his  present  i)lacc  of  resiclcnce 
and  it  has  since  been  his  Ijome.  The  lalxjr  tliat  lie 
has  Ijestowed  upon  the  place  is  manifest  in  the 
g;<x>d  results  which  have  followed  it.  He  has 
erected  some  substantial  buihlings  here  and  has 
tiled  the  fields,  thus  draining  them  of  all  sujier- 
fluous  moisture  and  greatly  adding  to  their  pnv 
ductiveness.  Altogether  he  lias  a  valuable  farm 
and  he  raises  good  grades  of  stock  as  well  as  rich 
crops  of  corn  and  other  cereals. 

I'nto  Mr.  aand  Mrs.  Lyon  have  been  bom  four 
children:  Howard  K.,  Mildred.  Esther  and  Mer- 
rill. Mr.  Lyon  has  been  a  meniIxT  of  the  ( >dd 
Fellows  lodge  at  Onarga  since  1895  and  in  politics 
he  is  an  unfaltering  advocate  of  democratic  prin- 
ciples. While  his  life  history  is  not  marked  by 
events  of  unusual  occurrence  but  on  the  contrary 
has  been  passed  on  the  more  quiet  plane  of  busi- 
ness life,  he  has  nevertheless  manifested  a  spirit 
of  willingness,  of  persistency  anil  of  tliligcnce, 
which  are  most  worthy  of  emulation  and  which 
have  proved  to  him  the  source  of  a  gratifying 
success. 


W.   F.  OKTM.W. 


\V.  F.  Ortman  is  a  wxirthy  representative  of 
the  agricultural  interests  of  Martinton  township, 
where  he  owns  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of 
land.  He  was  born  in  I-a|)orte  count),  Indiana. 
August  I,  1864.  a  son  of  William  Ortman,  who 
was  Ijorn  in  (iemiany,  and  after  coming  to  the 
I'nited  States  followed  farming  lx)th  in   Indiana 


and  in  this  stale,  where  he  ownc<l  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  .Martintnn  tciwnsliip. 
making  that  his  hume  until  a  few  years  prior  to 
his  lUath.  which  occurred  in  l^joy  He  made  all 
of  the  improvements  u|>on  his  fami  and  was 
always  a  hard         '  '  '.    nwn.     His 

wife  l)orc  the  1  ime  Itackus. 

She  was  \r>rn  in  Holland  and  by  lier  marriage 
iKvame  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  all  of 
whom  still   survive. 

W.  I'.  ( )rtman  was  a  little  lad  of  eight  years 
when  he  acci>in|Kinie<l  his  parents  on  their  re- 
moval from  Indiana  to  Iro<iuois  county.  He  was 
reared  to  agricultural  life,  assisting  his  father  in 
the  develojiment  and  improvement  of  the  home 
I'lace,  while  through  the  winter  months  he  at- 
tended the  tlistrict  scIwxjIs,  thus  acquiring  the 
education  which  fitted  him  for  an  independent 
business  career.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  reached  the  age  of  twenty-two  years, 
when  he  started  out  to  make  his  nvm  way  in  the 
world.  iK-ing  eini>luyed  by  other-;  during  the 
four  succeeding  years.  Carefully  huslianding 
his  earnings  he  was  at  length  enabled  to  begin 
business  on  his  own  account  J)y  renting  the  Gad- 
<lis  farm  for  two  years,  subsetpient  to  which  time 
he  ojx'rated  his  father's  property  for  two  years. 
He  prospered  in  his  work  and  accumulated  the 
competence  which  enablecl  him  thirteen  years  ago 
to  purchase  land,  Ix-coming  owner  of  eighty  acres 
on  section  24.  .Martinton  township.  He  tiled  the 
land  and  made  many  other  improvements  in  the 
way  of  fences  and  buildings,  and  has  since  lieen 
engaged  in  famiing  and  stock-raising,  making  a 
specialty  of  Jersey  red  hogs.  He  has  since  added 
to  his  original  jnirchase  <ine  eighty-acre  tract 
located  on  section  23.  He  laid  alvnit  four  hun- 
dred rods  of  tile  on  this  land  and  made  many 
substantial  improvements,  and  is  now  leasing  the 
pn>perty.  which  brings  to  Imui  a  givxl  annual 
rental. 

.Mr.  t  )rtnian  was  married  in  this  township  in 
181^4  to  .Mi'is  Libb  Kdison.  who  is  a  native  of  Iro- 
<|uois  county.  J)orn  in  1873.  The  marriage  has 
iK-en  blessed  with  two  children:  Lester,  eiglit 
years  old.  and  Lyie.  three  years  of  age.  In  his 
|)olilical  views  Mr.  Ortman  is  a  democrat,  and 
Ivis  served  as  commissioner  of  district  No.  4, 
while  he  lias  likewise  Ix-en  drainage  commis- 
sioner.    .Mr.  Ortnun  started  out  in  tlie  business 


658 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


world  without  capital  but  through  his  honesty, 
industry  and  economy  he  has  worked  his  way  up- 
ward until  he  is  today  one  of  the  substantial  land- 
owners of  IMartinton  township  and  is  numbered 
amonsf  its  best  citizens. 


RICHARD  GILBERT  ASKEW. 

Richard  Gilbert  Askew,  deceased,  was  for 
many  years  one  of  the  prominent  and  influential 
citizens  of  Iroquois  county,  connected  with  the 
agTJcultural  development  of  Deaver  township. 
He  was  born  in  England  in  1847  ''"d  wdien  a  little 
lad  of  four  years  was  brought  to  the  United 
States  by  his  mother,  his  father,  Thomas  Askew, 
having  come  two  years  previously.  Landing  in 
New  York,  the  family  there  spent  the  winter  of 
1851-2  and  then  proceeded  to  Kankakee,  Illinois, 
by  lake  after  navigation  opened  in  the  spring. 
They  remained  there  one  year  and  then  took  up 
their  abode  in  Beaver  township,  Iroquois  county, 
on  a  farm  comprising  one  hundred  and  sixty 
acres,  which  has  since  remained  in  possession  of 
the  Askew  family. 

Our  subject  remained  with  his  father  during 
the  periods  of  his  boyhood  and  youth,  accompany- 
ing the  family  on  their  various  removals  after  the 
emigration  to  the  new  world.  He  commenced 
farming  on  a  forty-acre  tract  adjacent  to  his 
father's  fann  and  made  many  improvements 
thereon  by  tiling  the  land,  fencing  the  fields  and 
erecting  substantial  buildings,  lie  also  added 
to  his  property  until  he  became  the  owner  of  two 
hundred  and  forty  acres.  In  1893  he  built  a  mod- 
em residence,  containing  seventeen  rooms,  sup- 
plied with  every  convenience  and  accessory  for 
the  comfort  of  the  occupants.  Through  a  long 
period  Mr.  Askew  engaged  in  carrying  on  gen- 
eral agricultural  pursuits  and  stock-raising,  hav- 
ing good  grades  of  hogs  as  well  as  Durham  cat- 
tle, which  he  raised  in  large  numliers.  He  was 
a  very  successful  business  man,  accomplishing 
whatever  he  undertook,  so  thai  when  called  from 
this  life  he  left  to  his  family  a  v.ihi;d)le  est.ile. 

While  conducting  extensive  Inisiness  interests, 
Mr.  Askew  also  found  time  to  devote  to  public 
affairs,  serving  as  supervisor  of  his  township  for 
two  terms  and  also  as  road  commissioner  for  a 


time,  while  for  thirty  years  he  filled  the  ofifice  of 
school  director,  the  cause  of  education  ever  find- 
ing in  him  a  warm  and  stalwart  friend.  He  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  prohibition  party,  thus 
indicating  his  views  on  the  temperance  question. 
He  held  membership  in  the  Christian  church, 
which  he  joined  at  the  early  age  of  eleven  years, 
and  he  lived  a  consistent  and  upright  life,  adher- 
ing to  high  and  noble  principles.  He  died  sud- 
denly January  29,  1905,  being  struck  by  a  pas- 
senger train,  and  in  his  death  the  county  lost  one 
of  its  valued  and  honored  citizens,  his  family  a 
devoted  husband  and  father,  and  his  associates  a 
kind   friend. 

In  Newton  county,  Indiana,  in  1872,  ]\Ir. 
Askew  was  united  in  marriage  to  ■Miss  Emma 
Griffith,  who  was  likewise  a  native  of  England, 
born  in  1853,  whence  she  came  with  her  parents 
to  America  in  1856,  being  a  little  maiden  of  only 
three  years.  Her  father,  Thomas  Griffith,  fol- 
lowed fanning  in  Indiana,  where  he  owned  two 
hundred  acres  of  land,  making  his  home  in  that 
state  until  he  passed  away.  His  widow,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Eliza  Bartholomew,  was  born 
in  England  and  is  still  living  at  the  very  advanced 
age  of  ninety-one  years.  I\Irs.  Askew  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Indiana,  where  she  made  her 
home  until  her  marriage.  She  is  the  mother  of 
five  children :  Cora,  who  is  engaged  in  teaching 
school ;  Orren  E.,  who  operates  the  old  home- 
stead farm  ;  Arthur,  at  home ;  Myrtle,  who  is  also 
engaged  in  teaching;  and  Bernice,  at  home.  In 
1903  Mr.  Askew  erected  a  beautiful  residence  in 
Donovan,  containing  thirteen  rooms,  supplied 
with  every  modern  convenience  and  accessory. 
Here  Mrs.  Askew  is  now  residing  with  her  chil- 
dren, surrounded  by  a  large  circle  of  friends. 
She  is  an  estimable  lady  and  presides  over  her 
pleasant  home  with  gracious  hospitalitv. 


ORREN  E.  ASKEW. 


(  h-rm  E.  .Askew,  the  eldest  son  of  Richard  G. 
and  Emma  (Griffith)  Askew,  was  born  in  Beaver 
townsJiip,  September  28,  1875.  He  was  reared  on 
the  homestead  fann,  wdiere  he  remained  through- 
out the  period  of  his  boyhood  and  youth.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  later  obtained  a 


IKuyUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLIN(JlS. 


liberal  college  training.  In  njoj.  lie  was  uiar- 
rii-(i  at    I'.urika.    Illitu)is,   to   Miss   C"arric  ^•■ 

who  was  born  in  Mci.can  county,  tbis  statt 

they  bavc  bcfonic  the  parents  of  three  children, 
W-rnon.  Tbolnia  and  \ocl. 

Alter  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Askew  took 
up  their  alKnIe  upon  a  farm  of  eiuhty  acres  Iw- 
lonyinfj  to  bis  mother,  and  after  the  diath  of  his 
father  he  took  charjje  of  the  honiestead.  In  con- 
nection with  its  cultivation  he  is  enjja>;ed  to  some 
extent  in  the  raisinjj  of  ^joo*!  jjrades  of  stock  and 
Ixith  branches  of  his  business  are  yielilinj;  profit- 
able returns.  He  is  an  energetic  and  cnterjirisinR 
•^  man.  justly  meritinj;  the  snc^  li  he 

'vv  eiijoyiiij^.      l'"ollowin}i  in  tlit  ;■>  of 

bis  father  .Mr.  .\skew  >;ivcs  his  political  sui)|K>rt 
to  the  i>rohibition  party  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  and  his  wife  are  jKipular 
yoHUK  people  and  the  hospitality  of  their  pleasant 
home  is  ffreatly  enjoyed  by  many  friends. 


I'1".I"1.U   Kr.SSKL. 


IVler    Kns^el    v. .i>    \'<r    m.inv    years   a    k  ; 
and  respected  re|iresentalive  of  farminj;  inti- 
in  .\rtesia  to\vnshi]i.  his  honie  bein>^  on  .section 
J.V      He  came   to   this  ciamty    fmrn   C'bicaijo   in 
iWk).      His   birth   occtirred    in   lierm:m-.    ^l;lrcl1 
8,  i8jS.  and  there  he  spent  the  da\  -  liild- 

IiimhI    anil    youth,    receivinj;    lilteral    t  ' 

advar.tai^es.  ><•  that  he  (gained  ;i  ji;in«l  ki 
of  Ixith  the  (ierman  and   Kn^lish  toni;ne-<.     Ac- 
conlinn  to  till    '  f  his  ciinntr\  '  !  his 

time   in   the  '.  '■n;\    l:el'  re   .  ;    tn 

the  new  world 

The  xear  1^55  wiinoed  lii>.  arri\al  m  the 
I'nitetl  ."states  and.  traveliii)^  westward,  he  joined 
his  brothers  in  C'hicajjo,  where  for  three  years 
bf  \\.-is  coiniected  with  them  in  business.  He  then 
t Mil  c-  to  IriMjuois  County  ;uid  invotetl  in  land, 
liecomin^;  owner  of  a  raw  tract  of  three  htmdred 
and  twenty  acres  in  Artesia  township.  ."siMin, 
however,  the  wikl  prairie  was  converted  into 
Rno*!  fields.  He  turned  the  furrows,  planted  the 
■  ■  '  an<l  in  due  course  of  time  gathered  rich 
-.  There  he  followed  farmiu);  for  :d;out  five 
years,  after  which  he  soUl  that  |iro|KTiy  and 
l)oU(;ht  the  pl.ace  where  his  family  now   resides — 


a    tract    of    four   tiunilrcd   acres   on   smtiIoii    j^\, 
.1  township.     It.  t  iiid 

It  came  into  his  ;.      v.. ^  uly 

destitute  of  impri*vements,  but  so«in  tlie  breaking! 

plow  hail  done  its  work,  fences 

dicate  the  lioundaries  of  hi^   ''  • 

the  land   mto  fii-lds   and   ii- 

had  jilaced  the  yrciler  part   ..1   the  In 

cultivation.     The  land  i-  n  'in.  ill'    • ,  •  i.l 

when  opcrate«l  acconlin 

farmini^  res.MMnU  readilv   .iiid  miHom-l,    n.  ..u 

care  and   labor  l;e-i">M  ■'   ii  •  n    ■•       N'-     k.i-.l 

built  a  conurodiou- 

put  uf>  barns  and  >■■  .ill 

a  tenant  linn-i   :i;irl  .u- 

erty.     He 

pl.uttin^j   uiilil   iiojo    iveic    iMi\c-.li.d    lit   til    Lite 

antuir.n  and  in  connection  with  ibc    !'lliii'  ..f  the 

soil  he  raised  and  fe«l  piMid  (;ra"l  He 

^7iined  a  wide  acijtiaintance  in  ImiiIi  InHiii''!--  and 

l-"ord  comities  and  his  last  years  were  s|K'nt  in 

Artesia    township,    his   death   •■ccurrinii    .\u5iust 

fi.    iS<,o.   after    which    his   rem.iins    were   laid    to 

rest  in  lincMiA  iriritrrx.a  snbst.inlial  ii;oiiii'i-.i-nt 

markiu);  li  iterment. 

Mr.  Kn>^il  \\.i>  married  in  ('bica^;o,  (  V-tober 
jj,  iWo.  to  .Miss  Kllen  Smith,  who  was  Imihi 
in  Miami  county.  Ohio,  and  was  there  reared, 
.•she  was  a  dauiibter  of  Kdw.ard  Smith,  an  earlv 
scttl.  r  ..f  tb<  I'.nckexe  state,  and  afterw;ird  a  resi- 
(1.  imty,  Illinois.       .Mr.  and  .Mrs.Kns- 

^el  I.H..1M.C  i!h-  paretits  of  a  son  and  ilanj:hter: 
W  .  U.  Knssel,  who  is  ennaged  in  the  har<lw<>iKl 
IuuiIkt  business  in  (Irani!  Rariids.  .Michigan,  and 
is  married  and  has  three  children,  Carlisle, 
Dorothy  (iertrude  and  .Marjorx  ;  and  .Mary  .\.. 
who  is  a  \omiv;  lady  of  gnrMl  education.  iK'iiig  a 
jrraduate  of  the  Women's  Colleiie  of  ISaltimore, 
Maryland,  of  the  class  of  1171)4.  .She  possesses 
excellent  bm^iness  aliility  and  is  of  much  assist- 
atJce  to  her  mother.  .*she  is  a  j;reat  lover  of 
flowers,  shrubs  and  plants  and  most  iKMUtiful 
specimens  of  floriculture  a<lorn  their  place. 

After  her  husband's  death  .Mrs.  Knssel  took 
ch:ir;;e  of  the  f,'irm  and  has  manifested  excellent 
ability  in  its  ninnaf;ement .  Mr.  KusscI  was  a 
republican  in  |M>litics  but  without  aspiration  for 
office.  He  was  rearetl  in  the  l.uther.-m  faith  but 
attende<l  the  Metluxlist  |-'pisco|>.-il  church  of 
Itncklex  with  his  family  .md  he  k-avc  neneronsly 


6fx. 


PAST  AXD  PRESKXT  OF 


ill  sii|)])c)rt  of  otlier  churclies.  His  co-operation 
and  assistance  could  always  be  counted  upon  to 
further  progressive  ])ublic  movements.  He  was 
a  gentleman  of  lilx-ral  education  and  broad  mind 
and  became  a  most  loyal  American  citizen,  mani- 
festing- deep  attacliment  for  the  stars  and  strijies 
and  for  the  various  institutions  of  our  republican 
government.  In  his  business  life  he  prospered 
and  to  his  family  he  left  a  valual)le  jjroperty.  for 
there  is  no  better  investment  than  Illinois  farming 
land. 


()CTA\E  PETIT. 


Octave  Petit,  an  active,  energetic  farmer  who 
owns  and  CHlti\ates  one  lumdred  and  sixty  acres 
of  land  on  section  kj,  Ashkum  township,  and  also 
has  thirtv  acres  on  section  36  of  the  same  town- 
ship, where  he  resides,  was  born  October  2^ . 
i8C)6,  and  is  the  eldest  .son  of  Adolph  and  Ma- 
tilda ( Pasken )  I'etit,  both  of  whom  were  natives 
of  Belgium.  They  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1856  and  located  near  Clifton,  Illinois,  where 
they  resided  until  iS^t,  when  they  removed  to 
Ashkum  township,  settling  on  section  36.  Upon 
the  old  homestead  farm  the  widow  still  resides, 
but  Mr.  Petit  passed  awa\-  in  igo5.  In  their 
family  were  the  following  named:  Octave,  of 
this  review ;  Alexander,  a  farmer  living  on  sec- 
tion I,  Danforth  township;  Zilia,  the  wife  of 
James  Sousie,  a  farmer  living  on  the  old  Petit 
homestead  ;  .\ntoinette,  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Lanone, 
a  genera!  merchant  of  .Marshall,  Minnesota;  Ma- 
tilda, who  is  with  her  mother;  and  Joseph,  a 
farmer  living  on  section  30,  .\shkum  township. 
As  the  years  passed  by  the  father  prospered,  be- 
coming a  substantial  farmer,  .\lthough  he  was 
in  limited  financial  circumstances  when  he  crossed 
the  Atlantic  he  was  possessed  of  a  handsome 
competence  at  the  time  of  his  dcatli. 

( )ctave  Petit  received  good  educational  priv- 
ileges and  was  amply  trained  in  farm  labor  upon 
the  old  homestead,  gaining  thereby  a  practical 
knowledge  that  has  been  of  much  benefit  to  him 
in  later  life.  He  has  always  followed  farming 
and,  receiving  some  assistance  fnnn  his  father, 
is  now  in  very  comfortable  circumstances.  He 
lives  on  section  36,  .Ashkum  townsliiji.  where 
he  owns  thirty  .acres  of  land,  and  he  also  has 
OIK'  hundred  ;ind  sixty  acres  on  section  it),  which 


is  well  developed  and  cultivated  and  brings  to 
him  a  good  financial  return. 

Mr.  Petit  was  married  Februarx-  3,  iSyi.  at 
L'Eralile.  Illinois,  to  Regina  Lenione,  a  daughter 
of  David  and  Celina  (  Desseau  )  Lemone.  Three 
children  grace  this  marriage :  Lucien,  Dorcna 
and  Adolph,  all  yet  under  the  jiarental  roof. 

Mr.  Petit  casts  an  independent  ballot,  although 
he  is  somewhat  in  sympathy  with  the  democracv. 
He  has  served  as  school  director  for  the  past 
nine  years  and  is  still  in  the  olifice.  He  belongs 
to  Ashkum  lodge,  Xo.  2782,  .M.  W.  A.,  also 
to  the  k'orresters  cam]3  of  L'Erable.  and  he  is  a 
zealous  and  faithful  communicant  of  the  Catholic 
church  at  L'Erable. 


JAMES  WILSOX  KERX. 

James  Wilson  Kern,  engaged  in  the  practice  of 
law  at  Watseka.  was  born  near  Bedford.  Indiana, 
September  24,  1865,  his  parents  being  Alvin 
Green  and  Elizabeth  E.  Kern.  The  father  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  was  a  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war.  The  son  acquired  his  earlv  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Indiana  and  pursued 
his  more  advanced  literary  course  in  Eureka  Col- 
lege at  Eureka.  Illinois,  matriculating  in  the  fall 
of  1883.  He  pursued  the  classical  work  and  was 
graduated  in  June.  1887.  with  the  degree  of  P)ach- 
elor  of  Arts.  Preparatory  to  entering  upon  the 
profession  which  he  has  made  his  life  work  he  be- 
came a  student  in  the  law  school  of  the  Universitv 
of  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  i88y  and  was  graduated 
from  that  institution  in  June,  i8go,  with  the  de- 
gree of  Bachelor  of  Law.  In  Xovember  follow- 
ing he  entered  u])on  active  practice  in  W'atseka, 
where  he  has  since  remained  and  a  distinctively 
rei)resentativc  clientage  has  been  accorded  him, 
connecting  him  with  nincli  important  litigation 
tried  in  the  courts  of  the  district.  A  clear  thinker, 
a  logical  reasoncr.  careful  in  his  anaKsis  and 
thorough  in  the  i)re]>aration  of  his  cases,  he  i)re- 
sents  his  cause  in  court  with  a  power  that  never 
fails  to  impress  court  or  jury  and  seldom  fails 
to  win  the  desired  verdict,  .\fter  serving  for  one 
term  as  city  attorney  he  was  elected  state's  at- 
torney for  Iro(|uois  countv  in  i8y6  to  serve  for 
a  term  of  four  years,  and  was  re-elected  to  the 
office  in  T(;oo. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


66i 


On  the  30tli  of  June.  18S7.  Mr.  Korn  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Caddie  A.  Davidson,  of  luireka,  Illi- 
nois, and  tlie\  now  have  two  sons,  .Mnrrcl  .\.  ami 
Lowell  n.,  the  fonuer  ntiw  in  Seattle,  Washin^j- 
toii.  .Mr.  Kern  helongs  to  the  Modem  Woothnen 
camp,  the  Knitjht-  of  I'vtlnas  fraternity  :ind  to 
Mary  commandery.  His  politic.il  alle;;iance  is 
}.jiven  to  the  repiihlican  ]iarty  and  few  men  who 
are  not  active  in  jmlitics  are  lietter  informed  con- 
cerning^ the  iKilitical  status  and  the  issues  before 
the  people,  yet  he  has  never  been  an  aspirant  for 
office  outside  the  strict   path   of  his   profession. 


In  politics,  as  in  iiis  chosen  calling,  lie  ha--  an  eye 
to  practical  results  and  not  glitteriiifj  generalities. 
He  is  public  spirited  in  citizenship,  especially  in 
that  movement  towar<l  bijjher  jjoliiics  which  is 
common  to  lioth  jwrties  and  which  constitutes  the 
most  hopeful  |)olitical  sig"  "f  the  |KTiod.  He 
is  regarded  as  an  alJe.  faithful  and  conscientious 
minister  in  the  temple  of  justice,  while  his  i)rivate 
life  has  brought  him  a  circle  of  friends  that  causes 
him  to  be  classed  with  the  popular  citizens  of 
tile  countv. 


z. 


7~ly% 


ISTOI^IC/M.. 


INTRODL'CTORY. 

In  tlic  preparation  of  this  historical  sketch  of 
lnM|iiiiis  county.  \vc  have  not  hcen  cniharrassed 
by  the  ileartli.  hut  llie  abundance  of  material, 
extant.  There  are  many'  pha.scs  of  the  past  and 
present  of  the  county  \vc  have  been  unable  to 
inncii  for  want  of  time  and  space,  in  present- 
ing; this  sketch  \vc  make  no  claim  to  originality, 
but  have  assimilated  dat.'L  fi>un<l  in  tlie  autol)ioL;- 
raphy  of  (iurdon  .">.  ilubbard,  lli-tury  of  Iro- 
c|uois  County,  published  by  11.  W.  lleckwith  & 
Son  in  1880,  the  county  records  an<l  the  file-. 
of  the  Watseka   Republican. 

We  desire  also  to  express  i)ur  j^ratitude  for 
the  valuable  ciintril)Utions  of  Major  M.  H. 
I'eters  and  Honorable  I-'rank  1.  Mann  and  iIk- 
assi.stancc  reinlered  l»y  Major  Gctirpe  C.  llar- 
rinj^'rti  and  others.  J.  W.  K. 


rHAI'Tr.R   I. 
CirRDi  i.\  ."-.  iiL  i;i;.\kiJ. 

.■\t  the  threshold  of  the  civilization  of  Ir<H|nois 
county  stands  (iurdon  S.  Hubbard.  .\n  ex- 
tcn<led  sketch  of  his  life  may  seem  out  of  place 
within  the  narrow  limits  of  a  county  history. 
I)nt  the  stnry  nf  his  life  is  worthy  of  a  place  in 
ail)  volume  which  records  the  dcetis  of  men 
worthy  of  ennilation  an<l  my  only  regret  is  that 
space  com|iels  me  to  make  it  all  Uto  brief. 


•  1111  111  Ml  .'>.iiUTi>t.ni    i  iiwiiiaru  \\  ii~  m  iri:   m  \\  iml- 

sor,  X'ermont,  .\uj,'u>t  jj.  iK«ij.  His  father  was 
a  lawyer  who,  having  li>st  his  pro|)erty  in  ill 
advised  si)eculation,  nrnved  his  family  to  .Mon- 
treal, Can.ula,  in  1K15.  Here  he  fmmd  th.it  he 
could  not  pr.ictice  his  profession  until  he  had 
resided  in  the  Dominion  for  a  perioil  of  five 
years.  To  help  win  fur  the  family  a  bare  exist- 
ence the  lK>y  tnrneil  peddler,  buying  from  the 
fanners  the  reninants  of  their  load-  of  produce 
and  peddling  it  ibruugh  the  tuwn.  The  ca)>ital 
with  which  he  embarkeil  in  this  enterpri.se  was 
twent\-five  cent>.  which  he  Imrroweil  from  a 
kindly  dis|H.se<l  neighlmr.  \vl  in  one  winter 
he  realized  one  hundred  dollars,  which  went 
into  the  family  treasury.  In  i8i<>.  he  went  t<i 
work  in  a  hardware  store  where  he  reniaincd 
until  the  spring  of  1818.  W  hen  he  leanietl  that 
;i  .Mr.  .Matthews,  agent  for  The  American  l"ur 
C"om|i;iny.  had  been  instructed  to  employ  a  dozen 
young  men  as  clerks  and  i>ne  hundred  voyagers 
anil  rejtort  at  .Mackinaw,  .Michigan,  yomig  Hub- 
bard <lelennined  if  ]iossible  to  join  the  exjiedi- 
tion.  111'  \\:is  but  sixteen  years  of  age  and 
though  no  one  was  to  be  employed  who  was  not 
eighteen  \e;irs  old  or  more,  yet  he  nianaged  it 
so  cleverly  that  he  not  only  obtained  his  par- 
ents' consent  but  secured  the  |>ositioti  without 
any  deception.  He  was  engaged  for  a  term  of 
five  years  at  a  salary  of  one  lumdred  and  twenty 
dollars  a  year. 

The  ex|K-i|ition  started  on  the  i.^h  of  .May 
and  arrive<l  at  .M.ickinaw  July  4th.  Ilnis  forty- 
seven  days   were   rc<|uire<l  to  bring  the  heavily 


668 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


crabapples,  but  they  now  came  to  tlu-  Muskegon 
river  and  Dufrain  again  got  his  bearings.  They 
waded  the  river,  the  water  being  waist  deep  and 
full  of  floating  ice.  They  soon  came  to  an  old 
abandoned  Indian  camp  where  there  was  a 
scaffold  containing  some  old  mattings.  Pulling 
these  down  they  hastily  constructed  a  rude  shelter 
and  gathered  wood  for  a  fire  when  it  was  dis- 
covered that  Dufrain,  who  carried  the  flint  and 
steel,  had  lost  them. 

Dufrain  immediately  gave  up  in  despair  and 
began  to  cross  himself  and  to  say  his  prayers, 
and  indeed  there  seemed  nothing  left  for  them 
to  do.  for  death  by  freezing  seemed  inevitable. 
Their  clothing  was  frozen  stiff  upon  them,  they 
were  exhausted  and  almost  famished.  But  the 
true  test  of  courage  is  to  refuse  to  acknowledge 
defeat  imtil  every  means  has  been  exhausted. 
Young  Hubbard  refused  to  give  up.  He  cut 
hemlock  boughs,  got  more  of  the  old  matting, 
rijjped  open  their  packs  of  goods  and  used 
everything  in  the  way  of  cloth  for  a  covering, 
then  lying  down  close  to  each  other  and  covered 
with  their  blankets  and  cloth,  he  was  soon  over- 
joyed to  find  the  ice  melting  from  their  cloth- 
ing from  the  warmth  of  their  liodies.  (ireatly 
reassured,  they  fell  asleep  and  did  nut  awaken 
until  sunrise,  ^\■hat  followed  is  belter  told  in 
Air.  Hubbard's  own  words.  "W'e  did  not  feel 
hungry  but  were  very  weak  and  neither  felt  in- 
clined to  move.  W'e  knew  the  Indians  could  not 
be  far  away  but  we  were  not  capable  of  making 
the  effort  to  save  ourselves.  .My  rnvn  reflections 
of  the  responsibility  resting  upon  me  and 
tlioughts  of  my  widowed  mother  and  of  mv 
brother  and  sister  linalU  nerved  me  to  make  tlie 
effort.  I  told  Dufrain  that  we  must  get  up  and 
go  to  the  camps.  With  great  difficulty  T  aroused 
him  and  put  on  his  snow  shoes  and  then  after 
])utting  our  packs  upon  the  .scaff'okl,  started  on 
the  marcii.  About  noon  we  struck  a  fresh  snow 
shcje  track.  I  knew  it  iiad  been  made  b\-  a  Inmlei 
and  by  following  the  liack  track  we  should  reach 
the  lodges.  Dufrain  was  not  in  the  least  moved 
1)y  this  good  fortune,  but  was  stupified  and  in- 
clined to  stop.  Intent  on  my  progress  and  for 
a  time  forgetting  my  comrade,  1  advanced  as 
rapidly  as  possible  and  on  looking  back  I  found 
he  was  not  in  sight,  k'nr  a  moment  I  deliberated 
whether   to   return    m-   \<t  cnntinne   on   ni\    wav. 


Aly  own  strength  was  fast  failing  and  I  feared 
delay  would  be  certain  death.  I  resolved,  how- 
ever, to  make  a  last  eft'ort.  I  turned  back  and 
found  him  lying  asleep  in  the  snow.  I  tried  to 
arouse  him,  but  finding  my  attempts  useless,  I 
dug  away  the  snow,  wrapped  him  in  his  blanket, 
with  mine  over  him  and  started  on,  conscious 
that  I  might  soon  be  in  the  same  condition.  I 
felt  no  hunger  but  was  very  weak.  Still  I  moved 
on,  reeling  like  a  drunken  man.  Xew  tracks  and 
the  barking  of  a  dog  told  lue  I  was  nearing  a 
lodge,  which  gave  me  new  strength  to  advance. 
Soon  I  was  gladdened  by  the  sight  of  a  solitarv 
hut  and  in  a  few  minutes  more  I  was  sitting 
on  a  bearskin  within.  It  was  occupied  bv 
a  middle-aged  Indian  who  had  his  arm  bandaged, 
his  squaw  and  four  children.  I  sat  and  waited, 
the  usual  custom  of  the  Indians  being  to  set  before 
■Strangers  something  to  eat,  but  seeing  no  move 
in  that  direction,  I  told  the  squaw  that  I  had  not 
eaten  for  four  days  and  nights.  She  exclaimed, 
"W'e,  too,  are  hungry.  Aly  husband  broke  his 
arm.""  But  she  immediately  opened  a  sack  and 
took  out  a  small  portion  of  pounded  corn  which 
she  stirred  into  a  kettle  of  water  and  placed  over 
the  fire  to  boil.  As  soon  as  it  was  ready  she  gave 
lue  a  small  quantity.  Supping  a  little  I  found  it 
was  difficult  for  me  to  swallow.  This  fright- 
ened me  and  I  lay  down  and  slept.  I  was 
awakened  by  the  sipiaw  who  gave  me  more  soup. 
I  wanted  more  but  she  told  me  to  lie  down  and 
sleep,  that  she  would  wake  and  give  me  more 
after  while,  which  she  did.  1  was  awakened 
again  after  dark.  I  was  very  much  refreshed 
lint  very  sore  and  lame.  (  )n  my  telling  them 
of  Dufrain's  sitnati<.)n  the  squaw  parched  what 
corn  she  had  left,  pounded  it  and  we  maile  preji- 
arations  to  go  after  him,  though  I  had  no  idea 
of  lni<ling  him  alive.  \\'hile  we  were  getting 
ready  the  l!ulian"s  ohlest  son,  who  was  away 
Inmting,  came  in  bearing  a  cub.  Preparations 
were  at  once  made  for  a  feast.  Upon  learning 
who  I  was  and  that  Dufrain  had  been  left  be- 
hind, the  boy  offered  to  go  with  me.  and  ;d>out 
midnight,  when  the  moon  rose  we  started.  W'e 
reached  Dufrain  in  aI)out  an  iiom-.  lie  was 
warm  but  apparently  lifeless.  Ily  much  eft'ort 
we  aroused  him,  but  he  insisted  in  remaining 
where  he  was  and  closed  his  eves  and  went  to 
slee])  again.     It  reciuircd  our  utmost  effort  to  get 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.IN'OIS. 


U»t 


liiiii  ii|)i>i)  his  iivt  ami  b_v  >li<>ri  sta^;i>  Im  j^ii 
him  to  the  cani|i  jusl  as  the  sun  rose.  \\c  mailc 
liiin  as  ci>iiifortal)lc  as  |><>ssihlc  ami  hy  feoiliii^j 
liim  a  little  even  few  niiiiutes.  revived  him.  Me 
fjaiiietl  sIdwIv  ami  it  was  a  week  lK-lnr<  lu  \\:is 
able  to  sit  up.  Durinjj  my  ten  cla\ 
eaii).jhl  from  one  to  a  dozen  |)artri<lj;e^  in  ti.ips 
each  (lay  which,  tojjether  with  what  the  1mi\ 
ha<l  killeil.  furnisheil  us  a  sufficiency  of  fixxl. 
I  felt  that  1  could  remain  no  Ioniser.  1  con- 
structed a  sled  u]M>n  which  to  draw  i)ulrain  and 
with  the  yoiuiR  Indian  to  assist  mc.  wc  started. 
.\fter  three  da\s  of  the  most  severe  toil,  over  hills 
and  thr^>uj;h  thick  uiiderj^'rowih,  we  reached  our 
tradini;  house,  our  invaliti  having  liorne  the 
journey  remarkably  well." 

Diifrain  never  left  the  cabin  a^aiii  tuuil  they 
carried  him  to  a  canoe  to  return  to  Mackinaw. 
He  ilied  ami  was  buried  on  the  way. 

The  next  winter  Hubbard  had  char^je  oi  an 
outfit  with  heail(|uarters  on  the  Kalamazoo  river 
o[>iM>site  to  where  the  city  of  that  name  now 
stands.  Nothinj;  unusual  <>ccurred  at  his  post 
that  winter.  He  visited  a  week  at  Mr.  Kinzie's 
home  at  I'hicajjo  and  made  a  call  on  his  nearest 
nei(;hi>or,  .Mr.  Robinson,  who  was  a  trader  on 
(jrand  river.  This  visit  is  an  illustration  of  how 
impossible  it  was  for  Mr.  Hnhb:trd  to  relin(|uish 
p.  ]>ur|)ose  once  forme<l.  He  reacheil  the  south 
branch  of  (irand  river  to  find  the  bottoms  tliH)ded 
but  frozet;  over.  The  river  was  hi^h  ;md  tilln! 
with  tloatinR  ice.  There  was  notbinj^  to  do  one 
would  think  but  to  return  home,  but  not  so  with 
him.  L'ndressinj;.  he  made  his  clothes  in  a 
bundle,  fastened  them  to  his  neck  and  swam 
across.  Dressing  (piickly  he  slarte<l  on  a  run 
and  was  soon  (|uite  warm  ajjain. 

Arrivin^j  at  .Mackinaw  Hubb:ird  ;ij,'aiii  ten- 
tiered  his  resi^^iation  and  was  a^ain  refused.  He 
wanted  very  imich  to  return  to  his  mother  and 
there  was  nothing;  to  keep  him  exccj>i  ''i-  "'ird 
hut  with  him  that  was  sufficient. 

The  followinj;  winter  he  had  char>;e  of  a  |h'sI 
on  the  Illinois  river  at  a  |xiint  souk-  distance  Ik- 
Ii'W  Peoria.  Here  he  s|Hrnt  a  sticccssful  winter 
and  a;jain  returned  to  Mackinaw.  The  follow- 
ing winter,  .Mr.  I'lulK-au  haviiiR  clied.  he  was 
given  the  jKtst  at  I'nreau  Point,  where  he  a^ain 
met  his  Indian  friends.  Waba  anrl  ShaulK'uee. 
This  vear  was  exceedingly  j;ih>«I  and  he  collected 


»i   man\    Imi'%  th.it   he  id   to  m.tke  tuo 

trips  to  (.'hicano  to  tr-n    ,  iiem.     This  year, 

for  the  first  time,  a  portion  of  their  furs  were 
shipped    in    a    small    •>.!;■  -el.      In   the    fall 

.Mr.  ilul>l)ar<l  w.is  dit.i  ike  cliarj-e  of  the 

lriM|U')i>  c<iiinir\  ami  instead  of  going  by  the 
way  of  Chicajjo  they  went  by  the  way  of  St. 
Joseph  river  to  a  |H>int  near  where  Sotith  Mend, 
lixliana.  is  locateti.  inade  the  portage  of  a  few- 
miles  to  the  Kankakee  river,  down  the  Kanka- 
kee to  the  lro<|uois  and  up  the  IriMjuois  to  a 
lK)int  near  where  W'atseka  now  stands.  The 
first  winter  sjunt  within  the  present  limits  of 
IriMjuois  Comity  seems  to  have  Inren  si>ent  with- 
out an  incidents  which  .Mr.  Hubltanl  thought 
worth  ri*cording.  I-'or  Ix'yond  s|i-:iking  of 
his  friendly  relations  with  an  op|K)sition  trader 
by  the  name  of  Uhabare  and  of  a  week  s|icnt  in 
(1uca(.jo,  he  inciilenta!l\  mentions  the  fact  that 
his    business    was    i|uite    satisfactory. 

He  returned  again  the  follow itig  autmiui  ami 
loc.'ited  at  or  ne;»r  the  present  site  of  the  village 
of  lrix|Uoi?..  He  had  succeeded  .Mr.  Ueschamp 
as  su|>erintendent  of  the  Illinois  trading  |iost« 
of  the  .\merican  I'lir  Company.  He  tleterminc<l 
to  trans|Mirt  his  gcniils  from  Chicago  on  pack 
horses  direct  to  the  Indians  at  their  htniting 
groumls  instead  of  carrx  them  from  posts  along 
the  waterwjiys  on  the  backs  <if  his  uk'H.  .Mr. 
Hubbard  says  that  in  iKj2  he  established  a 
direct  i)ath  from  IriM|uois  |>osl  to  Hanville  and 
"1  now  exteufleil  it  to  a  |K>int  aUnit  one  humlred 
and  fift)  miles  south  of  Danville.  This  trail 
iKvame  the  regularly  traveled  mute  and  was 
tlesignated  on  the  old  maps  as  I  lublartl's  trail." 

.Some  have  thought  that  .Mr.  Hubbard  is  in- 
correct as  to  Iun  dales,  he  not  having  locateil 
at  his  "old  Ir(K|uois  post,  now  called  liunkum," 
until  1H24.  Hut  in  iHjj,  as  we  have  related, 
he  was  liK-ated  Ik-Iow  Peoria  on  the  Illinois  river. 
His  trade  that  \ear  was  with  tbe  Delaware  and 
KickaiMHi  Indians  and  the  Kicka|>oo  Indians 
were  Imateil  on  the  Wabash  river.  Mr.  Hnl>- 
kird  made  many  journeys  to  that  country  of 
which  he  makes  no  mention.'  and  a  trip  to  the 
KickajMHi  counlr>  by  water  to  the  Irotpiois  |>ost, 
thence  south  over  the  mnv  historic  Hublkird's 
trail,  would  not  ap|K-al  to  bint  as  being  a  matter 
of  s|Kvial  interest  to  the  readers  of  his  memoirs. 

Ill     ibi-     uiiiiii'    III"     i.Vi!    i|      llu'    (  iiMU'ral      \-- 


670 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


sembly  located  a  state  road  from  \inceiincs  to 
Chicago  and  from  Danville  to  Chicago.  The 
commissioners  adopted  Hubbard's  trail  most  of 
the  way.  The  route  through  this  county  is  b>- 
the  way  of  Monieiice  to  Beaverville,  Iroquois 
and  Hoopeston. 

In  the  spring  of  1825  it  became  necessary  for 
:\lr.  Hubbard  to  go  to  Chicago.  He  decided  to 
go  on  horseback  to  the  mouth  of  the  Iroquois 
river  and  there  swim  the  Kankakee.  He  started 
with  two  Indians.  All  went  well  until  they  came 
to  a  small  stream  which  had  overflowed  its 
banks  upon  which  a  new  covering  of  ice  had 
formed  during  the  night.  The  Indians  laid 
down  and  slid  themselves  across.  He  rode  his 
horse  to  the  stream  and  reaching  forward  with 
his  tomahawk  broke  the  ice  ahead  of  him,  the 
horse  walking  on  the  under  ice  until  he  reached 
the  middle  of  the  stream  when  his  hind  feet  broke 
through,  the  girth  gave  way  and  the  saddle 
slipped  off  behind  carrying  him  with  it.  Before 
he  could  regain  his  feet  he  was  carried  by  the 
current  between  the  two  coverings  of  ice  and  was 
carried  swiftly  down  the  stream.  In  vain  he  tried 
to  regain  his  feet  and  was  almost  ready  to  give  up 
hope  when  his  hand  came  in  contact  with  a  willow 
bush,  ^^■ith  this  for  a  support,  he  stood  up  and 
bumping  the  ice  with  his  head  broke  through. 
''The  Indians,"  he  says,  "were  greatly  astonished 
at  seeing  me  come  up  through  the  ice.  I  recovered 
my  horse  and  saddle  and  returned  to  my  trading 
house  with  no  worse  results  than  wet  clothing 
and  a  bruised  head." 

He  and  one  of  his  men  then  took  a  small 
canoe  and  paddled  down  the  Iroquois  to  the 
Kankakee  river  and  started  on  foot  for  Chicago. 
It  was  a  misty,  foggy  day  and  they  became  lost. 
They  at  last  met  an  Indian  who  gave  them  the 
right  direction.  The  Indian  had  a  muskrat. 
which  they  lx)ught  of  him  and  it  was  all  the 
two  had  to  eat  for  two  days.  He  tells  a  story 
which  illustrates  the  rude  humor  of  these  early 
times.  "We  were  in  a  state  of  semi-starvation 
that  spring,  having  to  live  almost  entirely  on  corn. 
I  had  a  large  domestic  cat  which  enjoyed  the 
freedom  of  the  store.  I  discovered  that  he  had 
been  gnawing  the  ends  of  scjme  valuable  furs, 
so  I  took  my  rifle  and  slu)t  him.  1  took  him  to 
the  Indian  cook  and  tuld  biin  that  llu-  skin  wnuld 


make  him  a  nice  tobacco  pouch.  Just  before 
dinner  I  went  out  and  asked  the  cook  what  he 
had  done  with  the  cat.  He  answered  by  point- 
ing to  the  kettle  in  which  the  corn  soup  was 
boiling  for  the  men's  dinner.  I  laughed  but  said 
nothing.  At  dinner  I  declined  to  eat  and  said_ 
that  they  might  have  it  all.  They  ate  with  great 
relish  and  when  they  had  finished  I  asked  them 
if  they  knew  what  they  had  eaten.  "Yes,"  they 
said,  "wildcat.''  When  I  told  them  they  had 
eaten  old  Tom  one  of  them  said,  'It  made  no 
difference,  it  was  good,'  but  the  other  tried  hard 
to  rid  himself  of  what  he  had  eaten  by  thrust- 
ing his  finger  down  his  throat  but  without  suc- 
cess; the  old  cat  would  not  come  up." 

After  the  expiration  of  his  five  years'  con- 
tract with  the  American  Fur  Company,  ?klr. 
Hubbard  received  a  salary  of  thirteen  hundred 
dollars  a  year.  During  the  five  years  he  sent 
to  his  mother  each  year  eighty  dollars  or  two- 
thirds  of  all  he  earned.  He  was  now  able  to 
provide  for  her  more  liberally,  which  he  did. 
At  the  end  of  the  seventh  year  he  was  made  a 
special  partner,  which  added  greatly  to  his  in- 
come. He  still  continued  to  occupy  his  post  at 
Iroquois  but  made  frequent  excursions  to  other 
points. 

I  cannot  refrain  from  giving  one  or  two  more 
stories  as  recounted  by  himself  for  they,  as  do 
those  I  have  already  recorded,  give  an  insight 
into  the   character  of  the   man. 

"One  cold  day  in  March,  1827,  I  went  to 
Beaver  lake  for  a  hunt.  The  fall  previously  I 
had  hidden  a  canoe  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake 
about  thirteen  miles  from  my  trading  house.  I 
hunted  until  nearly  dark  and  thinking  it  too 
late  to  return  home  1  camped  for  ihe  night  on 
a  small  island  in  the  lake.  Sometime  in  the 
night  I  awoke  in  great  pain  and  found  my  fire 
had  nearly  gone  out.  I  replenished  it  but  the 
])ain  ct)ntinued  being  more  severe  in  my  legs 
and  b\'  morning  was  so  severe  that  1  could  not 
I'each  in\  canoe.  About  two  o'clock  an  Indian 
came  down  the  lake.  1  called  to  him  and  with 
his  assistance  reached  the  main  land.  I  sent 
the  Indian  to  lro(|uois  with  instructions  for  my 
men  to  bring  a  hor.se  and  harness,  which  they 
did.  I  liad  l!u'  horse  hitched  to  the  canoe  and 
myself  placed   witliin.      I   soon   found    I   could  not 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILI.INOIS. 


r.71 


stand  the  jarriiij^  cif  tlic  caiuic  as  it  was  ilranj;c<l 
oviT  till-  ruujjli  f^niiiiul.  I  sent  a(;:iin  Id  IriH|uois 
I'lir  two  MKiri-  nx-n.  ( )n  tlioir  arrival  tlu'v  cim- 
structcd  a  sort  of  litii-r  of  polls  and  Mankcts 
upon  which  tlu-y  Ixirc  nii-  safely  antl  (juilc  coni- 
fiTtahly  home.  1  was  contined  to  the  house  for 
three  or  lotir  weeks  with  a  severe  attack  of  in- 
tlaniatory  rheuniatistn  and  from  which  I  did  not 
fully  recover  for  eighteen  tihuiths." 

I  hink  of  a  man  walkin;.^  from  irminois  to 
Heaver  lake  for  a  day's  hunt  exi)ectin>j  to  return 
on  f<Kit  the  same  day!  Distance  seemed  to  hold 
no  dread  for  this  man.  lie  was  known  amon^ 
the  Indians  as  I'a-pa  Ma-ta-he,  the  swift  walker, 
.md  it  is  recorded  that  at  one  time  he  covered 
-eventy-fjve  miles  in  one  day  on  foot. 

While  slowly  recovering  from  his  attack  of 
rheumatism  and  awaiting  the  return  of  some 
Indians  who  owed  him  lor  pHids.  two  white  men 
appeareil  with  a  wa^jon-load  of  corn  meal  and 
whiskey.  Hubbard  warned  them  that  the  In- 
<!iaiis  would  ;;et  drunk  ami  wouM  rob  anil  prob- 
ably murder  them  but  they  refused  to  listen. 
Hubbard  had  his  men  watch  for  the  Indians  and 
when  they  came  he  jjave  them  their  dinner  and 
look  them  into  his  storer<M)m,  collected  what  they 
owed  him  and  traded  for  their  furs.  He  says: 
"The  Indians  soon  discovered  the  camp  of  the 
two  men  and  commenced  tradin;.;  the  j^ihmIs  they 
had  got  of  me  for  whiskey.  .Vs  1  had  antici- 
pated, the  Indians  soon  got  drunk  and  lieing 
.•ingry  because  they  had  nothing  more  to  ir;ide, 
they  began  to  take  back  their  blankets  ami  gcMxls. 
The  white  men  became  greatly  frightened  and 
came  to  me.  I  rcfusetl  to  interfere  but  sent  two 
of  my  men  to  empty  the  remaining  kegs  of  whis- 
key. The  Indians  Ix'came  enraged  an<l  stabbed 
one  of  my  men  in  the  back  though  not  .severely. 
The  Indians  got  back  all  their  goo<ls  and  the 
white  nieu  made  their  escajH?  with  their  horses 
.ind  wagon.  The  Indians  came  to  my  house  and 
demandeil  niore  whiskey,  which  of  course  was 
refused  them.  They  all  lay  <lown  and  went  to 
sleep  except  their  leader.  Yellow  lleail.  He 
came  to  me  .several  times  coaxing  anil  threaten- 
ing. He  finally  said  he  w<  uld  break  into  my 
storehouse  and  take  as  mtich  as  he  wanted.  I 
said.  "Xerx  well,  go  on.'  I  (jot  up.  tiM)k  my  rille. 
thrust  it  through  the  paper  which  served  for 
window  glass,  and  as  he  reacheil  the  store,  drew 

39 


a  k^id  on  him  and  called  to  him  to  go  011  and 
break  in.  lie  changed  liis  mind  and  walked 
awa\.  I  again  la>  down  and  in  a  few  minutes 
he  returned  verj  angry  and  walking  up  to  my 
bunk  attempted  to  stab  nic.  Kiit  I  was  t<Ki  quick 
lor  him.  Lame  ;is  I  was  I  jumped  up.  seizeil 
bis  arm,  took  the  knife  away  and  pushed  him  out 
of  doors.  Outside  the  <Io«>r  was  a  large  mortar 
with  a  heavy  iron-wooil  [lestle.  1  leaned  on  one 
crutch  against  the  mortar  willi  my  hand  on  the 
IX'Stlc.  Yellow  Head  felt  in  his  leggin.s  for 
anotluT  knife,  when  I  said  to  a  squaw.  '<  iive  the 
old  woman  a  knife.'  She  did  .so  but  Yellow  Head 
ItMtking  at  the  pestle  silently  de|:artei|  with  the 
s<|uaws." 

In  i«-v«.  .Mr.  Hubbard  settled  at  Danville.  Illi- 
nois, where  he  resideil  until  1H34,  though  he 
still  retained  his  trading  jiost  at  Iriwiuois.  .At 
Danville  he  conducteil  a  general  store  and  also 
tnided  in  hogs,  gathering  them  up  and  driving 
them  to  Chic.igo.  Me  continued  his  annual  tri|>s 
to  Mackinaw,  making  in  all  twenty-six.  Dur- 
ing the  summer  of  1S30  he  for  the  first  time 
visited  his  mother  and  family  at  .Middletown, 
Connecticut.  He  brought  his  two  sisters.  .Mary 
and  .\bby.  back  with  him  to  his  home  in  Dan- 
ville, where  they  resided  until  ha|)pily  married. 
He  himself  was  married  in  1S31,  his  wife  dying 
in  183S.  He  was  again  married  in  1843.  to  .Miss 
.Mary  .\nn  Hubbard,  who  still  survives  him 
though  now  past  eighty-six  years  of  age.  In 
iS,^4  .Mr.  Ilubb.ird  moved  to  Chicago  and  was 
one  of  the  first  trustees  of  that  still  insignificant 
town. 

It  would  be  worth  while  to  record  his  busi- 
ness ventures,  his  misfortimes  and  successes,  but 
space  will  not  j)ermit.  He  engaged  successfully 
in  the  packing  business  but  lost  heavily  by  tlu' 
destniction  of  his  packinghouse  by  fire.  The 
great  fire  of  1H71  ilestro\eil  nnich  of  his  property 
and  crippled  him  financially  but  left  him  snfliciiiit 
for  a  comfortable  ol<!  age. 

In  May.  iHS.v  he  lost  the  sigbi  i-i  ms  u  ii  i\i:. 
In  the  succeeding  .\pril  it  was  found  necessary 
to  remove  the  cyelwll.  though  cight>-two  years 
old  without  an.Tsthetics  or  any  one  to  hold  his 
liands.  the  sti-ady  nerve  and  self-control  en.ibled 
him  to  lie  down  and  have  his  eye  cut  out.  In 
Julv.  1X85.  he  lost  the  sight  of  his  remaining 
eye.  but  his  counige  and  fortitude  never  forsook 


672 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


him.  Attended  by  his  faithful  and  loving  wife, 
he  was  always  patient  and  cheerful  and  with  an 
inner  vision  looked  beyond  this  earthly  life  and 
with  an  unfaltering  faith  awaited  the  summons 
which  came  at  the  age  of  eighty-four. 

I  feel  tliat  I  have  all  too  imperfectly  repro- 
duced in  condensed  form  the  life  sketch  of  this 
remarkable  man.  1  would  that  every  youth  in 
this  countv  could  read  the  full  history  and  ponder 
well  the  lessons  it  would  teach.  There  is  hardly 
a  virtue  he  did  not  possess  and  he  was  a  stranger 
to  vice.  It  does  not  seem  possible  that  a  man 
who  had  spent  his  life  in  the  wilderness  could 
in  an\"  great  degree  be  looked  upon  as  a  man  of 
culture,  but  he  was  a  born  gentleman.  He  was 
genial,  svmpathetic,  sociable,  charitable  and 
tolerant,  and  always  courteous  and  dignified  but 
approachable.  He  was  a  good  neighbor  and  a 
true  friend.  Such  was  the  man  who  blazed  the 
wav  for  civilization  to  follow  and  take  posses- 
sion of  this  beautiful  county  of  ours.  All  honor 
to  his  memory  and  peace  to  his  ashes. 


CHAPTER  H. 


ORGAXIZ.VTIUX    UP     THE    COUNTY. 

Iroquois  county  is  the  only  county  in  the  United 
States  having  the  name  "Iroquois."  a  name 
originally  applied  to  a  confederation  of  tribes 
of  North  American  Indians,  the  "Iroquois." 
According  to  tradition,  a  band  of  Iroquois  In- 
dians were  once  surprised  and  defeated  upon 
the  banks  of  the  river  now  known  as  the  Iro- 
quois, by  a  war  party  of  Illinois  Indians,  hence 
the  name  of  the  river  ami  ci)\mty. 

Another  story  which  is  said  to  have  been  re- 
lated to  Gurdon  S.  ilul)l)ard  by  the  Indians,  not 
only  explains  why  the  name  "Iroquois''  became 
associated  with  the  river  ;md  cuuntv,  hut  gives 
the  origin  of  the  name  "W'atseka:" 

"Many  years  ago  tlie  Iroquois  attacked  an 
Indian  village  situated  on  the  b;niks  of  the  river 
a  few  miles  below  the  old  county  seat.  Middle- 
port,  and  drove  out  the  occu])ants  with  great 
slaughter.  The  fugitives  were  collected  in  the 
night  time  some  distance  away,  lamenting  their 
disaster.     A   won.ian,   possessing  great   courage, 


urged  the  men  to  return  and  attack  the  Iroquois, 
saying  the  latter  were  then  rioting  in  the  spoils 
of  the  village  and  exalting  over  their  victorv ; 
that  they  would  not  expect  danger  from  their 
defeated  enemy,  and  that  the  darkness  of  the 
night  would  prevent  their  knowing  the  advance 
upon   them. 

The  warriors  refused  to  go.  The  woman  then 
said  she  would  raise  a  party  of  squaws  and  re- 
turn to  the  \-illage  and  fight  the  Iroquois;  add- 
ing that  death  or  captivity  would  be  the  fate  of 
the  women  and  children  on  the  morrow,  and  that 
they  might  as  well  die  in  an  effort  to  regain 
their  village  and  property  as  to  submit  to  a  more 
dreadful  fate.  She  called  for  volunteers  and  the 
women  came  forward  in  large  numbers.  Seeing 
the  bravery  of  their  wives  and  daughters  the 
men  were  ashamed  of  their  cowardice  and  be- 
came inspired  with  a  desperate  courage.  A  plan 
of  attack  was  speedily  formed  and  successfully 
executed.  The  Iroquois,  taken  entirelv  una- 
wares, were  surprised  and  utterh-  defeated." 

The  heroine  of  this  story  is  said  to  have  borne 
the  nan;e  W'atch-e-kee.  and  that  in  honor  of  her 
bravery,  the  tribe  in  council  ordained  that  at  her 
death  the  name  "\\'atch-e-kee"  should  be  he- 
stowed  upon  the  most  accomplished  maiden  of 
the  tribe,  and  thus  from  one  generation  to 
another. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  certain  is  it  that  this  part  of 
Illinois  was  early  known  to  the  Coureurs  de  hois 
and    Indian   traders  as  the   "Iroquois   Country." 

Iroquois  county  is  bounded  on  the  north  Ijy 
the  county  of  Kankakee,  on  the  east  bv  the  State 
of  Indiana,  on  the  south  by  \'ermilion  and  h'ord 
counties  and  on  the  west  by  Ford  county.  Iro- 
quois comity  in  area  ranks  thirds  in  the  state, 
being  thirty-five  miles  long  by  thirty-two  miles 
wide,  and  containing  one  thousand  one  hundred 
imd  twt'uty  square  miles,  having  in  area  but  one 
hundred  and  thirty  square  miles  less  than  the 
state  of  Rhode  Island.  It  contains  twenty-five 
ti.wnships.  thirty-three  election  ])recincts  and 
twenty-one  incorporated  cities  and  villages  and 
about  fourteen  villages  and  hamlets  not  in- 
corporated. 

The  territory  embraced  within  its  ])resent 
lidundaries  has  been  sulijected  to  various  stages 
of  ])olitic;d  evolution  imtil  the  ])re^ent  county 
organization   was  perfected.     Under  the  charter 


IIKST    I'KESIIYTKKI.W    t  lllKC  II     IN    OXAKr.A. 


UNWERSITV  OF  ILLINOIS 


* 


IROQl'OIS  COUNTY.  HJ.IN'OIS. 


of  1609  supportetl  liy  (icncral  i,i.iiK~  ...miin^j 
\ir}4;iiiia  laid  claim  U)  all  llii:  c<>uiili\  in.rili  aiul 
west  of  the  ( )hio  river  and  organized  it  as  tlic 
county  of  Illinois.  In  the  vcar  1784.  \ir>^nia 
surrcndercil  her  claims  to  the  territory  ti)  the 
government  of  the  United  States.  This  vast 
domain  afterward  became  kimwn  a<  the  North- 
west Territory.  While  the  Illinois  country  was 
still  a  part  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  in  the 
year  1790.  we  find  the  Iro<|uois  country  a  part 
of  the  county  of  Knux  and  so  omtinued  until 
I'ebrnary  3,  1801.  when  it  became  a  part  of  the 
county  of  St.  Clair,  belonj^ini;  tu  the  Indi.ina  Ter- 
ritory, liy  act  of  conj^ress  ajipnived  l-ebruary  3, 
1S09.  the  Illinois  Territory  w.as  established.  Said 
act  provides:  '"That  from  and  after  the  first 
day  of  March  next,  all  thai  ])art  of  the  Indiana 
Territory  which  lies  west  of  the  Wabash  river 
and  a  direct  line  drawn  from  the  .said  Wabash 
river  and  past  \  incennes  due  north,  to  the  terri- 
torial line  between  the  L'nited  States  and  Canada, 
shall  for  the  i)urpose  of  temporary  jiovernment. 
constitute  a  separate  territory  ami  bi'  called 
"Illinois." 

This  county  continued  to  be  a  part  of  .^t. 
Clair  county  until  the  14th  of  September,  181J. 
when  upon  a  reorganization  it  became  a  ]).irt  of 
Madison  county  and  remained  a  i)art  of  the 
oiunty  of  Madison  until  the  28th  of  .November. 
1814,  when  it  became  a  part  of  Edwards  county. 
In  the  year  1816  the  Iroquois  country  JK'camc 
a  ])art  of  Crawford  county  and  there  remained 
until  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  L'nion  in 
1818. 

When  Illinois  was  ailmitted  as  a  state  she  had 
but  fifteen  organized  counties  and  Crawford 
county  embraced  all  that  part  of  the  state  ly- 
ing north  of  a  line  running  east  and  west  near 
the  i)rescnt  site  of  Louisville,  Illinois,  the  county 
seat  of  Clay  county,  an<l  east  of  the  third  prin- 
cipal meridian,  which  runs  due  north  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio  river. 

.March  21.  1819,  the  territory  embracctl  within 
the  present  limits  of  Inxjuois  county  became  a 
part  of  Clark  county.  In  1823  Kdgar  county 
was  organized  and  what  is  now  Inxpiois  counl> 
was  attached  to  Kdgar,  .ind  it  remained  thus 
until  the  county  of  \erniilion  was  organized  in 
i82r>.  after  which  it  was  attached  to  N'ennilion. 
where  it  remained  until  Iroquois  county  was 
organized.  I\-bruary  2(^.  1833. 


<iur.il ill  ^.  ilubliard  was  :t  rep!'  irom 

X'crmilion  county  in  the  eight  g.  -embly 

of  Illinois,  1832-1834.  At  tlial  session  he  was 
instrumental  in  pnK-uring  the  jwssage  of  ti>e  .net 
creating  lro«|uois  comity.  The  couiuy  en>brace<l 
all  that  territory  lying  north  of  its  present  south 
line  and  east  of  its  west  line  as  now  established 
and  extended  north,  in  the  form  of  a  rectangie 
taking  in  the  greater  |x>rtion  of  what  is  now 
Kankakee  county  an«l  almnt  one-third  of  the  ter- 
ritory embraced  within  the  present  iMiumlaries 
of  Will  county.  .\s  then  established  !ro(|nois 
county  extended  from  the  north  line  of  \cr- 
niilion  to  the  then  >outh  line  of  C'ook  county. 
Will  county  was  create<l  in  the  year  l83'>,  an<l 
extended  south  to  the  Kankakee  river,  which 
river,  excei)t  li>r  a  short  distance  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  coimty,  Ix-came  the  n<jrthern 
lx)undary  of  !ro<|uois  county. 

In  the  year  1833  Kankakee  c<nnity  was 
cre.ited,  carved  in  the  main,  from  territory  there- 
tofore belonging  to  the  counties  of  IriKpiois  and 
Will  and  thus  Irtxpiois  count \  was  liuiiteil  to  its 
present  Ixiundarics. 

In  the  years  |83<>  to  i85t>  incluMve  a  strong 
efTort  was  niade  to  detach  the  southwest  corner 
of  IriKpiois  county  an<l  annex  it  to  that  part  of 
\  ermilion  which  is  now  a  part  of  Ford  omnty. 
The  scheme  originate<l  in  I^nla,  the  object  U-ing 
to  make  the  village  of  Linla  the  county  seal  of 
a  new  cminty  (  l"ord). 

The  imdertaking  met  with  determincil  opposi- 
tion both  in  Inxpiois  county  and  in  prospect  city, 
now  I'axton.  the  c<ninty  seat  of  Fonl  county, 
and   consequently    failcil. 

The  latter  part  of  .\ngust,  1821,*  Gurdon  S. 
Mubbard.  accompanied  by  his  faithful  com- 
panion, Noel  Vasseur,  and  others,  left  Mackinaw, 
their  destination  lieing  the  InKjuois  country. 
They  coasted  I-ike  Michigan  in  boats,  and  canw 
bv  way  of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  across  the  por- 
tage of  the  Kankakee,  down  the  K.mk.nkee  river 
to  the  mouth  of  the  !r<Kpiois,  thence  up  the  lr«v 
(|Uois  river  to  the  mouth  of  Sugar  creek.* •  .\ 
vhort  distance  east  of  the  mouth  of  Sugar  creek. 

•  IluTP  IH  dnlJi  Klv«'n  In  Mr.  lliihbardH  nulobloK- 
ruiili.v  IndlciilliiK  that  Iho  dntp  wim  Aummi.  1S23.  but 
lh<'  wcliilii  <>f  (be  «>vld«'nc«'  Ih  oh  »liitod  In  tho  text, 

••  It  him   iHH-n   KBld   thnt    Mr    llnbbiird   camo   via 

ChU-nKo  rIviT    pn-xln!;   the   [KirtaKo    l<i   l>oi<    I'lnlncii 
rly,.r    .  .  <•  und  InHjiuilB  rlv<»r«.  but 

thU  Is 


676 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


jMr.  Hubbard  built  a  trading  house  and  erected 
a  fur  press.  This  building  stood  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  old  ^liddleport.  otherwise  known 
as  West  Watseka.  This  was  the  beginning  of 
civilization  in  Iroquois  county.  At  this  time 
Htibbard  was  employed  by  the  American  Fur 
Company,  of  which  John  Jacob  Astor  was  the 
leading  spirit.  Stories  of  the  great  wealth  of 
the  Iroquois  country  in  fur  bearing  animals  had 
reached  Mackinaw,  where  were  located  the  ware- 
hotises  of  the  American  Fur  Companv.  Mr. 
Flubbard  says  he  came  here  to  establish  a  busi- 
ness in  opposition  to  a  trading  house  owned  by 
the  Messrs.  Ewing,  then  of  Fort  Wayne.  This 
post  was  located  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Iro- 
quois river,  near  the  present  village  of  Iroquois 
and  was  in  charge  of  one  Chabare. 

A\'hen  Mr.  Hubbard  and  his  party  landed  at 
the  mouth  of  Sugar  creek,  they  found  nearbv, 
located  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Iroquois  river, 
a  Pottawattamie  village.  They  were  well  re- 
ceived by  the  Indians.  Colonel  Hubbard  occa- 
sionally visited  his  friends,  the  Kinzies,  in  Chi- 
cago. He  also  made  excursions  to  the  Indian  hunt- 
ing grounds  as  far  south  as  the  Little  Wabash. 

Later,  perhaps  about  the  year  1825,  he  estab- 
lished a  new  trading  post  about  a  half  a  mile 
north  of  "Bunkum,"  the  present  site  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Iroquois.  Like  many  others,  who  found 
themselves  beyond  civilization  and  among  sav- 
ages, Colonel  Hubbard  deemed  it  prudent  to  ce- 
ment his  friendship  with  the  Indians  by  marrying 
an  Indian  woman,  according  to  Indian  custom. 
For  a  wife  he  selected  Watch-e-kee,  a  niece  of 
the  Pottawatamie  chief,  Tamin/'Writing  of  this 
circumstance  he  says :  "I  have  no  wish  to  deny 
the  fact  of  her  being  my  wife,  given  me  by  her 
uncle  when  she  was  about  ten.  in  the  place  of 
his  own  grown  daughter  whom  he  presented  to 
me,  and  whom  I  declined.  This  little  girl  was 
to  take  her  place,  and  was,  under  my  pledge  to 
make  her  my  wife,  brought  to  me  by  her  mother 
at  the  age  of  fourteen  or  fifteen.  She  bore  me 
a  daughter  who  died  at  about  eight  months  old. 
I  lived  with  this  Indian  woman  about  two  years 
in  harmony.  Our  separation  was  by  mutual 
agreement,  in  perfect  friendship,  and  because  I 
was  about  to  abandon  the  Indi.-ui  tr.ule.  and  of 
course  mv  connection   with   her   tribe. 


"Both  thought  each  other's  happiness  would  be 
promoted  by  separation,  as  it  doubtless  was."* 


COUNTY    SIC.\T. 

After  the  organization  of  the  county,  the  next 
year,  February  24,  1834,  a  special  election  was 
held  to  elect  county  officers.  At  that  election 
Samuel  M.  Dunn  was  chosen  for  the  office  of 
sheriff,  having  received  thirty-three  votes. 
Henry  Eusleu  received  twenty  votes  for  the  same 
office.  John  Hougland,  \\"illiam  Co.x  and 
Samuel  .AIcFall  were  elected  countv  commis- 
sioners, receiving  fifty-one,  forty-seven  and 
thirty-one  votes,  respectively.  John  S.  Moore 
was  defeated,  having  received  but  twenty-four 
votes. 

Forty-four  votes  were  cast  for  Micajah  Stan- 
ley  for  coroner. 

The  county  commissioners  on  the  17th  of 
March  following  convened  at  the  house  of 
Robert  Hill  near  ]\Iilford,  fixing  that  place  as 
temporary  seat  of  justice.  Hugh  Xewell  was 
apjiointed  county  clerk,  Samuel  Rush  assessor 
and  treasurer. 

The  county  was  divided  into  three  road  dis- 
tricts. The  first  embraced  all  that  part  of  the 
county  lying  south  of  the  line  running  east  and 
west  between  townships  26  and  27,  or  substan- 
tially all  that  part  of  the  county  lying  south  of 
the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Railroad.  The 
second  district  contained  all  that  territory  be- 
tween the  first  district  and  Beaver  creek,  and  a 
line  extending  from  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek, 


*  This  Indian  girl.  Watch-e-liee.  was  born  near  the 
present  site  of  the  village  of  Iroquois  about  the  year 
ISIO.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  woman  of  superior 
intelligence.  About  1S2S  she  married  Noel  Vassuer, 
who  remained  in  charge  of  the  post.  After  her  tribe 
left  tor  the  west,  she,  with  Vassuer,  moved  to  Bour- 
bonnais  Grove.  She  was  the  mother  of  several  chil- 
dren. In  1837  she  went  west  with  a  remnant  of  her 
tribe  and  located  near  the  present  site  of  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa,  where  she  married  a  Frenchman  by  the 
name  of  Bergeron.  About  1S()3  she  returned  to  Illi- 
nois to  visit  Mr.  Vassuer  at  Bourbonnais  Grove,  and 
from  there  on  foot  and  alone  she  journeyed  to  Iro- 
quois county  to  visit  the  scenes  of  her  girlhocKl. 
"Sadly  she  left,  as  the  last  Pottawattamie  to  set  foot 
on  the  soil  of  Iroquois  county."  She  died  at  the  Pot- 
tawattamie reservation  in  Kansas  about  the  year 
1S78. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.IN'oiS. 


'^1 


wi-si  t<i  the  Claims  iiin.'.  i  iic  unrd  di^tiicl  i\- 
toiulcd  from  llic  iii>rtli  lim-  nf  tlic  >ii-iin<l  ^li^t^icl 
t(i  tlie   Kankakee  rivci 

In  Jmu'.  1S34.  tlirir  cIccUdu  i<riciiutN  wire  es- 
tal)lislK-(l  witli  the  same  l)<>im<laries  as  the  road 
districts.  The  south  i)recinct  was  called  "Snuar 
creek  precinct."  with  ))ollin^  ])lace  at  the  )t<'nse 
of  John  Xilson,  late  residence  of  Koherl  Hill. 
The  north  ]>recinct  was  called  "Kankakee  pre- 
cinct" and  the  |H>llinj;  ])lace  was  at  the  lionse  of 
William  I'.aker  near  the  ))resent  site  of  Kankakee 
city.  The  middle  was  called  "lnH|iiois  precinct" 
and  the  house  of  David  .Meij^s  at  .Montjjoinery. 
was  desif^nated  as  the  pollinjj  place. 

r.\  an  act  approvetl  Kebruary  10,  18.^5,  Wil- 
liam IJowen  and  Jose])h  Davis,  holh  of  \  ermilion 
County,  and  l'hili|)  Stanford,  of  Chami)aij;n 
county,  were  appointed  commissioners  "to  locate 
the  ])ermanent  seat  of  justice  of  Inxpiois  comi- 
ty, and  give  it  a  name."  The.se  men  neglected 
to  perform  said  duties.  Isaac  Courtright.  of 
near  "liunkum."  was  a  representative  and  a 
memher  of  the  tenth  general  assembly,  iSj(t- 
1838.  He  favored  "liunkum"  for  the  county 
seat  and  secured  the  passage  of  an  act  naming 
Noel  X'assuer,  of  Will  county,  George  Scar- 
Ixirough  and  George  Harnett,  of  X'ermilion  comi- 
t\,  commissioners  to  locate  the  county  seat. 

April  II,  1837,  two  of  the  ctnnnlissioners, 
\'assuer  and  Darnett.  met  at  the  house  of  Wil- 
liam Ariustrong  in  Montgomery  and  selected 
twentv  acres  adjoining  Montgomery  on  the 
southeast  as  the  site  for  the  ])ernianent  seat  of 
justice  of  the  county. 

This  tract  was  accordingly  i.oii\r\i-d  to  the 
count \  commissioners  and  their  successors,  by 
Amos  White  and  William  .\rmstrong.  and  the 
site  was  called  "Inicjuois."  The  county  seat  was 
destined  to  remain  at  "Iro(|uois"  but  a  short 
time.  No  c«junty  buildings  were  erected  there, 
hut  offices  were  rented  for  the  use  of  the 
county  officials  in  .Montgomery,  and  there  the 
courts  were  held  and  the  county  business  trans- 
acted so  long  as  "InKpiois"  remained  the  county 
seat. 

In  1838  Isaac  Courtrigbt  was  agiiin  a  candi- 
date for  re-election  to  the  legislature.  He  was 
a  man  of  strong  char.icter  and  one  of  the  leaders 
of  the  democratic  |)arty,  hut  tbronghoiit  the 
county  there  was  general  dissatisf.Ktion  with 
the  location  <>f  the  cnmitv   seat  at  Montgomery. 


and  .Mr.  Lourtnght  was  recognize«l  as  a  strong 
advocate  of  "lroi|uois,"  or  in  the  event  of  a 
removal,  then  he  was  known  to  favitr  old  Texas. 
The  County  se.it  (piestion  became  the  issue  in 
the  cam|iaign,  and  l.ouis  Kola-rts,  a  whig  of 
.\sh  (irove  townsliip,  was  l^ecte<l  over  .Mr. 
(ourt right  to  the  eleventh  general  assembly  of 
Illinois.  It  may  Ik-  noted  in  passing  that  the 
seconil  session  of  this  general  as.semlily  was  the 
first  session  ever  helil  at  .Springfield,  the  present 
capital.  .Mr.  Roberts  j)rocure<l  an  enabling  .-ict 
for  the  re-location  of  the  county  seat,  and  a  com- 
mission was  apjHiinted  for  that  |)ur|xise. 

.\boul  the  year  183O,  it  is  said  that  s|)eculation 
ran  rife.  Great  schemes  for  public  improvement 
were  |iromulgated.  Several  towns  in  the  county 
were  laid  out  and  platted  and  each  one  had  its 
advocates,  urging  its  s|K'cial  advantages  for  the 
county  seat.  Concord,  Milford.  I'l.ito.  Savana, 
.Middleport,  Point  I'lia.sant  and  Inxjuois  City 
were  aiming  the  applicants.  I'lato  was  adver- 
tised as  being  at  the  head  of  navigation  of  the 
IrcMjuois  river.  The  jirospectus  sent  east  to  in- 
duce jK'ople  to  make  investments  in  I'lato,  showed 
the  picture  of  a  broad  river,  leenung  with  shi|>- 
ping  and  commerce. 

.•Havana  was  located  alRnit  two  miles  n<jrth  of 
the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Milford.  Iro- 
(piois  City  was  laid  oflf  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Iroquois  river  opposite  Old  Texas.  Texas 
was  also  a  com|)etitor.  Point  Pleasant  was  li>- 
cated  on  the  lro(|Uois  river  at  the  mouth  of 
Sjiring  creek,  in  the  angle  iK'tween  the  creek  an<l 
river.  In  an  early  <lay  it  was  the  site  of  an  In- 
dian village.  Still  another  eligible  site  was  dis- 
covered  alH)ut   two  miles  south   of   Milford. 

June  13,  1839,  the  commission  eovrncd  at 
Mifldleport  and  on  the  17th  of  the  same  month 
submitted  their  re|x)rt  to  the  county  commission- 
ers, declaring  the  county  scat  rem<»ved  from 
"Iroquois"  and  |iermanently  located  at  ".Middle- 
]>ort." 

Within  the  next  few  years  a  jail  and  court 
house  were  erectetl  in  .Mifldleport.  and  there  the 
comity  .seat  remained  until  i8<i5,  when  it  was 
renujveil  to  its  present  location.  The  county  seat 
fight  between  Middle|Kirt  and  Watseka,  or  South 
Middle|H)rt,  was  a  long  cirawn  out  and  stublxirn 
contest  and  one  of  the  noteworthy  events  of  the 
county. 

The  In-ginning  of   Middleport  dales   from  the 


678 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


landing  of  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  and  the  improve- 
ments which  he  there  made.  It  was  an  ideal 
location,  in  the  angle  between  the  Iroquois  river 
on  the  one  hand  and  Sugar  creek  on  the  other. 

At  the  request  of  Hugh  Newell  and  Jacob 
Whiteman,  Middleport  was  surveyed  and  platted 
in  December,  1836.  It  was  incorporated  as  a 
village   April    16,    1859. 

John  Hogle,  Wilson  S.  Ka\',  B.  F.  Barnum, 
D.  B.  Gardner  and  .\lfred  Torrey  constituted 
the  first  village  board. 

Doubtless  the  count}-  seat  would  have  remained 
at  JMiddleport,  and  it  would  today  be  the  fore- 
most town  in  the  county,  had  it  secured  the  rail- 
road, now  known  as  the  Toledo,  Peoria  & 
Western. 

The  original  line  for  this  road  was  surveyed 
through  Middleport  but  some  disagreement  arose 
as    to   depot    grounds. 

]\Iicaiah  Stanley,  who  was  financially  inter- 
ested in  the  present  site  of  Watseka,  saw  his 
opportunity  and  was  quick  to  take  advantage  of 
the  situation.  He  made  a  proposition  to  the 
railroad  ci)nipany  which  was  accepted  and  the 
road  was  built,  on  its  present  line,  leaving  Alid- 
dleport  off  to  the  right.  This  sounded  the  death 
knell  of  .Middleport  as  a  county  seat  town,  al- 
though the  actual  removal  of  the  cotinty  seat 
did   not   occur   until    some   years   later. 

The  county  seat  contest  between  the  old  and 
new  town  was  bitter.  Strange  as  it  may  seem 
to  the  present  generation,  familiar  with  existing 
conditions,  the  passions  of  opposing  factions  ran 
high  in  a  contest,  which  fmm  the  verv  nature 
of  things  must  inevitably  finally  be  decided 
against  ]\Iiddlc]Jort.  The  people  of  Middleport 
maintained  that  in  as  much  as  the  county  seat 
had  Ix'en  permanently  located  there,  and  the 
ciJimty  had  accepted  one  hundred  town  lots  as 
a  consideration  that  it  was  inc(iuitable  to  renioxe 
it,  but  finally  the  leaders  of  the  fight  for  Middle- 
port  seeing  nothing  ahead  but  defeat,  sought  a 
compromise  location  but  here  again  thev    failed. 

The  county  seat  was  removed  from  Middle- 
port  to  .Watseka  in  April,  1863,  and  the  old 
part  of  the  present  courthouse  was  erected  in 
i8f)f)  at  a  cost  of  twenty-eight  thousand  dollars, 
including  the  jail  in  the  basement,  on  lots  do- 
nated for  th;it  purpose  l)y  Micajah  !-^laule\-. 
The  contractor  was  .\mzi  C  Mantor,  and  it  ma\' 


be  said  to  his  credit,  that  his  work  still  stands 
as  one  of  the  best  pieces  of  masonry  in  Iroquois 
county. 

.\s  the  business  of  tiie  count}'  increased  from 
\car  to  year,  the  courthouse  was  found  to  be 
too  small  and  steps  were  taken  during  the  year 
1881  to  build  an  addition  thereto. 

.\  committee  of  the  board  of  supervisors,  com- 
posed of  J.  G.  Williams,  W.  B.  Simonds,  C,  W. 
Brown  and  E.  Hitchcock  on  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1881,  submitted  to  the  board  three  plans 
for  said  addition.  The  third  plan  proposed  was 
the  one  adopted  by  the  board.  It  provided  for  the 
building  of  said  addition  on  the  south  side  of 
tlie  main  building,  the  length  of  which  from  cast 
to  west,  should  be  twenty-eight  feet  greater  than 
the  width  of  the  main  building,  or  to  extend  out 
fourteen  feet  either  way  from  the  sides  of  the 
main  building.  The  height,  material  and  archi- 
tecture to  conform  to  the  main  building.  I'ire 
proof  vaults  for  the  county  records  were  to  be 
built,  additional  room  for  the  circuit  and  county 
clerk's  office,  and  upstairs  a  grand  jury  room 
and  a  room  for  the  board  of  supervisors.  On 
the  24th  of  October  of  the  same  year,  this  com- 
mittee on  behalf  of  th.e  county  entered  into  a 
contract  with  William  I'epperdine  for  the  con- 
struction of  said  addition,  which  was  completed 
the  next  year.  The  contract  price  was  twelve 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  unimportant 
changes,  the  court  house  remains  today  as  it 
was  wlien  this  addition  was  completed,  the  base- 
ment, however,  is  no  longer  used  as  the  cjounty 
jail.  During  the  year  1893,  the  county  erected  a 
new  county  jail  and  sheriff's  residence,  about 
one  block  east  of  the  courthouse  at  a  co.st  of 
twent}-three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eight- 
een dollars  and  forty-eight  cents,  which  is  a 
credit    to   the    count}-. 

.\bont  2  o'clock  of  the  mornirig  of  October  16, 
i8fi6,  manv  of  the  records  of  the  comity  clerk's 
ofiice  were  destroyed  b}-  fire.  .\t  that  time  tlic 
county  offices  were  tL'm])orarily  located  in  build- 
ings in  the  saute  block  and  east  of  the  present  iMrst 
Xational  I'ank  building  in  Watseka,  awaiting  the 
building  of  the  courthouse.  This  fire  occurred 
after  the  renioval  of  the  count}-  seat  from  Mid- 
dlepdrl  and  was  thought  to  be  of  incendiary 
oritrin. 


IROnmic;  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


679 


.\>;aiii  on  Suiulay  alU-riiooii,  Apiil  3.  "jo.v 
thf  present  cuurllitiuse  was  seriously  ilaniancd 
by  a  tiro  whicli  orijiinatcil  in  the  counly  clerk's 
office.  l-"i>rtnnalely  llie  vaults  were  closed  and 
no  important  records  were  destroyed.  The 
vigorous  work  of  the  city  fire  department  doubt- 
less saved  the  buildinij  from  t«)tal  loss,  as  it  was 
ii  cost  the  countN  the  sum  of  si.\  thousand  one 
hundred  and  seven  dollars  and  fifty-two  cents  to 
repair  and  refurnish  the  courthou.se. 

The  county  received  from  insurance  companv 
on  account  of  the  fire  the  sum  of  one  thousand 
two  hundred  and  eighty-one  dollars  and  thirtv- 
eiglit  cents. 

TIIK    COLNTV     I'AR.M. 

The  county  farm  is  located  about  two  and 
three-fourths  miles  southeast  of  Watseka.  ll 
originally  consisted  of  a  two-hundred-ainl-thirty- 
acre  tract,  purchase<l  from  II.  I!.  Ctjberly  in 
January.  1857,  for  tlir^c  thousand  one  hundred 
dollars.  In  December.  1887.  an  additional  tract 
of  land  of  one  luuulred  and  sixty  acres  was 
purchased  from  Mrs.  Mary  James  for  five  thou- 
sand six  hundred  dollars.  I'rior  to  March  24. 
1875,  it  was  the  custom  to  rent  the  county  farm 
to  a  keeper  and  pay  him  a  stii)ulatcd  sum  for 
the  care  and  keeping  of  the  jjatients.  This 
method  proved  unsatisfactory  and  it  is  said  the 
board  of  sui)ervisors  looked  upon  the  county 
farm  with  so  little  favor  that  they  wnuid  have 
st'ld  it.  could  they  have  found  a  i)urchaser. 

( )!i  .March  24.  1S75.  Isaac  Cast  took  charge 
of  the  county  farm.  He  was  the  first  sujjerin- 
tiiulent  to  receive  a  salary.  I'nder  his  manage- 
ment the  place  became  a  valuable  a.sylum  for  the 
County's  insane  and  unfortunates.  Mr.  Cast  diei! 
in  1886  and  his  widow,  .Mrs.  .Mary  Cast,  with 
the  assistance  of  Mr.  John  Wills,  managed  the 
farm  until  .Man-h,  i8<;i.  when  J.  W.  .Miller  was 
api)t)iiUed  as  her  success<»r.  .Mr.  Miller  w;is 
succeeded  in  .M.irch,  I'^o.i,  b>  John  Wills,  the 
present    superintemlent. 

Mr.  Wills  niarrie<l  the  daughter  of  Mrs.  Cast, 
and  by  reason  of  his  long  exiK-rience  is  well 
qualified  for  the  d|itic.;  of  superintendent. 

The  keepers  of  the  county  farm  have  been 
Samuel    Porter.  Thomas  .Mason,  Joseph   Moore, 


John  .\sh.  Isaac  Ca.st,  Mary  Cast,  J.  W.  Miller 
and  John  Wills. 

In  1871-7J  a  frame  building  of  sixteen  DMinis 
was  erecteil  at  the  county  farm  and  in  1877  a 
brick  building  two  stories  high,  twenty-five  by 
forty-eight  feet,  was  constructed  for  the  insane 
patients. 

.\t  the  sjiecial  l-'ebruary  session  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  in  np2.  on  motion  of  F.  F.  lUt- 
zow.  of  Loda.  the  count)  farm  oimniittee  w;is 
instructed  to  receive  plans  and  sjK'cifications  for 
a  new  building  to  cost  not  to  exceeil  ten  thou- 
sand dollars.  .\t  the  regtdar  .SeptemlxT  session 
of  the  board,  of  the  same  _\ear,  Richard  K. 
Mecnts.  chairman  <if  the  committee,  rejiorted  the 
litting  of  the  contract  for  the  building  to  S. 
Strader.  of  Danville.  Illinois.  The  contract  price 
was  eleven  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  dollars.  He  al.so  reported  thai  the  heating 
contract  had  been  let  to  I'rank  II.  I'urnhani  at 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  five  <lollars  and 
that  the  plumbing  had  been  awanled  to  Joseph 
I'ickens  at  four  hundred  dollars. 

These  ;tmouuts.  with  necessary  extras  made 
the  improvement  cost  fifteen  thousand  nine  hun- 
ilred  and  ninety-nine  ilollars  and  twenty-nine 
cents  as  shown  by  a  re])ort  of  the  conuiiittee  to 
the  i)oard  under  date  of  I'ebruary  10,  1903.  This 
buihling  is  well  adapted  for  the  purpose  autl 
lakes  the  |)l;ice  of  the  old  frame  building  which 
has  been  razed. 

Lver  since  M.irch  J4.  1S75.  the  cnumy  has 
pai<l  the  superintendents  in  ch;irge  of  the  county 
farm  a  .salary,  and  has  hired  the  necessary  as- 
sistance to  ojierate  the  farm. 

During  the  last  few  \ears  this  expen.se  has  nut 
from  two  thousand  to  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred .'uuuiallx.  .\  strict  :tccount  is  kept  of  every- 
thing raised  on  the  farm  and  Iwiughi  and  sold,  as 
well  as  what  is  consumed  an<l  itemized  rc|K>rts 
arc  submitted  to  the  bt>ard.  During  recent  \ears 
the  expense  to  the  county  of  maintaining  the 
paupers,  over  and  above  the  income  of  the  farm, 
h.is  been  from  sixty  to  eighty  cents  for  each 
p.itient.  The  ninr.l)cr  of  inmates  run  from  fift>- 
five  to  seventy-five.  .\t  present  there  arc  seven- 
teen in-ane  patients  at  the  coimty  farm.  returne<l 
from  the  Lastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  In- 
sane at  Kankakee.   Illinois,  as  incurable. 


68o 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


This  farm  with  its  equipment  and  under  the 
present  efficient  management  of  Mr.  Wills  is  said 
to  be  one  of  the  best  institutions  of  the  kind  in 
the  state  of  Illinois. 


CHAPTER  III. 
EARLY  TRAILS. 

Transportation  and  distribution  of  commod- 
ities it  as  essential  to  the  well-being  of  man,  as 
production.  The  blazing  of  the  trail  is  the  fore- 
runner of  civilization.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
the  evolution  of  the  trail  into  a  highway  of  com- 
merce. Great  transcontinental  railroads  have 
been  constructed  along  famous  trails  of  the 
pioneer. 

In  considering  the  oarlv  events  of  Iroquois 
county,  two  different  trails  deserve  mention,  the 
one  known  as  "Hubbard  trail"  and  the  other 
"Butterfield's  trail."  (kirdon  S.  Hubbard  in  his 
autobiography  says : 

"During  the  year  1822,  I  had  established  a  di- 
rect path  or  track  from  Iroquois  post  to  Dan- 
ville and  now  ( 1824)  extended  it  south  from 
Danville  and  north  to  Chicago,  thus  fully  opening 
"Hubbard's  trail''  from  Chicago  to  a  point  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  south  of  Danville. 
This  trail  ran  through  the  counties  of  Cook, 
Will,  Kankakee,  Iroquois  and  \'ermilion.  pass- 
ing the  present  towns  of  Blue  Island,  Home- 
wood,  P)loom,  Crete,  Grant,  Alonicnce,  Beaver- 
ville,  Iroquois,  Hoopeston  and  Myersville  to 
Danville.'' 

From  Danville  it  extended  southwest  through 
Vermilion  and  Champaign  counties  to  Bement  in 
Piatt  county ;  "Thence  south  through  ^Moultrie 
and  Shelby  counties  to  lUue  Point  in  Effingham 
county." 

This  trail  crossed  the  south  line  of  Iroquois 
county  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  the 
place  where  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois 
Railroad  now  crosses  the  same  line. 

From  the  south  line  of  the  county  the  trail 
extended  north  to  a  point  a  mile  south  of  the 
north  line  of  the  present  townshi])  of  .\lil- 
fcjrd,  tiiencc  it  angled  to  the  ea.st  following  the 
ridges  until  it  reached   .Montgomery    (I'.unkuni). 


From  Montgomery,  it  extended  in  a  north- 
westerly direction  passing  near  the  present  site 
of  the  village  of  Donovan,  near  which  was  lo- 
cated the  famous  Buckhorn  tavern,  an  early  day 
wayside  inn. 

Another  tavern  was  located  near  where  this 
trail  crossed  Beaver  creek. 

In  1834,  the  Illinois  legislature  caused  a  state 
road  to  be  laid  out  from  \'incennes  to  Chicago, 
and  the  commissioners  appointed  to  locate  the 
road,  in  the  main  established  it  on  the  old  Hub- 
bard trail. 

For  some  distance  this  trail  followed  the  di- 
viding ridges,  separating  the  water-sheds  of  the 
Illinois  and  Wabash  rivers.  Hubbard's  trail  af- 
terward came  to  be  known  as  the  State  road. 
It  is  said  from  this  circumstance,  "State  street, 
Chicago,  received  its  name. 

Mr.  Hubbard  in  his  autobiography  writes 
feelingly  of  the  last  look  he  had  of  his  well 
worn  trail.  He  says:  "Through  constant  use, 
bv  horses  and  ponies  and  men,  the  path  became 
worn  so  deeplv  into  the  ground  that  when  I  last 
visited  the  vicinity  of  my  old  Iroquois  post  (  now 
called  Bunkum  )  in  the  fall  of  1880,  traces  of  it 
were  still  visible,  and  my  grand-nephew,  a  lit- 
tle lad  of  fourteen  years,  who  accompanied  me 
on  the  trip,  jumped  out  of  the  carriage  and  ran 
some  distance  in  the  trail  where  I  walked  fifty- 
eight  vears  before.'"* 

In  the  midst  of  these  familiar  scenes,  recol- 
lections of  other  days,  doubtless  crowded  in  ufion 
his  memor\-.  He  would  remember  the  pleasures 
as  well  as  the  hardships  of  those  years,  when  he, 
in  vears  a  mere  boy,  blazed  his  w-ay  through  the 
wilderness  and  those  companions  who  had 
passei]   on  before  him.** 

About  the  year  1830,  Ben  Butterfield.  who. 
prior  to  that  time  liad  resided  near  Danville, 
Illinois,  selectd  a  new  location  for  a  home  near 
the  present  site  of  Lockport  in  \M11  count\-.  The 
followinsr   spring   he   again   went   to   Danville   to 


*  •■.■\t  Crete  a  fence  has  been  built  ,iro\uul  a  por- 
tion of  this  trail  to  in-escrve  it  as  an  old  landmark 
and  relic  of  early  roads  and  times." 


**  Noel  Vasseur  died  at  Ijourbonnais  Grove  De- 
cember 15,  1.S79,  the  year  before  .Mr.  Hubbard  made 
his  last  visit  to  Iroquois.  Mr.  Vasseur's  correct  name 
was  probalily  ".N'ool  I^e  Vasseur"  but  in  as  much  as 
Ml-.  Hubbard  uses  the  form  "Vasseur"  we  have  re- 
tained it  in  these  pages. 


IROQLOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


(»i 


get  his  stock,  ami  rctiirneil  to  liis  iumic  near 
Lockport  by  a  new  trail  which  afterwards  Ikt- 
canic  kni)wn  as  ■■|!utterfield's  trail." 

This  trail  is  said  to  have  left  the  lluhhard  trail 
at  a  place  called  llicknel's  point  and  hearing  to  the 
west  crossed  the  south  line  of  the  county  aUiut 
three  miles  west  of  the  present  site  of  the  city 
of  Iloopeston,  thence  extending  northwesterly, 
crossed  Spring  creek  at  a  point  alM>ut  two  miles 
northeast  of  the  present  village  of  lUickley. 
thence  following  the  general  course  of  Sjiring 
creek  to  a  point  near  the  range  line,  when  the 
creek  turns  in  an  easterly  direction,  thence 
nearly  north  leaving  the  present  sites  of  I'lato 
and  L'Erahle  to  the  right,  crossing  I'r.iirie  creek 
west  of  the  i)resent  village  of  L'Krable,  thence 
north  to  Liingain  creek,  which  was  then  called 
■'White  Woman."  The  trail  then  followed  the 
south  bank  of  l^ingam  creek  up  stream  to  a 
point  about  a  mile  east  of  where  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad  now  crosses  Langam  creek,  where 
it  crossed  the  creek. 

The  trail  there  extended  in  a  nortlierly  direc- 
tion to  what  was  known  as  Sammoiis  Point. 
The  Kankakee  river  was  forded  at  Hawkins. 

It  is  said  that  for  twenty  years  lollowitig  the 
close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war.  HulterJield's  trail 
was  the  greatest  route  for  cattle  and  hogs  in  the 
state  of  Illinois.  .Much  more  might  be  said  of 
these  two  early  trails,  as  well  as  of  others  of 
minor  importance,  but  sufficient  has  already  been 
stated  to  give  the  reader  a  general  notion  of 
the  early  routes  across  the  county,  one  of  which 
is  now  paralleled  by  the  Chicago  &  l-iastcrn  Illi- 
nois Railroad,  and  the  other  by  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral Railroad. 

II.LI.VOIS   CEXTR.\L   K.\II.KO.\I>. 

r.y  an  act  of  September  jt),  1830,  (g  Statute 
at  large  p.  466)  congress  ma<le  certain  grants 
to  the  state  of  Illinois   for  railroad  pur|Mises. 

Section  1  provides:  "The  right  of  way 
through  public  lands  be  and  the  same  is  hereby 
granted  to  the  state  of  Illinois  for  the  construc- 
tion of  a  railroatl  from  the  southern  terminus  of 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  to  a  [Miint  at  or 
near  the  junction  oi  the  ( )hio  and  .Mississippi 
rivers,  with  a  branch  t>f  the  same  to  Chicago,  on 
Lake    Michigan,   and    another   via   the   town   of 


(ialcnn  in  said  state,  to  I)ubu(|ue  in  the  state  of 
Iowa,  with  the  right  also  to  t;ike  necessary  ma- 
terial of  earth,  stones.  tiniU-r  etc..  for  the  con- 
struction t!ieret)f." 

-Mso  provides  that  the  right  >'i  ».i.\  ^ii.ill  not 
excee«l  one  hundred  feet  on  each  "side  of  the 
length   thereof. 

The  second  Neitmii  i>l  tin-  .itt  im'Mho  that 
there  be  granteil  to  the  state  of  Illinois  for  the 
|iuq)ose  of  aiding  said  railroa<l  and  branches, 
every  alternate  section  of  lan<l  designated  by 
even  nmnbers,  for  six  sections  in  width  on  each 
side  of  said  roa<l  and  branches,  provided  that 
the  lands  shall  in  no  case  Ik;  further  than  fifteen 
miles  from  the  line  of  the  road.  .\iid  further, 
that  the  work  of  construction  should  iK-gin  sinnil- 
taneously  at  its  northern  and  southern  termini 
and  contimied  from  each  of  saiil  points  until 
complete*  1. 

The  fourth  section  of  the  act  provides,  that 
said  road  and  branches  shall  be  and  remain  a 
jiublic  highway  for  the  use  of  the  governntent 
of  the  Cnited  States  free  from  toll  or  other 
charge  u|xjn  the  transportation  of  ain  i>ro)Krl\ 
or  troojis  of  the   L'nited   States. 

It  was  further  provided  that  if  the  road  sliould 
not  be  comi)leted  within  ten  years  the  grant 
.should  be  forfeited:  that  the  L'nited  States  mail 
should  be  transiMirted  on  saiil  roail  under  the 
direction  of  the  jxtstoftice  department,  at  such 
price  as  the  congre.ss  may   by   law  direct. 

To  Senator  Stephen  .\.  Douglas  more  than 
t(>  any  other  man  are  we  iiulebted  for  this  legis- 
lation which  made  the  Illinois  Central  Kailroa<l 
possible.  The  grant  was  accejited  and  the  legis- 
lature of  Illinois  by  an  act  passe<l  I-'ebruary  10. 
1851.  incoriMirated  the  Illinois  Central  Kailro;id 
Company  and  in  return  for  the  grants  ami  fran- 
chi.ses  the  company  was  b\  law  reipiired  to  |>ay 
into  the  slate  treasury  .senii-ainiuall>  a  sum  of 
money  e<|ual  to  seven  \kt  cent.  <if  tlte  gross 
receipts  of  sai<l  coq»oration.  which  was  to  lie 
a|)plied  to  the  interest  Ixraring  indebtedness  of 
the  state  until  it  should  lie  extingtiishe<l. 

(  I'ar.  .V>3  ch.   ijo  U.  S.). 

The  peo|>le  fearing  that  this  arrangement  with 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroa<l  Company  might 
sometime  Ik-  abrogated,  by  the  constitution  of 
1870  made  it  a  |KT|K-tual  obligation.  The  con- 
stitution  provides: 


682 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


"Xo  contract,  ohlisjaticin  or  lial)ility  whatever, 
of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company,  to  pay 
any  money  into  the  state  treasury,  nor  any  lien 
of  the  state  upon,  or  right  to  tax  property  of 
said  company  in  accordance  with  the  provisions 
of  the  charter  of  said  company,  approved  Feh- 
ruary  lo,  1851,  shall  ever  be  released,  suspended, 
modified,  altered,  remitted,  or  in  anv  manner 
diminished  or  impaired  by  legislation  or  other 
authority ;  and  all  moneys  derived  from  said 
company,  after  the  payment  of  the  state  debt, 
-sliall  be  appropriated  and  set  apart  for  the  pay- 
ment of  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  state  gov- 
ernment, and  for  no  other  purposes  whatever." 

From  March  24,  1855,  to  October  31,  1904, 
the  total  amount  paid  into  the  state  treasury  b\- 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  was 
twenty-two  millions  seven  hundred  and  twent\- 
tvvo  thousand  eight  hundred  ninct\-  dollars  and 
sixty-four  cents. 

It  is  said  that  at  the  time  of  the  first  annual 
meeting  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  .March,  1851,  there  were  but  ninety- 
eight  miles  of  railroad  in  the  state  of  Illinois, 
and  the  rails  were  strap  iron. 

^lay  21,  185 1,  the  first  engineering  party  was 
organized  in  Chicago  for  the  purpose  of  making 
the  necessary  preliminary  surveys  for  the  road, 
but  by  the  middle  of  the  summer  seven  other 
surveying  parties  were  in  the  field. 

According  to  the  Chicago  Daily  Press,  of  No- 
vember, 1856,  several  sections  of  the  road  were 
opened  for  traffic  as  follows :  From  Chicago  to 
Calumet.  .May  15,  1852.  Calumet  to  Kankakee, 
July  14,  1853.  Kankakee  to  Spring  creek,  De- 
cember 2,  1853.  Spring  creek  to  Peoria,  May  28, 
1854.  Peoria  to  Champaign,  July  24,  1854. 
Chamiiaign  to  Mattoon,  June  2^.  1855.  Ahu- 
toon  to  Centralia,  September  2~,  1856.  The 
main  line  from  Cairo  to  La  Salle  was  completed 
January  8,    1855. 

The  Galena  branch  fmm  La  Salle  to  Dimleith 
was  ojjened  for  traffic  June  12.  1855.  The  Chi- 
cago branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  traycrses  the 
western  portion  of  the  county,  diagonally  from 
northeast  to  southwest,  and  through  a  very  fertile 
country.  The  stations  in  the  county  along  the 
line  of  tin-  road  ;«.re  as  follows:  Cheban.se.  Clif- 
ton, Ashkum,  IXint'orlh.  (lilman.  Onarga,  Del- 
rey.    I'.uckley    and    Lod;i.      Thf    building   of    the 


road  contributed  much  to  the  development  of 
the  county. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  Springfield  branch 
of  the  Illinois  Central  extends  from  the  Chicago 
branch  at  Liilman  and  runs  southwesterly 
through  Ridgeville  and  Thawville.  This  road 
was  completed  in  September.  1871.  and  was 
known  as  the  Gilman,  Clinton  &  .Springfield 
Railroad. 

The  Gilman.  Clinton  &  Springfield  Railroad 
Company  was  chartered  in  1867.  Like  many 
other  companies  during  the  period,  it  had  finan- 
cial difficulties.  This  road  is  now  an  important 
branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  system. 

The  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Western  Railroad  has 
also  been  an  important  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county.  It  is  the  only  line  crossing 
the  county  from^  east  to  west. 

It  was  first  known  as  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
Eastern  Extension  Railroad.  Later  in  1859  it 
was  styled  ""Logansport.  Peoria  &  Burlington,"' 
and  afterwards  was  called  Toledo,  Peoria  &  War- 
saw. The  road  was  completed  to  Gilman  Sep- 
tember 21,  1857,  and  completed  across  the  coun- 
ty, the  first  train  running  over  the  road  through 
the  county  the  last  days  of  the  year   1859. 

The  main  line  and  Ijranches  were  not  fully 
completed  until  1871.  This  line  of  road  crosses 
the  Illinois  Central  at  Gilman,  the  Chicago  & 
Eastern  Illinois  at  W'atseka.  the  Chicago  South- 
ern between  Eastburn  .Station  and  .Sheldon  and 
the  Big  Four  at  Sheldon.  Other  stations  lo- 
cated along  the  line  of  the  road  in  the  county 
are :  La  Hogue,  Leonard  and  Crescent  City. 
This  road  was  also  constructed  luider  adverse 
circumstances. 

The  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  was 
completed  through  the  county  during  the  sum- 
iner  of  1871.  This  road  was  formerly  known 
as  the  Chicago.  Danville  cS;  N'incennes  Railroad. 

The  line  was  originally  surveyed  through 
.Sheldon  and  C(.)ncord  and  doubtless  would  have 
been  constructed  along  the  east  side  of  the  coun- 
ty, had  it  not  been  for  the  vigorous  efforts  of 
the  citizens  of  Walscka. 

The  road  enters  the  countx'  on  the  north  at 
St.  .Vnne,  and  crosses  the  comity's  south  line  at 
Hoopeston.  Between  these  points  along  the  line 
of  the  road  are  Papineau,  Martinlon.  Pittwood, 
Watseka,    Woodlatid.    Milford    and    Wellington. 


lR()(jUuli  LUUMi.  ILLINOIS. 


<*3 


Tlie  road  now  has  a  d<nil)lc  track  thmugh  the 
count),  with  a  coahng;  station  at  Coaler.  li<att<| 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  south  ot    Watscka. 

W  hat  is  now  known  as  the  Cissna  Park  branch 
of  the  ChicaRo  &  I-:.isterii  Ilhnois  Railroad  was 
com|)letc<l  in  January,  1SS2. 

Tiiis  line  was  projected  under  the  name  of 
Strawn  &  Indiana  State  Line  Uailmad  but  was 
actually  constructed  only  from  the  main  line  of 
the  Chicaj^o  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  at  a 
point    near    Wellington    to   Cissna    I'ark. 

AnotlKT  sinir  of  the  Chicaj^o  &  l^asteru  Illinois 
railriiad  in  this  county  was  built  in  ujoi,  >iart- 
iujT  from  the  main  line  a  short  distance  south  of 
Mil  ford  and  extcndin.!.^  east  through  the  town 
of  Stockland  to  l-'rceland  I'ark.  Indiana.  Since 
this  road  was  built,  the  thriviuj;  vill;ij,'e  of  Stock- 
laud  has  been  built  up  near  the  point  where  this 
branch  is  crossed  by  the  Chicajjo  Southern,  ihe 
last  few  years  have  witnessed  much  activity  in 
railroad  buildinrr  in  lro(|uois  county. 

The  Eastern  Illinois  &  St.  Louis  branch  was 
completed  early  in  the  year  i</)4.  This  road 
extends  from  the  main  line,  from  a  |)oint  thereon 
about  one-half  mile  south  of  W'lKidland.  in  a 
southwesterly  direction  to  the  city  of  .'st.  Louis. 
In  the  county  it  passes  throutjh  ilu-  vilLnires  of 
IJryce  and  Cioodwine. 

Tlie  Cincinnati.  I^ifayette  &  Cliica^^o  Railroa<l 
was  built  in  1871-72.  and  ])ut  in  operation  a 
year  later.  It  enters  the  county  in  Sheldon 
township  near  the  village  of  Sheldon  anci  ex- 
teufls  across  the  northea.st  corner  of  the  county, 
in  a  northwesterly  direction,  cro.ssinp  the  north 
line  of  the  county  near  St.  .\mie.  The  stations 
along:  the  line  in  this  county  are  .Sheldon.  Iro- 
quois. Donovan,  St.  Mary.  (  Meaverville).  It  is 
an  important  link  in  the  Mip  Four  s\slein  and 
affords  a  direct  line  from  Chicago  to  Cincinnati. 

The  work  of  building  the  Cliicago  Southern 
Railroad  through  this  county  is  of  recent  date. 
The  right  of  way  was  secured  by  ])urchasc  and 
condemnation  during  the  spring  an<l  sununcr  of 
1905.  The  roadl>ed  has  been  graded  through  the 
county  and  much  of  the  steel  lias  been  laid. 
The  construction  was  arrested  l>y  the  financial 
difficulties  of  John  R.  Walsh,  the  promoter. 
The  road  traverses  the  county  due  north  and 
south,  throus^h  the  townships  of  Hearer.  Con- 
cord.   Sheldon,    St<ickland    :ind     I'niric    Green. 


The  rcKid  was  designed  to  connect  with  the 
.Southern  hxliaua  R.iilroad  and  to  nfTord  tran<»- 
|)ortati<in  facilities  into  Chicago  fnun  the  stone 
cpiarrics  and  coal  fields  of  southern   Indiana. 

Time  and  space  will  not  |Krrniit  a  iletailed 
statement  of  the  various  difficulties  attending 
the  building  of  the  railroads  through  Iroquois 
county,  the  issuing  of  lionds  by  various  nuniici- 
palities  in  aid  of  railroad  construction  and  the 
litigation  which  followed.  The  history  ai  Iro- 
<inois  county  in  these  res|)ccts  is  similar  to  that 
of  many  other  parts  of  our  country.  Necessarily 
many  obstacles  nuisl  Ik*  met  and  overcome  in 
building  these  highways  of  connnerce. 


(   11  M-II-K-    I\- 
rul'ijijK.M'HV. 

(by    frank    I.    MA.NN.) 

Iro<iuois  is  situated  on  the  east  Ixjrder  of  the 
state.  an<l  has  an  area  of  1,120  scpiare  miles,  being 
cxccc<led  in  size  only  by  McLean  and  La  Salle 
counties.  Watseka.  the  county  scat,  is  located 
a  few  miles  cast  of  the  center  of  the  county.  The 
drainage  of  the  county  is  almost  entirely  through 
the  Inxpiois  river  and  its  tributaries.  At  Wat- 
seka the  river  receives  its  principal  tributary. 
Sugar  creek,  and  l)elow  Watseka  there  enters 
Spring  creek.  Langum  creek  and  I'.eaver  crci-k. 
In  the  lower  five  milts  of  its  course  before  join- 
ing the  Kankakee  river,  considerable  descent  is 
made,  but  alwve  this  the  stream  is  generally  slug- 
gish as  arc  also  the  tributaries.  The  Ircxjuois 
river  also  drains  a  large  sandy  area  in  In<!iana 
that  lies  south  of  the  Irocpiois  moraine.  The 
river  passes  through  this  moraine  before  reaching 
Watseka.  .'^ugar  cretk  drains  the  outer  f.tce  of 
the  Irotpiois  moraine  southeast  of  Watseka,  and 
Heaver  creek  drains  the  outer  face  northwest  of 
Watseka.     S[>ring  creek  drains  the  H'  m 

till  sheet  that  lies  south  of  the  Onarg;i 
Langunj  creek  drains  the  «Miler  face  of  the  Mar- 
seilles moraine  in  northwest  i>nrtion  of  the  county. 
That  part  of  Iro<|uois  county  titat  lies  north  of 
the  Onarga  sand  ridge  and  extending  to  within 
a  short  distance  of  the  northern  boundarv.  and 


684 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


that  lies  west  of  near  Eastbuni  and  extending  to 
near  the  west  county  Une,  constitutes  the  major 
part  of  the  glacial  lake  known  as  the  Iroquois 
lake.  From  the  manner  of  its  formation  not 
much  variation  in  altitude  could  be  expected.  It 
will  be  seen  from  the  table  of  altitudes  that  the 
extreme  variation  in  elevations  within  this  region 
is  but  about  thirty-two  feet,  the  low  point  beings 
where  the  T.  P.  &  W.  R.  R.  crosses  Sugar  creek, 
625  feet  above  sea  level,  and  the  liigh  point  being 
at  Clifton  with  elevation  of  657  feet.  Such  uni- 
form elevations  over  so  large  a  territory  has  made 
artificial  drainage  of  utmost  necessity,  but  of 
serious  difficulty,  and  requiring  the  working  out 
of  almost  new  problems  in  drainage  engineering. 
That  part  of  the  county  not  included  within 
the  lake  basin  lies  principally  in  the  southern 
and  eastern  portions,  though  there  is  a  strip  along 
the  western  and  northern  boundaries.  These  por- 
tions are  largely  moraine  fomiation  and  the  ele- 
vations are  higher  than  in  the  lake  basin.  The 
table  shows  that  the  highest  elevation  is  at  Loda, 
being  774  feet,  and  very  few  observations  give  an 
elevation  of  much  less  than  700  feet. 

With  slight  exceptions  the  north,  west  and 
south  boundaries  of  the  county  lie  in  the  divide 
of  the  water  shed.  Very  little  water  falls  within 
the  county  lines  that  does  not  find  its  way  to  the 
general  outlet  of  the  county — the  Iroquois  river. 
The  following  table  of  altitudes  is  furnished 
by  Prof.  C.  W.  Rolfe  of  the  State  University, 
under  whose  supervision  they  were  prepared : 
Geodetic  Stations. 

Sec.  II,  T.  26  N.,  R.  13  W.  The 
N.  E.  corner  of  Sec.  2  lies  2,174.4 
M.  N.  3  degrees,  39  minutes  and  26 

seconds  E 668 .  85 

Sec.  3,  T.  28  N.,  R.  14  W.  The 
N.  E.  corner  of  the  Congregational 
church  lies  251   M.  S.  45  degrees. 

54  minutes  E 661 .08 

Sec.  35,  T.  25  N.,  R.  13  \V.  The 
N.  E.  corner  of  this  section  lies 
1,003.8  M.  N.  87  degrees,  43  min- 
utes E 665 . 78 

Sec.  6,  T.  25  N.,  R.  14  W.  The 
middle  of  the  south  side  of  Sec.  31 
lies  1,588.9  M.  N.  26  degrees  and 

28  seconds  E 665 .48 

Ashkum I.  C.  R.  R 656 

Belmont   T.,  P.  &  W.  R.  R.. . .  681 


Buckley I.  C.  R.  R 

Chebanse ''  

Cissna  Park C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R.. 

Cissna   Junction " 

Claxtonville " 

Clifton    I.  C.  R.  R 

Crescent   City T.,  P.  &  W.  R.  R 

Danforth I.  C.  R.  R 

Donovan   C,  C.  C.  &  St.  L.  R 

Del   Rey I.  C.  R.  R 

Effner  T.,  P.  &  W.  R.  R 

Oilman   " 

Goodwine    C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R. . 

Hickman " 

Iroquois   C,  C,  C.  &  St.  L.  R 

Loda    I.  C.  R.  R 

La  Hogue T.,  P.  &  W.  R.  R 

Martinton    C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R.. 

Milford   

Wellington    

Onarga    I.  C.  R.  R 

Papineau    C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R. . 

Pittwood    

Ridgeville    I.  C.  R.  R 

St.  Mary C.,C:C.&  St.  L.  R 

Sheldon    

Spring  Creek T..  P.  &  W.  R.  R. . 

State   Line C,  C,  C.  &  St.  L.  R 

Sugar   Creek T.,  P.  &  W.  R.  R. 

Thawville   I.  C.  R.  R 

Watseka    T..  P.  &  W.  R.  R. 

Woodland    C.  &  E.  I.  R.  R. . . 

L'Erable   R.  M.  Hood 

Plato 

Schwer    " 

Stockland    

'Woodworth    " 

Sec.  36,  T.  29  N.,  R.  13  W... 

"    36,  T.  29  N.,  R.  ID  E.... 

"    26,  T.  28  N.,  R.  10  E.... 

"     23.  T.  29  N.,  R.  II  W... 

"    25.  T.  28  N.,  R.  II  W... 

"    27,  T.  26  N.,  R,  II  W... 

"    24,  T.  25  N.,  R.  II  W... 

"    23,  T.  24  N.,  R.  II  W... 

GKOI.OGV. 


R. 


R. 


R. 


R. 


698 
663 

674 

695 
668 

657 
645 
647 
672 
665 
683 
650 
674 
673 
673 
774 
668 
629 
666 
700 
676 
635 
645 
671 
667 
688 
630 
694 
625 
692 
638 

639 
640 

635 

655 
700 

67s 
660 

655 
640 
630 
720 
710 
720 
710 


Iroquois  county  seems  to  have  been  covered 
by  three  great  ice  sheets,  as  indicated  by  well 
borings   made   in   different  parts   of  the   county. 


IROQUUi:>  LUL.Mi,  lULKNUlS. 


(»s 


TIk-  Ixirinps  sliow  for  the  upper  or  Wisconsin 
drift  a  depth  of  50  to  Cx>  feet,  and  for  the  middle 
drift  a  thickness  of  20  to  40  feet,  and  a  lower 
drift  that  has  rarely  lx;en  penetrated.  Lcvcrett 
thinks  it  can  not  be  decided  from  present  daUi, 
whither  the  two  lower  drifts  arc  lowan  and  II- 
linoian,  or  arc  Illinoian  and  pre  Illinoian.  The 
upper  drift  is  the  early  Wisconsin  except  in  the 
eastern  portion  where  the  late  Wisconsin  left 
some  evidence.  Where  drifts  are  frecpiently 
found  having:  a  black  soil  division  between  tiiem 
and  the  lower  drift  has^  been  known  to  iiave  a 
tlejwsit  of  peat  several  feet  in  thickness.  The 
uiijK-r  drift  is  composed  principally  of  a  soft 
bluish  clay  that  is  easily  i)enctrated  with  aujjur 
or  spade,  but  the  two  lower  drifts  are  a  hard 
fjravelly  clay  very  difficult  to  penetrate.  The  ar- 
tesian sand  seems  to  be  just  below  the  toj)  of  the 
lower  drift.  The  Wisconsin  ice  sheet  made  a  de- 
cided chanjie  in  the  contour  of  northeastern  Il- 
linois. I'lcfore  the  passage  of  this  drift  water 
flowed  from  Lake  Michifjan  throufjh  the  Des 
Plaines  an.l  Illinois  rivers  to  the  .Mississippi. 
With  the  disappearance  of  the  ice  sheet  I^nke 
Michigan  water  took  an  eastern  outlet,  the  .Mar- 
seilles moraine  actintr  as  a  Ixir  to  the  passage  of 
the  waters  of  the  IX\s  I'laincs  and  Kankakee  rivers. 
With  the  holding  back  of  these  waters  came  the 
fonuation  of  the  Kankakee  lake,  as  well  as  the 
Irotpiois  lake  whose  outlet  was  into  the  former. 
Tlie  condition  of  Inxiuois  county  then,  after  the 
recession  of  the  last  ice  sheet  was  that  a  large 
portion  of  it  constituted  the  Inxpiois  lake,  and 
this  lake  being  bounded  on  nearly  all  sides  by 
moraine  formations.  That  this  lake  existed  for 
considerable  time  is  evidenced  by  the  ileep  de- 
posits of  ])eat  fretpiently  found.  With  the  ctU- 
ting  of  a  channel  through  the  Marseilles  moraine 
near  the  ti>wn  of  .Marseilles  by  the  Illinois  river 
came  drainage  to  the  Kankakee  lake,  and  per- 
mitteil  tlic  Irocpiois  river  to  chaiuiel  through  the 
eastern  end  of  the  same  moraine  am!  ;,'iving  drain- 
age to  the  Iroquois  lake. 

.\  moraine  on  the  east  side  of  the  imuiiin  i-  con- 
sidered to  be  the  oldest  of  the  late  Wisconsin 
series.  It  forms  the  divide  iK-fween  the  Iroquois 
and  Kankakee  rivers  in  Indiana,  and  enters  this 
county  near  its  northeast  corner  with  a  curvO 
to  the  south,  crossing  the  Injquois  river  between 
Wat.seka  and  state  line,  tlu-ii  ci:rving  toward 
the  .southeast  and  again  enierin!.,'  Indiana.     From 


this  ridge  Icailing  to  the  northw  est  is  a  belt  where- 
in    IkIU  '  .||.<i. 

1  h«  nc  is  iIjc  iiiort  rxtcndml 

in  its  area  in  the  county.     Thiis  ridj»c  having  a 

width  of  fi  I  .  five  ni'  '-vation 

<»ver  the  si.  -  countr.  to  lOO 

feet,  extends  in  a  southeast  direction  front  Mar- 
seilles. It  takes  an  easterly  .  "  ks 
Grove  and  follows  near  ti>  !)!•  .st 
across  the  county,  until  it  is  lost  in  the  Iroquois 
nioraiiii  '  ■  .\;in.  This  moraine  is  of  the 
early  \ ,                      a>. 

.\  weak  moraine  connected  with  the  Hlooining- 
ton  .systeuj  is  ilu-  ridge  ■  -t  and  west 

in  the  county  and  on  w  i  in  siluale<l. 

This  ridge  is  only  about  a  mile  wide  and  not 
usually  more  than  forty  feet  in  liei^ht.  and  west 
of  Sugar  creek  is  rarely  more  than  twenty-live 
feet  higher  than  the  plains  on  I'flch  side. 

.\   crest   of   one    section    of   tl:      '"  s  in 

niorainic  system  leads  from  Livin.  to 

the  southeast,  and  into  the  southwest  corner  of 
this  county,  where  it  tenninates  in  tlw  vicinity  of 
Loda. 

liitween  the  sliglit  Onarga  ntorainc  and  a  sec- 
tion of  the  niouinington  moraine  ■  '  sotith- 
ern  county  line,  lies  a  sheet  of  1  ;..n  till. 
.\  section  of  hilly  countr>  lying  northerly  from 
Watseka  might  be  mistaken  for  moraine  forma- 
tion, but  clo.ser  examination  shows  that  tlie  hills 
are  sand  dunes,  formed  by  the  wind  from  the 
dry  lake  bed. 

I  III 

The  >  .11  .1  li  There 
is  no  industry  ii  rest  di- 
rectly np<in  the  i>ro.luction  of  the  soils.  The  soil 

ought  to  l><          •     •  •                  •       •  -^i^ 

ly,  that  it  .       :e- 

tnnis.  as  well  as  to  prevent  any  inifuinnent  of 
the  capital.    The  .soils  of  the  county  ;i-  'ly 

very   fertile.      'Ilio.se   found   within  ti  tke 

l»sin  are  richer  in  organic  matter  tlun  the  soils 
of  the  moraines,  but  they  latl  'n  tlicir 

(juality,  and  vary  grejitly  will  .  nee  in 

elevation.  This  indicates  that  water  remained  at 
low  level  for  a  !         '  ■    •    •  .,,. 

lion  priMluced  l;  ;it 

found  in  lower  strata.  The  s<iil  of  the  HUximing- 
ton  till  sheet  tlial  lies  through  tl  >  '    '-idc  of 

the  C(»unty  is  the  most  unifonn  ir.  it,  and 


686 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


is  also  a  very  rich  soil,  though  having  somewhat 
less  organic  matter  than  in  the  lake  basin.  The 
soils  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  lake  basin  seem  to 
have  been  greatl\-  modified  by  the  outwash  from 
the  morainic  formation  to  the  east,  which  distri- 
buted sand  quite  generally  in  the  soil. 

The  soils  of  the  moraines  on  the  south,  west 
and  north  sides  of  the  county  are  quite  fertile, 
though  generally  somewhat  deficient  in  organic 
matter  and  the  elements  of  plant  food,  nitrogen 
and  phosphorus.  The  moraine  on  the  east  side 
of  the  county  is  quite  sandy,  and  like  all  sandy 
soils  are  apt  to  be  deficient  in  all  elements  of  plant 
food. 

The  types  of  soil  found  in  this  county  and  re- 
cognized in  the  state  soil  survey,  are  as  follows : 

Upland  Types — Brown  silt  loam,  black  clay 
loam,  gray  silt  loam,  yellow  silt  loam,  sand,  sandy 
loam,  dune  sand.  Swampy  Types — Sand,  sandy 
loam,  shallow  peat  on  sand,  shallow  peat  on  clay, 
medium  peat  on  sand,  medium  peat  on  clay,  peat 
on  stone,  deep  peat — over  30  inches — peaty  loam, 
loam,  muck. 

The  brown  silt  loam  is  the  ordinary  soil  of  the 
corn  belt.  It  will  vary  from  light  brown  to  dark 
brown  according  to  the  amount  of  organic  matter 
included.  This  is  by  far  the  most  abundant  type 
found  in  the  county.  The  gray  silt  loam  is  the 
ordinary  timber  soil  and  the  yellow  silt  loam  is 
the  timber  soil  eroded. 

The  following  is  the  result  of  a  chemical  analy- 
sis of  samples  of  brown  silt  loam  from  this 
county  made  by  Dr.  C.  G.  Hopkins : 

Stratum    sami.ded 0.7  in      7.18     20.40 

Total    Nitrogen 261  .186  .066 

Total    Phosphorus 050  .049  .039 

Total  Potassium 2.065  2. 131  2.571 

Organic    Carbon 3.161  2.186  .468 

Calcium     Carbonate 

present    000  .000  3.392 

Calcium     Carbonate 

reepiired 002  .001  .... 


Insoluable   in    II.    C.    L. 

SP-  Sr.    I.I  15 79.684     79.459     74.538 

Soluable    in    il.    C.    L. 


Potassium 648  .651  .990 

Calcium    443  .431  1.750 

Magnesium 430  .490  .530 

Iron   2.143  2.301  2.417 

Sulphur    027  .021  .009 

Sodium 036  .059  .074 

Aluminum 3.391  4.135  5.694 

The  small  amount  of  phosphorus  shown  in 
above  table  would  indicate  a  soil  that  is  below 
normal  in  this  element.  The  experiment  field  at 
Bloomington  located  on  the  same  type  of  soil  re- 
ports that  when  phosphorus  was  added  to  the  soil 
a  gain  was  made  of  thirteen  bushels  of  corn  to 
the  acre.  The  experiment  field  at  Urbana  on 
the  same  type  of  soil  reports  about  the  same  gam 
from  phosphorus.  Several  private  experiments 
made  in  this  county  report  about  the  same  gain 
for  this  element.  Some  of  the  more  highly  situ- 
ated and  longest  worn  soils  are  perhaps  as  much 
below  normal  in  nitrogen  and  organic  matter  as 
they  are  in  phosphorus,  and  both  elements  nuist 
be  added  to  bring  it  to  higher  state  of  fertility. 

An  analysis  of  peaty  land  shows  it  much  be- 
low normal  in  its  amount  of  potassium,  and  the 
experiment  field  on  peaty  land  near  Momence  re- 
ports gains  of  fifty  to  sixty  bushels  of  corn  per 
acre  from  the  addition  of  this  element  to  the  soil. 

The  sandy  types  of  soil  are  usually  deficient  in 
organic  matter,  as  well  as  the  principal  elements 
of  plant  food,  and  the  desirability  of  such  soils 
depends  a  great  deal  on  the  physical  abilities  it 
possesses  to  withhold  such  fertilizers  when  ap- 
pHed.  Some  of  the  sandy  types  offer  an  excellent 
opportunity  for  the  building  up  of  a  very  rich  and 
fertile  soil. 


-sp.  gr.    1. 115. 
Phosphorus    .  . . 


.048         .038         .029 


CHAPTER  \-. 

IROOCOLS. 

The  following  lyric,  adapted  to  the  tune  of 
■'.Maryland.  .My  .Maryland,"  was  written  bv 
Major  M.  H.  Peters,  of  Watseka,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Honorable  S.  C.  Rutherford,  who 
was  at  that  time  county  superintendent  of 
schools;  the  idea  being  that  it  should  he  used 
in  the  public  .schools  throughout  the  couiitv.  It 
was  first   sung  at  the  cotuitv  teachers'   institute. 


1R()QU(JIS  COUNTY.  II.I,I\«  )•*;. 


rt*7 


lulil  ill  \\  ;it>cka.  Jamiarv,  njoJ.  The  pur|>oM: 
of  the  »»nK  is  to  inspiri-  tlic  jmith  with  a  love 
ot  home,  to  inculcate  n  >|iirit  of  local  |iri<tc  ami 
veneration  for  those  who  endured  the  privations 
and  hraved  the  dangers  and  hanlships  of  pioneer 
life — felled  the  forests,  reclaimed  the  swamps, 
transforminj;  a  wilderness  (the  haunts  of  siivayc 
men  ami  wild  Inasts )  into  a  land  of  fertile  tields, 
green  pastures  and  happy  homes — a  heritjifjc  of 
peace  and  plenty,  fraujjht  with  still  ijreatcr 
promise   for  jjenerations  to  follow. 

May  we  appreciate  and  enjoy  these  lJlessin^;s 
vouchsafed  to  us.  and  forever  cherish  the  mennirv 
of  those  who  "through  their  couraj^e,  toil  and 
tears  lK-<|ueathed  to  us  this  fair  ilomain." 

lkl)gi(  lis. 


I.N'St'KIIliU)   TO    Uo.V.    .S.   C.    Kl'tiiekfokd, 

Superintendent    of    Schools   of    Iro(|uois   county, 

Illinuis,    at    whose    sungi'stion    and    request 

these    lines    were    written.  C>. 


My  own  Inrloved   lrtM|Uois, 

lro<|uois,  dear  lro<|uois — 
Of  all  the  earth  land  of  my  choice, 

Irrx|uois,  ilear    lr<M|uoi.s — 
Beneath  thy  gniteful  sun  and  shade, 
Within   thy   lM>som  jjenlly  laid. 
Repose  the  ashes  of  our  dead, 

IriMjuois,  dear   lro<|uois. 

The  meinVy  of  thy  pioneers, 

lriK|uois.  <lear  Irutjuois — 
Who  thro'  their  couraRe.  toil  and  tears, 

iriK|uois,  dear   IgHpiois — 
I'e(|ueathed   tu  us  this   fair  domain. 
Inspiring  in  our  souls  this  strain — 
Their  names  linked  with  the  sweet   refrain, 

IriN|Uois.  dear   Ir<H|uois. 

When   treason   with  it.s  impiini.t  hand. 

lro<|uois.  tlear  IrcMpiois — 
Assaile<l  the  tlag  of  our  free  land. 

IriN|U<jis.  dear  IriKjunis — 
40 


TTiy  sons  i>l)cyc<J  the  hipli  decree, 
.\nd  liore  the  lianner  of  the   free 
Thro'  bliMHl  and  (;lorious  victory, 
IriMjuois,  dear   lr<M|uois. 

Ami  while  thy  sons  in  kittle  iroiit, 

Ir<i<|uois,  <iear   IriKpiois — 
Like  heroes  Ixre  the  sluvk  and  hrunt, 

Irmiuois,  dear   lr<K|Uois — 
Thy  noble  daughters,  true  and  brave. 
Cheered  on  their  brothers  wlmin  they  gave 
To  free«lom,  I'nion,  an<l  the  grave, 

Iro<|uois.  clear   Ir<M|Uois. 

.\ly  heart   with  proud  emotion  swells, 

lro<|uois.  dear   IrcKjuois — 
In  rapture  on   thy   story  dwells, 

Iro<|uois,  tlear   lr«K|Uois — 
Thy   placid   streams   and    flowing   wells, 
lintrance  me  with  their  magic  spells — 
lilach  scene  I  view  my  song  im|)cls, 

IriKjuois,  dear   Ir«M|Uois. 

On  hill  an<l  plain   where'er   I   gaze, 

Iro<|uois,  dear   Inxpiois — 
Contented   herds   serenely   graze, 

lriH|uois.  dear   IriK|uois — 
While  warbling  birds  from  bush  and  tree 
I'our  forth  their  joyous  melody 
To  join  my  song  in  praise  of  thee. 

lriK|Uois.   dear    lro<|uois. 

Home  of  my  heart,  iiiiim.  <■!  my  pride. 

Irocpiuis.  dear   Ir«K|u<iis — 
Thro'  grief  or  joy,   whate'er  betide, 

InM|uois.  dear   Ir<K|Uois — 
Still  would  I  revel  in  thy  charms, 
Sing  of  thy   f<irests.  (ieUls  and  fanns. 
And  rest  at  last  within  thine  arms. 

lr<HH)oi«.   fl«-;ir    lro<|uois. 

<  '.  i<  I  in\   ••l■l,^  t  xnltant  rise, 

lr<N|uois,  dear    lriM|Uois — 
I'ntil  it  reach  the  vaulted  skies, 

lro(|uois,  dear   InKjuois — 
Where  angels  'ro«ind  the  throne  rejoice 
Anil  listen  while  my  ardent  voice 
Proclaims  thy  charms,  dear  lr<K|uois — 

lriM|uois,  dear    lro(|Uois. 


688 


[•AST  AXD  PRESEXT  OF 


CHAPTER   \  i. 

.\I1L^^AR^■  history  oe  iroul'ois 

COL'XTV. 

i!V    MAJdK    M.    il.    I'KTICUS. 

PART   1. 

The  history  of  Iroquois  county  would  be  sadly, 
lamentably,  incomplete  without  mention  of  the 
honorable  and  conspicuous  part  borne  by  her  sons 
in  the  greatest  of  all  wars  waged  in  modern 
times.  We  of  the  north  speak  of  it  as  the  \\'3.r 
of  the  Rebellion  cr  the  \^'ar  for  tl-e  Union :  the 
southerners  call  it  the  War  for  Southern  Inde- 
pendence or  the  War  between  the  States.  With 
the  cause  or  causes  which  led  to  this  bloody 
conflict  we,  as  local  historian,  have  not  to  deal: 
they  were  national,  or  more  jjroperly  speaking, 
sectional :  it  was  the  united  north  arra\  ed  against 
the  united  south.  Still  there  were  those  in  the 
north  who  sympathized  with  the  south  and  some 
in  the  south  whose  sympathies  were  with  the 
north  :  but  these  factors  in  the  struggle  were  an 
insignificant  minority  in  either  section  and  had 
little  or  no  influence  in  shaping  the  course  of 
events. 

It  is  the  pride  and  boast  of  every  state,  of 
every  county  in  each  state,  north  and  south,  to 
point  to  the  quota  of  men  contributed  to  their 
respective  armies,  and  to  applaud  the  valor  and 
lieroism  of  their  sons.  This  is  natural,  it  is  laud- 
al)k,  it  is  patriotic.  In  this  spirit  we  ])ro])i:)se  to 
record  the  achievements  of  tlie  gallant  sons  of 
Iroquois  county  who  so  freely  and  ])romptly  re- 
sponded to  their  ei;untry"s  call  in  its  hnur  nf  peril. 
The  task  has  its  inspiration,  Init  we  realize  how 
illy  cqui])ped  we  are  for  the  task  and  how  futile 
must  I'rove  our  efforts  to  do  the  subject  justice. 

.\t  the  beginnin.g  of  hostilities  (April  14. 
1861  ).  when  South  Carolina  hurled  Iter  shrieking 
missiles  upon  Eort  Sumter  in  Cli;irie>tiin  Har- 
bor. Iroquois  county  was  largely  in  a  state  of  na- 
ture, a  vast  undeveloped  expanse  of  prairies. 
s\\ani])s  and  said  ridges,  witii  ni>  cities  within 
her  Ixiunds  and  but  few  small  villages :  farm 
houses  were  scattered  here  and  there  and  far  be- 
tween e.\ce])ting  in  a  few  favored  localities 
wlure    settlements    were    made    b\-    connnunitios 


who  had   immigrated   from   the   east,   principally 
from  (Miio  and  Pennsylvania. 

Although  large  in  area  (larger  than  the  state  of 
Rhode  Island  in  land  surface)  and  one  of  the 
largest  counties  in  Illinois,  it  was  sparsely  in- 
habited, the  population  according  to  the  census  of 
iSfio  being  only  12,285,  comprising  males  and 
females,  adults  and  infants.  The  enrollment  of 
those  liable  to  military  service,  made  by  the  gov- 
ernment in  1862,  was  2,204,  and  her  quota  1,460. 
I'lUt  such  was  the  supreme  loyalty  and  devotion  of 
her  citizens  to  the  Union  that  she  gave  an  excess 
of  153  above  the  quota  assigned — being  over 
thirteen  per  cent  of  the  entire  population  ( count- 
ing men.  women  and  children)  and  nearlv  seven- 
ty-five per  cent  of  the  able-bodied  men  subject  to 
service  on  call.  This  certainly  is  a  record  to 
be  jiroud  of — a  record  to  which  their  posterity 
may  refer  with  glowing  hearts. 

Eet  us  remember,  however,  that  these  brave 
mett  of  the  prairies  did  not  enter  the  service  of 
their  country  with  any  thought  of  achieving  dis- 
tinction or  making  a  record  for  themselves  or  for 
the  future.  Their  souls  were  animated  by  one 
su]M'eme  purpose — to  save  this  country  and  to 
avenge  the  insult  to  their  flag,  a  lofty,  a  holy 
purpose.  They  were  patriots  as  had  been  their 
pioneer  fathers  and  revolutionary  ancestors :  they 
went  forth  from  their  peaceful  homes,  like  Cin- 
ciimatus  of  old,  leaving  their  plows  in  the  fur- 
rows, and  Ijared  their  breasts  to  the  fury  of  battle 
for  the  land  they  loved,  for  liberty,  and  union — 
primarily,  to  save  the  nation  from  disruption  ■  ind 
secondly,  to  wipe  out  the  curse  of  hunran  slavery 
which  was  the  fruitful  cause  of  contention  and 
t)f   final    secession. 

The  volunteers  who  went  forth  tn  perl'nrm  this 
service  were  not  hirelings  who  fought  for  i)ay  : 
tbev  were  not  paupers  from  the  almshouses :  they 
were  nut  criminals  let  l^iose  from  jail  to  enlist 
I  in  tile  promise  of  immunity  from  punisliment. 
Xnl  \n!  they  were  the  truest,  bravest,  noblest 
si)ii>  lit  the  soil,  without  a  stain  upon  their  smils  : 
they  were  the  hope  and  dependence  of  devout 
and  devoted  mothers,  of  fond  and  doting  fathers, 
sons  true  to  the  home  instinct  and  who  never  fal- 
tered in  any  crisis,  preferring  death  to  dishonor. 
They  were  well  .skilled  in  the  use  of  the  ax  and 
the  rille  but  not  in  tile  arts  of  war;  they  were  ni>t 
trained  to  military  service  with  its  discipline  and 


IROgUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


(«>) 


tactics;  llu-rc  was  not.  and  never  had  Iktcii.  a 
regular  organizatiim  of  militia  in  the  county. 
Hut  it  is  the  r|ua!ity  nf  patrioiisui  that  nnkcs  the 
true  soldier,  and  lhi>  i|ualit\  tlux  inherited  from 
an  humhie.  sturdy,  law-ahidiii};,  lilK-rty-loving  an- 
cestry. The  free  air  which  the>  '  '  '  >n(|  the 
halmy    hreezes    which    swept    lui-  1    over 

their  hroad  and  rolling  prairies  e\|>ande<l  their 
inanh(K)d  and  intinsified  their  love  <>f  home  and 
country. 

Such  were  the  men.  chietiv  young  men  still  in 
their  teen>,  wHio  went  forth  from  Inxniois  ownty 
to  do  Intlle  for  the  I'nioii  and  aviiige  the  assault 
made  n|)on  the  flag  whirii  they  revered.  They 
met  the  enemy  u|-oii  every  field  from  iW>i  to 
i8«i5  until  the  triumpliaiii  vhout  of  victory  re- 
souniled  throughout  the  land.  They  fought  at 
Donelson  and  here  won  the  first  great  victors, 
capturing  I5.cK)0  L"on federates,  ( ieneral  (irant  of 
Illinois,  refusing  to  accept  any  other  terms  than 
"immediate  ami  unconditional  surrender":  they 
fought  at  .^iiilcrli.  luka.  Corinth.  \  icksluirj;. 
Stone  River.  Chickamauga.  .Mission  Ridge.  Look- 
out Mountain.  Keuesaw.  Atlanta,  marched  to 
the  sea  with  Sherman,  through  the  (."arolinas  to 
the  surrender  of  the  Confederate  General  John- 
ston, near  ( ireenville.  North  Carolina,  and  parti- 
cipated in  the  last  hattle  of  tlu-  war  at  Fort 
r.lakcly.  .\!al>ama,  on  the  ^th  of  April.   iS^>5. 

They  marched  the  length  and  hreadth  of  every 
state  in  reiieluon ;  they  fought  u|>on  cverv  great 
hattle-field  «)f  the  war  from  the  ( )hio  river  to  the 
gulf  of  Mexico,  from  the  Atlmtic  coast  to  the 
hanks  of  the  Arkansas:  they  suffered  in  south- 
ern prisons  and  languished  in  loathsome  hospi- 
tal>.  or  |)erished  exiwusted  h\  the  roadside.  With 
their  lives  they  sealed  their  loyalty  and  devotion. 

Today  hut  a  remnant  of  tliat  (irand  Army  of 
the  Republic  remains  to  remind  us  of  the  awful 
struggle  and  lo  re|K-a(  to  us  the  story  of  liovv  their 
comrades  fought  and  fell.  It  is  mM  in  the  power 
of  tongue  to  tell,  or  of  pen  lo  write.  <^r  of  hand 
to  paint,  the  liorrors  emlnred  hv  the  men  who 
fought  to  preserve  lis  a  nation:  tlwse  l>oys  of 
1861.  the  grizzly  old  veterans  of  IimLin.  them- 
silves  shrink  from  the  recital  of  the  story  lesi  ii  Ik- 
thought  too  horrible  lo  admit  of  Ix-licf. 

( )f  tlK"  I.f»l3  nu-i  who  served  from  lroi|uoi» 
county  51  were  kille  I  oiuright  in  lultle :  j!,2  ijied 
from  wounds  received  or  of  diseases  contracted 
through  exposure  and  hardships  incident  to  con- 


tinued and  incessant  campaigning.  Twcnt>  |)cr 
cent  (in  round  numbers)  or  one  out  of  every 
five  gave  up  his  young  life.  What  .i 
was  this  laid  u|Nin  the  altar  of  duly  and 
( )f  those  who  returned  to  their  homes  many  were 
maimid.  Inaring  ui>on  their  Uxlies  the  scars  of 
war  which  hrought  them  to  premature  graves, 
while  others  who  still  survive  suffer  from 
woimds.  Some  with  an  arm  or  a  leg  gone,  or 
from  disease  contracte<l  in  the  service. 

Such  is  the  sad  story  as  recorded :  l)ut  what 
of  those  brave  l)oys  wlio  went  forth  with  l>ouyant 
hearts  an<l  high  ho|)cs  only  to  find  unmarkeil 
and  unknown  graves  beneath  the  southern  skies, 
of  whom  the  records  can  give  no  accomit.  They 
were  re|M(rted  "missing"  when  the  sun  went  down 
u|M>n  a  scene  of  blood  am!  carnage — never  to  Ik- 
sein  or  heartl  of  more.  Their  comrades  knew 
tiMi  well  that  s<'>mewhere  u|'on  that  fatal  field  the 
"missing"  Ixxlies  lay  unidentified  only  to  \k  rolled 
over  into  shallow  trenches  by  the  enemy  and  cov- 
ered with  a  few  inches  of  soil — "missing"  to 
their  comrades,  "unknown"  to  the  enemy. 

What  of  those  tven  more  unf<^rlm>ate  re- 
|>orted  as  "taken  ])risoner."  who  were  never  ex- 
changed, never  seen  or  ln-ard  of  afterward — they 
died  .)f  broken  hearts  in  I.ihby  or  at  Anderson- 
ville  or  s<ime  other  southern  prison,  but  no  rec- 
ord tells  us  when  or  where.  Still,  their  chums 
with  whom  they  roni|H-d  over  the  prairies  or 
around  the  modest  log  cabin  at  the  ed^e  of  the 
limlxT  in  InN|uois  county  ami  with  whom  they 
enlisted  in  the  army  knov.  too  well  the  fate 
which  had  l>ifallen  them. 

Scarcely  more  tlun  one-half  of  those  who  lx>re 
the  bnmt  of  Iwtlle  returiu^l  unscathed  from  the 
field,  to  their  an.viously  waiting  families.  I'ut 
great  was  the  joy  in  many  a  log  cabin  and  vil- 
la;:e  home  at  the  sight  of  their  loved  oius  freed 
from  danger  and  safe  <iiice  more  in  the  embraces 
of  mothers,  sisters  and  sweethearis.  W-i  tiiere 
was  also  many  a  home  where  there  was  none  lo 
Ik-  welcom.'il  back.  That  their  love<l  ones  hail 
In-en  slain  in  Inttle  was  sorrow  enough  surelv : 
but  what  was  the  uiguish  of  thon-  wtv»s<-  hns- 
Iwnds.  fathers,  brothers  and  sons  perished  in  the 
liands  of  the  enemy  from  whom  no  riflings  Inve 
ever  ci>me.  How  many  such  there  were  will 
never  l>e  known,  the   records  fail  us. 

The  fathers  and  nnUhers  of  Inxjuois  county 
nude  a  |-recious.  priceless  sacrifice — ihcy  jjave  of 


690 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


their  flesh  and  blood  noble  sons  who  were  as 
dear  to  their  hearts  as  life  itself. 

Here,  in  our  feeble  way,  let  us  express  our 
gratitude  for  the  great  service  they  rendered  to 
posterity  in  preserving  our  county  undivided  and 
indivisible,  for  the  service  rendered  to  all  man- 
kind ami  to  all  future  ages  in  the  cause  of  human 
freedom.  All  honor  to  their  names  and  fame. 
Iroquois  county  glories  in  her  soldier  sons  and 
in  this  volume  enshrines  their  names  that  her 
children  and  children's  children  to  the  remotest 
ages  may  read  them  and  feel  their  hearts  heave 
and  their  blood  (the  blood  of  their  fathers)  thrill 
through  their  veins  with  rapture  of  delight  in  the 
proud  reflection  "such  was  my  ancestory." 

As  we  ourselves  in  youth  read  the  story  of 
our  revolutionary  forefathers  in  our  school  read- 
ers and  histories  and  felt  the  blood  coursing  hot 
in  our  veins  so  will  the  generations  who  come 
after  us  read  the  story  of  those  who  preserved 
the  Union  and  made  possible  the  great  heritage 
bequeathed  to  them. 

Such  is  the  military  history  of  Iroquois  county 
briefly,  all  too  briefly,  told ;  and  this  is  our  poor 
tribute  to  the  patriotism  of  her  citizenship.  How 
futile  are  mere  words  to  express  our  admiration 
and  gratitude  for  her  unswerving  loyalty,  and 
our  deep  appreciation  of  the  great  service  she 
rendered  to  our  common  country,  contributing 
even  more  than  her  allotted  share  to  the  record 
that  has  made  Illinois  illustrious  in  the  sisterhood 
of  states. 


PART  n. 
"I    HA\E  DONE   MY  DUTY." 

DEATH     OF    COI..     THO.S.     D.     WII.r,I.\MS. 

It  is  not  i)ossible  within  the  scope  of  this  work, 
and  the  space  allotted,  to  record  the  individual 
deeds  of  heroism  performed  by  the  volunteers 
from  Iroquois  county — the  long  list  of  her  slain 
is  their  testimony.  But  two  cases  may  justlv  be 
cited  as  illustrating  the  bravery  and  lofty  spirit 
which  animated  them  all. 

Wlu'ii  the  Civil  war  began  Thomas  1).  Williams 
was  station  agent  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
at  Chebanse.    He  had  served  during  the  war  with 


Mexico  in  the  regular  army  and  rose  to  the  rank 
of  sergeant.  His  intelligence  and  bravery  at- 
tracted the  attention  of  Capt.  George  B.  McClel- 
lan,  who  commanded  the  battery,  promoted  him 
to  sergeant,  and  after  the  close  of  that  war 
recommended  Sergeant  Williams  for  a  catletship 
at  West  Point.  WilHams,  however,  declined  the 
proffered  appointment  preferring  to  accept  the 
position  of  foreman  on  the  Illinois  Central  which 
was  then  in  the  course  of  construction  under  the 
supervision  of  Capt.  AlcClellan,  who  was  chief 
engineer  of  the  road.  On  the  completion  of  the 
road  Williams  was  made  its  agent  at  Chebanse. 

When  the  second  call  for  volunteers  (in  1861) 
came  trembling  over  the  wires  he  at  once  set 
about  to  recruit  a  company  which  in  a  short  time 
was  accomplished.  The  members  being  permit- 
ted to  select  their  own  officers  from  their  ranks 
W'illiams  was  chosen  captain  and  the  company 
was  assigned  to  the  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  as 
■'Co.  G."  This  regiment  was  being  organized  at 
Champaign  where  Captain  Williams  reported 
with  his  men  according  to  orders  from  Governor 
Yates.  William  N.  Coler,  of  Urbana,  was  its 
first  colonel  but  resigned  after  one  year's  service, 
.\ugust  31,  1862.  When  this  occurred  some  of 
the  most  influential  officers  of  the  regiment,  hav- 
ing recognized  the  superior  qualities  of  Captain 
W'illiams,  petitioned  Governor  Yates  to  appoint 
him  to  fill  the  vacancw  In  response  to  this  peti- 
tion Williams  was  promoted  colonel :  as  such  he 
commanded  the  Twenty-fifth  at  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  (or  Murfreesboro  as  it  is  sometimes 
called),  one  of  the  fiercest  and  most  bloody  bat- 
tles of  the  whole  war  not  excepting  Chickamauga 
and  Gettysburg. 

On  the  first  day  of  this  battle  (December  30, 
1862)  Colonel  Williams  was  wounded,  being- 
struck  by  a  fragment  of  shell,  causing  a  ghastly 
wcnmd  in  his  right  thigh.  But  he  did  not  sur- 
render his  command  nor  desert  his  bovs  as  the 
exigencies  would  have  justified:  he  liouiid  \ip 
his  wound  with  a  handkerchief  and  remained 
upon  the  field.  The  battle  raged  for  several  da\s, 
with  fearful  slaughter  on  ImHIi  sides,  when  Gen- 
eral Bragg,  the  confederate  commander,  finally 
gave  up  the  field  and  retreated  to  Tullahoma. 
riie  severest  fighting  during  this  engagement 
occurred  on  December  31.  1862.  which  was  r 
disastrous  dav  for  General  Rosecrans,  who  com- 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


6yi 


niaiidcd  the  L'nion  forces.  In  tlie  early  iiiorniiiK 
of  tluit  day  before  our  men  liad  time  ti>  eat  their 
scanty  breakfasts  (ieneral  Itrafjjj  luirled  his  choic- 
est battalions,  which  lie  had  concentrateil  during 
the  nipht,  with  desperate  fury  upon  the  right 
wing  of  the  L'nion  army  which  was  forced  back 
amid  terrible  confusion.  It  seemed  impossible  to 
stay  the  impetuosity  of  the  enemy  who  seemed 
delirious  with  their  success.  Seeing  tlie  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  retiring  JK'fore  this  furi- 
ous onslaugiit,  while  his  "boys"  were  falling 
around  him,  the  color  bearer  shot  down  and  the 
colors  lying  on  the  ground.  Colonel  Williams 
amid  the  shower  of  shot  and  shell  picked  up  the 
flag  and  waving  it  on  high  before  the  regiment 
shouted.  "We'll  i)lani  it  here.  Ixiys.  and  rally  tlie 
Twenty-fifth  around  it.  and  here  we  will  die." 

It  was  a  lieroic  act  well  calculated  to  inspire 
his  boys  with  renewed  courage  and  determination 
— a  sublime  exhibition  well  worthy  the  song  of 
poet  and  pen  of  the  realist  in  literature.  Hut 
Colonel  Williams  had  no  sfK)ner  uttered  this  e.\- 
liortation  than  a  bullet  pierced  his  breast  while 
he  was  still  holding  the  starry  emblem  aloft;  he 
fell,  and  on  that  field  he  died.  His  last  words, 
spoken  to  Dr.  Myron  S.  Brown,  regimental  sur- 
geon, who  rushed  to  his  relief,  were:  "i  n.WE 
DoNK  .MV  Di'TV."  Is  there  recorded  in  history 
anywhere  an  example  of  loftier  patriotism, 
greater  bravery,  or  more  heroic  confluct  ? 

The  brigade  commander.  General  Woodruff,  in 
his  official  repcirt  of  the  engagement  s|>eaks  of 
this  tragic  incident  in  the  following  eloquent  and 
sympathetic  language :  ".\mid  the  glorious  re- 
sults of  a  battle  won  it  gives  me  pain  to  record 
the  names  of  the  gallant  men  who  gave  up  their 
lives  on  the  altar  of  their  country.  Rut  we  must 
drop  a  tear  of  sorrow  over  their  resting  places 
and  offer  our  sym|)athies  it)  their  relatives  and 
friends,  trusting  that  God  will  care  for  them 
and  .soothe  their  afflictions.  .\nd  while  we  re- 
member the  noble  dead  let  us  pay  our  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  gallaiU  Colonel  T.  D.  Williams. 
Twenty-fifth  Illinois  Regiment,  who  died  in  the 
performance  of  his  duties;  he  fell  with  the  regi- 
mental colors  in  his  liands.  exclaiming.  'We'll 
plant  it  here  Ixjys,  and  rally  the  old  Twenty-fifth 
around  it,  and  here  we  will  die."  Such  conduct 
is  alxive  all  praise:  words  can  utter  no  eulogium 
worthy  of  the  subject." 


l!y  direction  of  the  bi-reaved,  heart-stricken 
widow,  then  still  residing  in  Chebanse,  llie  re- 
mains of  Colonel  Williams  were  taken  to  Troy, 
.Vew  York,  her  fonner  home,  where  the)  were 
married,  and  here  tlie  lifeless  body  was  laid  to 
final  rest  in  Oakwood  cemetery.  .\iid  it  may  lie 
mentioned  as  an  interesting  finale  that  the  remains 
of  General  George  H.  'Ilinuias.  whom  the  sol- 
diers under  his  command  affectionately  called 
"Old  Pap  Thomas"  lie  interred  in  the  same  ceme- 
tery aiid  but  a  few  steps  from  the  grave  of  our 
noble  Colonel  Williams.  .Mrs.  Williams  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  Chebanse  until  she  died  a  few 
years  ago,  when  her  bcnly  was  taken  to  Troy  and 
])laced  Ix'side  the  com|«nion  whom  she  mourned 
for  over  forty  years. 

Williams  Post  No.  25,  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public, headquarters  in  Watscka,  conunemorates 
the  name  of  Colonel  T.  U.  Williams  and  bears 
the  number  of  his  legiment — a  poetic,  historic 
combination. 


1K(  KJlt  US  C(  )LNTY 

i.v   riii; 

L.\ST  GRR.VT   IVXTTLK  ol-'  TIIF.   W.\K. 

I'AKT   111. 

.\s  has  been  said  above  two  incidents  exempli- 
fying the  patriotism  and  lofty  courage  of  Inxjuois 
county's  volunteers  nuist  suffice  as  examples  of 
the  services  and  sacrifices  of  her  entire  contin- 
gent, owing  to  the  limited  number  of  pages  al- 
lotted to  this  ])orlion  of  the  work.  We  have  told, 
too  briefly,  the  story  of  the  death  of  the  gallant 
Colonel  Williams  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Illinois. 
Our  secoiKl  story  will  Ik-  of  the  .Seventy-sixth 
Illinois  at  F<^rt  Blakely,  .Mabama :  not  tliat  this 
incident  recites  the  only  instance  of  heri>ism  ex- 
hibited by  this  regiment  but  rather  that  it  jirovcs 
its  valorous  conduct  u|K)n  every  fiehi  in  which  it 
participated. 

It  may  Ik-  of  interest  to  state  that  the  capture  of 
Fort  lUakcly  was  the  last  liattle  of  the  war  for 
the  l'nion.  an  important  historic  fact.  General 
RolK-rt  v..  Lee.  commander-in-chief  of  the  confcd- 


692 


PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 


erate  forces,  surrendered  tlie  arm\'  of  Xdrthcni 
\'irginia  to  General  U.  S.  Grant  on  tlie  morning 
of  April  9,  1865.  the  charge  on  Fort  Blakely  oc- 
curring that  same  evening  after  Lee's  surrender, 
neither  being  aware  of  the  events  transpiring  in 
other  parts. 

The  capture  of  Fort  Dlakely  affnrds  a  thrilling 
story,  but  as  we  are  not  writing  a  general  history 
we  must  confine  ourselves  to  the  part  acted  by 
the  Seventy-sixth  Regiment  in  which  we  are  par- 
ticularly interested.  One  is  inclined  to  sa-y  that 
the  Seventy-sixth  Illinois  was  Iroquois  county's 
favorite  regiment,  but  that  would  be  unjust  to  all 
other  regiments  in  which  the  count)'  was  repre- 
sented, especially  so  to  the  Twenty-fifth.  Forty- 
second,  Fifty-first  and  One  Hundred  and  Thir- 
teenth, all  of  which  had  a  large  contingency  from 
Iroquois,  not  to  mention  Ninth  and  Twelfth 
Illinois  Cavalry  and  various  companies  of  ar- 
tillery in  which  the  county  was  represented.  It 
would  also  be  unjust  to  the  patriotic  people  of 
Iroquois  county  to  say  that  they  discriminated  in 
favor  of  any  particular  company  or  regiment. 
But  we  are  warranted  in  saying  that  as  the  county 
was  more  largely  represented  in  the  Seventy-sixth 
than  in  any  other  regiment,  and  because 
of  its  peculiar  service  and  gallant  conduct 
throughout  the  war  it  attracted  and  commanded 
more  general  interest  than  any  other  regiment, 
and  especially  so  in  consequence  of  its  grand  cli- 
max of  heroism  at  Fort  Blakely  where  it  made 
a  most  desperate  and  the  very  last  charge  which 
closed  the  war.  eighteen  of  their  number  being 
killed  outright  and  eighty-two  wounded  ( some 
of  whom  subsequently  died)  out  of  its  depleted 
ranks  of  little  more  than  three  hundred  men  who 
were  engaged — all  this  in  less  than  half  an  hour 
— driving  the  foe  before  them,  forcing  their  way 
through  the  abattis.  leaping  into  the  trenches, 
scaling  the  parapets,  springing  into  the  fort,  caj)- 
turing  those  within,  hauling  ddwn  ilu'  unbleni  of 
secession  and  hoisting  in  its  stead  the  banner  (if 
Union    and    victorv. 

It  was  during  the-e  suul-slirring  events,  nn  the 
eve  of  that  memorable  day,  that  occurred  one  of 
the  most  touching  and  tragic  episodes  of  the  en- 
tire four  years  of  bloody  war.  It  is  this  incidt'Ut 
we  feel  impelled  to  record  and  enshrine,  aItlK)ugh 
we  realize  how  feel)le  nuist  be  our  endeav(ir  to 
dci   justice  to  this  heroic  event. 


The  order  came :  "Get  your  men  into  line 
and  be  ready  to  make  the  assault  at  5  o'clock." 

Officers  and  men  were  loitering  about  the  camp, 
some  of  them  on  guard,  others  performing  police 
duty.  The  bugle  sounded  the  "assembly."  Im- 
mediately there  was  ;•.  rush  to  quarters  for  equip- 
ments. It  re(|uired  but  a  moment  to  buckle  on  the 
waist-belt  and  cartridge  box  and  seize  the  gun. 
The  orderly  sergeants  shouted  "Fall  in,  boys,  fall 
in!"  The  companies  were  fcirnied  as  if  by  magic 
and  hastily  assumed  their  position  in  the  regi- 
mental line.  "Forward,  march !"  was  the  com- 
mand, and  the  Seventy-sixth  advanced  with  firm, 
determined  step.  Well  the  "boys"  knew  what 
havoc  confronted  them,  but  on  they  moved  "quick- 
step," resolved  to  do  their  full  duty — to  win  or  to 
die.  The  flag  in  the  center  of  the  line,  radiant  with 
color,  inspiring,  invincible  symbol  of  Union,  was 
bravely,  proudly  borne  by  Sergeant  Hussey ;  it 
snapped  in  the  breezes  as  the  column  hurriedly 
advanced.  On,  on  they  moved  with  lengthening 
strides  and  increased  momentum. 

The  confederate  line  of  forts  to  be  assaulted 
were  nine  in  number,  located  in  a  semi-circle  ex- 
tending from  river  to  river  and  connected  with 
heavy  breastworks  covering  a  distance  of  two 
miles  or  more.  The  earth  from  which  the  breast- 
works were  constructed  left  a  ditch  or  trench  ( in 
military  parlance  "a  moat")  in  front.  About  two 
hundred  yards  in  front  of  these  forts  and  breast- 
works were  a  series  of  rifle-pits  covering  the  en- 
tire line :  in  these  ]iits  were  sheltered  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters.  Still  m  front  of  these  about  fifty 
yards  was  the  abattis  consisting"  of  trees  felled 
outward  with  their  branches  woven  together  and 
wires  vround  through  to  hold  these  branches 
firmly  in  ])lace.  l)etA\een  the  rifle-pits  and  abattis 
the  timber  hail  been  cut  down  and  left  a  tangled 
mass  of  stumps,  logs  and  Innbs.  the  purpose  being 
to  obstruct  passage  and  give  the  sharpshooters  in 
the  pits  a  better  opportunity  to  repulse  ar.y  attack 
iqiiin   the  forts. 

It  was  obstacles  such  as  these  which  the 
.^cvcnty-siNth  li.-id  to  encounter  while  facing  a 
nuu'derous  fire  from  the  artillery  in  the  forts  and 
the  sharpshooters  in  the  rifle-pits.  Think  of  it, 
rellect  upon  it.     What  a  situation! 

It  so  ha|)peiieil  that  the  .Seventy-sixth  Illinois 
occupied  the  most  difficult  and  dangerous 
I)ortion      of      the      line.      Fort      No.      ;,      which 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


i*Ji 


llii-  coil  III  Urates  tlaltcn-tl  ihcmsclvis  to  1)C 
inviilnoralilt.-,  Irowncil  Ix'forc  tlicni  like  a 
tliick  black  cloml  fallen  to  earth  sending; 
sliafts  of  lijjhtninj;  into  tiieir  midst.  The  lirst 
ohstruction,  the  abatlis.  was  riache«l ;  it  nionieii- 
tarily  checketl  the  i)rogress  of  the  rejjinieut  in  its 
impetuosity ;  Init  "the  Ixns"  tore  it  to  pieces 
in  their  frenzy  or  crushetl  it  beneath  their  weight 
as  they  ciamboreil  over  it ;  on  they  went  fnrionsix . 
.•^o  fonnidable.  >o  fearless,  so  iniijetiions  was  tlie 
charjje  there  was  no  resisting  their  progress.  On 
they  went,  \ven«ling  their  way  through  the  l)nish, 
leaping  over  the  logs  and  slumps  ;  on,  on.  leaving 
their  dead  and  wountled  comrades  Inhind  them. 
The  fire  of  the  confederates  was  terrillic  and 
many  a  i)ravc  l»oy  fell  under  it.  killed  or  maimed; 
but  there  was  no  such  thouglit  as  "halt,"  much 
less  "retreat." 

Forward  the\  move,  donbleqnick.  "I'orwanl ! " 
was  the  order:  there  was  not  even  an  inclination 
to  look  back.  <  )n.  on,  they  sweei',  halting  an  in- 
stant here  and  there  t(j  discharge  their  guns  which 
they  again  reloaded  on  the  run.  Their  advance 
was  irresistible,  and  the  occupants  of  the  ril'e-pits 
deserteil  their  cover  and  lU<l  ratlur  than  sub- 
mit to  impending  death  or  ca]>ture.  I'lie  ritle-pits 
are  reached  and  ;i  shout  of  triumph  rends  the  air. 
mingling  with  the  ilumders  of  a  hundred  can- 
non which  iielch  forih  their  wild  and  murderous 
fire. 

lint  here  brave  Hussey  fell — dead,  his  lifeless 
hands  still  grasjing  the  flagstaff,  his  botly  and 
the  Hag  in  the  ritU'-pit.  (. Sergeant  Henry  I!. 
Hus.>ey  enlisted  from  .\sh  (jrove  township  where 
he  workeil  upon  a  farm.)  Corporal  Ciiarley  (iohl- 
wiMxl  of  Company  I  seized  the  prostrate  colors, 
raised  them  on  high,  and  bore  them  on  shouting 
as  he  ran  :  head  toward  the  fort  amid  the  rain- 
jxiur  of  graje  antl  canister. 

l-'ort  .\<».  3,  the  real  point  of  attack,  tiie  last 
stronghold,  was  yet  to  be  gained.  The  Seventy- 
-ixth  charges  across  the  intervening  space; 
the\  enter  the  trench ;  they  scale  the  ram- 
parts by  lifting  (or  climbing  over)  each 
•!  I  r  to  the  top.  (ioldwixxl,  the  \outhful 
.•!■■! -bearer,  being  among  the  first  on  the 
works;  and  here,  while  stooped  over  to 
plant  the  llag — the  first  Hag  on  the  line — a  btdlet 
fri'Ui  the  revolver  of  .in  artilkry  ifficer  insiile  the 
fort  pierces  his  l)rain  and  he  falls  at  the  feet  of 


his  etiemy,  the  foUls  of  the  tlag  winding  alxut  his 
ba<ly  as  he  falls. 

Sergeant  .Major  S.  C.  .Munluill  (the  l>o\>  called 
him  "I'rchin  '  lie-cause  of  his  youth  and  dimimi- 
tivc  stature)  as  he  leaps  into  the  fort  near  tinld- 
wiHxl  stops  for  a  moment  ti>  view  the  prostrate 
form  of  his  beloved  comrade  and  by  an  irresistible 
impulse  attem])ts  to  rescue  the  flag,  but  in  his 
haste  secures  only  a  fragment  which  he  forces 
into  his  iHicket  as  he  hurries  on  to  join  the  fight 
within  the  fort.  James  15.  Fleming  of  Captain 
.\ndrew"s  company  (he  enlisted  in  Middleport), 
however,  gently  removes  the  Ixxly  of  (ioldwood 
from  the  colors  and  bore  them  triumphantly  into 
the  niidst  of  the  contending  forces,  for  the  fight 
still  rages  within  the  fort.  Jiand  to  hand,  with 
revolvers  and  "club  muskets" :  there  is  no  time 
nor  opportunity  to  reload  lluir  weapons. 

While  the  left  and  center  of  the  Sev- 
enty-sixth made  a  direct  charge  upon  the 
fort  the  riglit  wing  of  the  regin.ent  un- 
der the  immediate  eye  of  Colonel  S.  T. 
I'.Hsey  cliargetl  upon  a  jxiint  farther  north  with 
e(|n;d  intrepidity  and  success.  As  Colonel  I'usey 
kai  ed  from  the  ramparts  into  the  fort  two  shots 
were  directe<l  at  him.  one  of  which  t(X»k  effect,  but 
he  kille<l  both  assailants  with  his  revolver.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  hip  brt  ignored  the  injury 
and  continued  to  cheer  on  and  encourage  his  brave 
boys  as  if  nothing  had  happenecl  him.  i'inally. 
the  confederates  realizing  the  futility  of  further 
resistance  surrendered.  ( )vtr  three  hundred  fell 
into  the  liamls  of  the  Seventy-sixth  as 
prisoners  of  war.  The  battle  was  ended. 
the  fort  was  theirs,  the  stars  ami  bars 
were  hauled  down  and  replaced  by  the  stars 
and  stripes  which  gracefully  waved  in  the 
ivening  air  gleaming  in  the  rays  of  the 
.setting  Sim.  It  was  now.  after  the  culmination 
of  this  bloody  contlict,  that  Col.  liiisey  drew  off 
his  b«-Kit  to  pour  from  it  blo<Kl  that  issued  from 
his  wouikI,  gathering  and  clotted  in  the  boot  leg, 
or  did  his  hoys  know  that  he  had  la-en  woundeil 
until  they  saw  bin)  perform  this  act.  Such  was 
ihe  Courage  and  conduct  of  C'olonel  Ihtsey  in 
this  crisis. 

There  were  man>  other  thrilling  incidents 
transpiring  upon  various  parts  of  the  field  dur- 
ing this  brilliant  assault  on  I'ort  Mlakely :  but 
I'.one  perhaps   more  |)alhetic  than   the   following 


694 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


episode :  While  Corporal  Goldwood  was  lying 
dead  within  the  walls  of  the  fort  Private  Fred 
Heppenheimer,  who  w-as  excitedly  rushing  by  the 
lifeless  form  of  the  young  colorbearer,  noticed 
his  prostrate  comrade  with  a  bullet  hole  in  his 
forehead,  the  blood  still  oozing  from  the  fatal 
wound ;  he  suddenly  stopped  and  bent  reverently 
over  the  dead  body,  tears  bursting  from  his  eves : 
the  face  was  ghastly  pallid  save  where  crimson 
blood  had  discolored  the  features ;  he  tenderly 
bowed  down  his  head  and  pressed  a  kiss  ui)on  the 
bleeding  brow,  exclaiming  as  he  did  so,  "Poor, 
poor,  poor  Charley!"  Slowlv  he  arose  as  if  re- 
luctant to  leave  his  cherished  comrade  thus  alone, 
then  suddenly  dashed  away  to  resume  his  place 
among  the  fighters, '  with  bitterness  in  his  soul, 
resolved  to  avenge  the  death  of  this  exemplarv 
_\outh  and  brave  young  soldier. 

The  government  some  }ears  afterward  estab- 
lished a  national  cemetery  near  Mobile ;  the 
dead  of  Fort  Blakely  were  transferred  to  this 
cemetery.  The  survivors  of  the  Seventy-sixth 
took  it  upon  themselves  to  place  here  a  memorial 
to  their  comrades  slain,  and  a  very  substantial 
granite  monument  has  been  erected  bearing  the 
name  of  every  comrade  who  fell  at  Fort  Blakely 
— a  lasting  tribute  of  the  living  to  the  dead. 

The  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  at  Mobile 
also  commemorates  the  event  and  honors  the 
Seventy-sixth  Regiment  of  Illinois  by  adopting 
the  title,  Goldwood  Post. 

It  was  General  F.  M.  Cockrell  who  com- 
manded the  confederate  forces  at  Fort  Blakely. 
After  the  war  he  became  distinguished  as  a 
statesman,  aljly  and  honorabl_\-  representing  the 
state  of  Missouri  in  the  United  States  senate. 
At  the  national  democratic  convention  held  in 
St.  Louis  in  1904  Hon.  Wm.  J.  I'.ryan  in  a  glow- 
ing si)ecch  ijresentcd  General  Cockrell's  name  as 
a  candidate  for  president  of  the  United  States. 


Ai.iMi  xmrncAL  R(  ).^ti':r. 

PART  T\'. 

.Alien,  Orange  F.,  Middleport,  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  .A,  76th  Inf..  ID  mos.  i:)iscliarged  Mriv  11. 
1863,  disability. 


Anderson,  Aaron,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862,  Co. 

A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 
Anderson,  George  W.,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862, 

Co.  A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22, 
1865. 

Allhands,  Erastus  J.,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22, 
1865. 

Ash,  Nelson,  Concord,  Aug.  4,  1862,  Co.  E, 
76th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Discharged  May  21,  1865, 
disability. 

Atkinson,  William,  Loda,  Aug.  5,  1862,  Co. 
K,  76th  Inf.,  30  mos.  Discharged  Feb.  7,  1865, 
disability. 

Anderson.  Myron,  Middleport.  August  10, 
1862,  Co.  C,  88th  Inf.,  21  mos.  Killed  in  At- 
lanta campaign  May   17.   1864. 

Ash,  John,  Middleport,  Aug.  9,  1862.  Co.  B. 
113th  Inf.,  16  mos.  Discharged  Dec.  2,  1863, 
disability. 

Ash.  \\'illiani  W.,  Martinton,  Aug.  9.  1862. 
Co.  B,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  as  cor- 
poral June  20,  1865. 

Ammerman,  William  C.  (  )narga.  August  12, 
1862,  Co.  D,  ii3tli  Inf.,  34  mos.  Clustered  out 
as  Sergeant  June  20.   1865. 

.\sh.  Lorenzo  1)..  Middle]Kirt,  August  13.  1862. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865. 

Appleget,  Benjamin,  Middleport.  Aug.  <). 
1862,  Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  I  yr.  Died  at  Corinth, 
Miss.,  Aug.  17,  1863. 

Atkins,  John,  Ash  Grove,  Ma\-  14,   1864,  Co. 

B.  134  Inf.,  5  mos.     Mustered  out  C)ct.  23.  1864, 
Corporal. 

Arm  lid,  Daniel  W.,  I\Iiddleport,  May  14.  1864, 
Co.  B.  134th  Inf.,  3  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct. 
23,  ],Sf.4. 

Axtell,  Thomas,  Mil  ford,  Jan.  8.  1865.  Co.  D. 
150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  ifi,  1866. 

-Anderson.  .Martin.  Onarga.  Sei)t.  13.  1862, 
Co.  F,  ()th  Cav..  7,  vrs.  Mustered  out  Sept.  i^. 
1865. 

.-Vvery.  Jnlm  II..  (  hiarga.  (  )ct.  18.  1862.  Co. 
AL  (;th  Cav..  3  vrs.  Mustered  out  Oct.  ^i. 
1865. 

.•\sa_\-,  William,  (  )narga,  .\'ci\-.  10.  iSdi,  Co. 
M.  9lh  Cav..  4  yrs.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran — 
prnniotul  _'(l  Lieut.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  31,  1865. 

Asa\.    William    P..    Onarga,    Nov.    10.    1861. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS.  ^h)5 

Co.    M,  yth   Cav.,  4   >rs.      Mustcrc<l  out  as  2(1  .\lliii.   Martin    \.    11..  ( )narKa.  June   4.    iS(ji. 

Lieut.  Oct.  31.  iS<>5.  C<>.    !•".   25th    Inf..    n;  nios.     Killed   in  battle  of 

Alexander,  Henry,  *  )nar>j:i.  Dec.   1.   iXiti,  Co.  Stone    River,    'lenu..    Dec.    31,    |W)2. 
M.  <>tli  Cav.,  3  nios.    Died  at  hoiue  on  sick  leave.  .\yres,  Robert  \\'.,  .\slikun),  June  i,  1861.  Co. 

.March  8,  iWij.  ( i.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Sept.  I.  18^)4. 

.\njilc,   David,  (  inarjja.  Oct.    1.    iS/^.  Lo.  — .  .\yres,  .Monzo  D.,  .\slikuin,  <  )ct.  30,  iW>i.  Cn. 

gtli  Cav.     Ina.ssinncd  recruit.  Ci,  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     .\o  ilata. 

.\nderson.  Josiah,   I-oda,   Se|>t.    15.    iH<>i.   Co.  .\very,  lulward  I*'..  Middle|K>rl,  .\u^.  21.  iS<n. 

C,  10th  Cav.    Discharged  on  account  of  wounds.  Co.  C,  23th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     IX-tailed  for  duty  with 

No  data.  8tli  Wisconsin   liattery. 

.\nderson.    J.icob.    Loda.    Sejit.    15,    iX<>i.    Co.  .\>li,   .\lonzo   D.,    .Mi<ldle|>ort.   .Sept.   20.    iS^n. 

C.  10th  Cav..  31   nios.     Died  in  service,  .\pril  3.  Co.  C.  5i.st   Inf..  7  nios.     Discharged   April  24. 

t8()4.  1 8^.2. 

.\dams,   William   H..  Loda.  Jan.  4.    18^14,  Co.  .Mien.  John    II..  (  )narga.  Sept.   24,    iH(>i.  Co. 

C,  10th    Cav..    11    inos.      Died    at    Urownsville.  C.   5~tli    Inf..   3v   mos.      Mustered  out   Dec.   29. 
.\rk.,   Nov.    II,    i8<i4.  18^)4. 

.\iulerson,  Ellis.  Middleport.  Jan.  12.  1864.  Co.  .\ndrew,    .\dani.    .Middle])ort.   June    24.    18^^12, 

D,  1st  .\rtillery.  Co.  .\.  7')th   Inf.     .Mustered  out  July   22.   18(15. 
.\rnold,  T.   .S..  Middleport.  Jan.  4.    18/13.  C'<.  as  Sergeant. 

I.  113  Inf.,  20  mos.  I'.utzow.   Ilenrx    .\.,  .\shkuni,  March   2,    1862, 

.\rhart.  Samuel  !•"..  .Milford,  .\ug.  1.  i8^)2.  Co.  Co.  (i.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Wounded  in  battle  of 

E.  76th  Inf.     .Ab.sent  sick  at  muster  out  of  rcgi-  Peach   Tree  Creek. 

mcnt.  I'.axter.   Thomas.  Chebanse.    March    14.    1863, 

.\ndrew.  .\braham.  Middle|K)rt,  July  24,  iHI>2.  Co.  11.  58111  Inf. 
Co.  .\.  76th   Inf..  3  yrs.     Served  in  Co.   1'..   io!h  I'.randeiiburg.    I-Vancis.    .Middleiiori.    Jiil\     24. 

Indiana,  from  April  23  to  .\ug.  '>.    i8<>i.     I'ro-  i8<i2.  Co.  .\.  70th   Inf..  3  yrs. 
moted  Captain.  I!ou<lreau,  (iodfrcy,  I'apineau,  March  6,  i8<j5. 

.Mien,  James.   Milfonl,  Jan.  24.    1863,  Co.   D.  Co.   H.   5Rtli    Inf..    i    yr.      Mustereil   out    March 

150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  if>.  1866.  <>,   i8<i(). 

.\nderson,    .\aron,    Innpiois   county,   Jul\    24.  I'.ishop.  Kdwanl  W..  .Mi<ldleport,  June  4,  i8^>i, 

1862,   Co.   .\,   76tli    Inf.,  3   yrs.  Co.  F.  25th  Inf..  30  mos.     Womided  in  right  k-g 

.\nderson,  ( leorge  \\'..  Itelniont,  July  24,  i8<)2.  at  battle  of  .^tone  River,  Dec.  30.  i8(«2. 
Co.  .\,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     No  data.  Ilutcher,   ."^amucl,  Chebanse,    March    14,    1865, 

Axtell,  Thomas   I'.,   Milford.  .\pril   22.   18/.1.  (,,    \\    -sth  Inf.,  6  mos.     Died  at  Montgomery, 

Co.  I.  20tb  Inf.,  3'/.  yrs.     No  data.  Ala..  Sept.  2j.  i8r.5. 

.\xtell,  Thomas  I'..   Ian.  8.  1865.  Co.  I),  i  v'lli  1.    1       t         i      m- 1  n         .    c     .  o/-     ^- 

•^  •  r.ailey.  Ivan  L..  Middleport,  Sept.  20,  1801,  Co. 

^"f-   '  >■'■•  C.    51st    Inf..    ^    1-4   vr.s.   Wounded   at   battle  of 

.Mien.  David  L..  .\ug.  7.   >W.2.  Co.   K.    M3th  ,.-„;,kii„.     ,);,;,  M.rch  7.  yS.,7. 

Inf..   ^  vrs.       No  data.  ,.,    ,        ,.       ,  ,.       ,,.,,, 

■    ■         ,,       ...    ,,  .,  ^,  l-lailes.   Iranklin.   .Middleport.  .\ug.  22.    i8<>2. 

.\fidrews,  Rav  W  ..  ( )narga,  .Mav  2;.  iSoi.t....  ,    ,    ,  ,....,.. 

^         ,1/0  ij     •         1     '  ,  •      V  surgeon,  70tb   inf..   it)  mos.     Discharged   .March 

F.  25th  Inf.,  18  iiios.     Resigned  as  t  aptam  Nov,  or 

21,  1862,  •^''        '■*• 

Anderson.    Isaac    11.,   (  Miarga,    iune   4.    '8<.i.  ''""-gett.  Hlias   II.,  .Mid.lleporl,  .May   14.   i8<.4. 

Co.  F,  25th  Inf..  5  mos.     Die.l  at  JelTersoii  liar-  C'..   |!.  ,34th   Inf..  5  mo>.     No  records.     Joined 

racks.  Mo..  Oct.  2.^.  iSTm,  <■•    \-  '<•   ^'^rch  (>.   iHHi,.     Died  July   21,   i8<).). 

.Alexander.  William  T..  Onarga,  June  4,  1861,  HaUock.  William  .\..  (  )narga.  .\ug.  22.  1W.2, 

Co.    F.    251)1    Inf..   3    vrs.      Discl'arue.l    Sept.    5.  surgeon.  7<^)th   Inf. 
18/14.  I'.radrick,   I'.orter,   .Middleport.   Nov.   28.    18(13, 

Abreiie,    Joseph.    '  >narga.   June    4.    18/11,    Ci>.  Co.  I-',  Ii3tli  Inf. 
I".  25tli  Inf..  3  yrs.     Discharged  Sept.  5.  |8<)4.  I'oweii.   Horace  M..  Mi<lill.  p.it .   Inn.    7.   18(12, 


696  PAST  AXD  PRESENT  OF 

Co.  A.  76th   Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  liall,  James,  ^lilford.  .March  29.    1862.  Co.  1, 

i<S65.     Promoted  Lieutenant.  20th  Inf..  3  yrs.    Discharged  .Ma\-  21,  1865. 

r>rayton.    Comfort.    Ashkum,    June    13,    i80j,  l!i,y:elo\v,   Xelson.  Iroquois,  July  24.   1862.  Co. 

Co.  I.  20th   Inf.  A.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

P)0\vcn.  'ilionias  .M..  .Middlejjort.  Jan.  7.   1863.  ISritton.   James,    -\shkum.   July    15.    1863.   Co. 

Co.  .\.  76th  Inf.  I,  20th  Inf..  4  mos.     Killed  at  Edward's  Station. 

ISrayton.  Joseph,  .\slikum.  June   13,   1861.  Co.  Miss.,  May  6,  1863. 

I.  20th   Inf..  3  mos.     Died  at  .Mound  City.  Xov.  Prnwn.    Thomas.    Middle]}(jrt.    Dec.    2,    18O3, 

8.    1801.  C(i.   .\,   76th    Inf.     Transferred   to   37th    Illinois 

liender.    ."^amuel.    .Middleport,    Jul\-    24.    1S62.  Infantry. 

Co.  .\,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Julv  22.  lUakely.  Thomas,  ()nar,y:a,  June  4,    1861,  Co. 

1865,  as  Sergeant.  I-",  25th"  Inf.,  18  mos.    Discharged  Xov.  29.  1862, 

Baily.  William,  Middleport,  Juh-  24,   1862,  L"o.  as  principal  musician. 

I,  20th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Discharged  at  exi)irati()n  of  I^rown,  Thomas,  Middleport,  July  7,  1862,  Co. 

enlistn-.'-nt.  .\,  7i.';t  Inf.,  3  mos.     Mu-stered  out  Oct.  29,  1862. 

liishopp,  Weller,   IJelmont,  Jnly  24,    1862,  Co.  liowen,  James,  Middleport,  Dec.  2,   1863,  Co. 

.\.  76th  Inf.     Promoted  Lieutennnt  in  5th  V .  S.  .\,  76th  Inf.,   10  mos.     Died  at  Cairo,  III.,  Oct. 

C.  H.  .v.,  .\ug.  16,  1864.  7.  1864. 

lUake,  -Alfred,  Middleport.  July  24,   1862,  Co.  lirandcnburg,  .\lbin,  Middleport.  Dec.  2.  1863. 

I,  20th  Inf..  4  yrs.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Co.  A,  7(:)th   Inf.,   10  mos.     Died  in   .Middleport, 

liowen,    William,    Middleport,   July   24,    1862.  Xov.  12,  1864. 

Co.  .A.  76th   Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  I'.ray,  Thomas  S.,  Chehanse.   March   14.    1805. 

1865.  Co.   H,   58th   Inf.,  46  mos.      .Mustered   nut   Jan. 

Mraydon.  \\'illia)ii.   Middleport,  July  24,   1862,  (^.   1866. 

Co.  I,  20th   Inf.,    15  mos.     Discharged   for  disa-  Ilernsan.  Lewis,  Ash  (irove.  Ji:ne  4.   i8r)i,  Co. 

bility  Sept.  6,  1862.  F,  23th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Discharged  Sept.  3,  1864. 

Brandenburg.    Francis,    Middleport,    July    24,  l!anl,  Charles,  Chebansc,  March  14,  1865,  Co. 

1862,  Co.  A.  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  11.  38th  Inf.,  6  mos.    Died  at  Montgomery.  .\Ia., 

22,    1865.  Sept.  2T,.  1865. 

P.artholic,  Edward,  Middleport,  July  24,  1862,  Pratton,   \\'illiam,   .\sh   Grove,   June   4.    iSoi. 

Co.    I.    20th    Inf..    8    mos.     Killed    in    battle    at  Co.  F.  23th  Inf. 

I'ort  Donelson,   i"eb.    13,   1862.  liorge,    .\rmenius  J.,   .\shknni,    Xnv.   7.    1801, 

r.urgess.  Thiimas.  Concord,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  Co.  C.  38th  Inf.     Discharged  June  17,  i8()2.  dis- 

.\.  761I1  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mu.stered  out  July  22.  1863.  ability. 

P>randenhurg.     James.     .Middleport.    Jnly     24,  Mlanchanl,  J.    P..   Ashkum.  Jrue    i.    i8(,i,   Co. 

1862.  Co.   1,  20th   Inf.,  23  mos.     Killed  at  Ray-  c    _,-t],   |,,f      Missinsj. 

mond.   Miss.,   Mav    12.   i86r  hit        1    \-      \   t  i           x-        ^      ^r      n 

„.     ,           ,     .  ,"  liradv,   Joseph  \  ..  .Ashkum,   Nov.  7,   1S61,  Co. 

Rigclow.  Jnsiah,    Iroquois.  July  24,   1862.  Co.  ^-    -sth  i„f      ^i.sing 

A.  7r,th  inf.,  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Julv  22,  1863.  ,",, ,      ,    „              i^,,,    ,  ,      ^.               „,      ,, 

i,-,.  1    ,1      w     \i-iii         ..    T   1         '     or      ,  ■'  halland,  Eugene,  L  Eraiile,   .\ov.  7.   iSoi,  Co. 

Iiird.   lulm  W  ..  .Middleport,  Tulv  24,  1862,  (,  ■>.  .          ,    ,    ,      '             ,,             ,            / 

T     ,  ,,    "1    .-                         r^•    1   •",'•,,    ,  '".  23th  Inf.,  ?  vrs.     Mu.stcrec    out  Sept.  1,  18O4, 

I.  20th    Int.,    13  mos.     Died  ni  hospital,    |ulv  3,  .->■-•>.                                          i                 -t 

iSr,2.                                                                     '          "  lieaver,    .Xdam.    Aliddlei)ort,    Sei)t.    2H.    1864, 

r.urgess.  Jacob,   Concord,    |ulv   24,    i8f)2.   Ox  ^'"-    ^"'    •^'''    '"'-    ^-'^    '""'■      'l>ansferred   tn    W 

A,  76th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Discharge.l  July  8,  1863.  '^-  ' ''     -^'"^t^''"^'''  ""l  '  '^-f-  '-'■   '^''S- 

r.eck.  William,  Middleport,    |ulv  24,  1862,  Co.  r.arnett,   Jonas,  .\shkum.    .Marcli   3.    1802.  Co. 

t,  20th  Inf..  4  yrs.     .Mustered  out  at  close  of  war.  '■'••  -S^'i  ^'if-     Transferred  to  Co.   II. 

iJarker,  Elijah,  Middleport.  July  24,  1862,  Co.  Barnes,   Charles   H„   Onarga,   Sei)t.   21.    i86r. 

A.  7f)th   Inf.,   17  mos.      Died  at  Vicksburg,  Dec.  Co.  C,  37th   Inf.      Discharged    .May  8.    1S02,  ili.s- 

2^1-    I'^^'M-                                                                ■  abilitv. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS.  (*)7 

I'.ariKtt.  Jolin.   Ashkuni.   March   5,    iS/'u.  (.".1.  r,.iiit;liti)ii.  Thomas  A..  Ashknni.  Jul>  2y.  i*>i. 

(i.  2:th  Iiii.     Transferred  to  Co.  H.  Cd.  I*',  421!  Inf..  20  mos.     Transferred  to  \'.  R. 

Itowin.  John.  .MiddleiKirt.  Se])t.  2S,   1N.4.  Co.  C..  April  6.   iW»4. 

C   51st    Inf..    10   MMs.      Miistirnl    .mt    jniu-    1').  I'mwen.  James  ('..  Mid<!leiK)rt,  Sept.  20.   1861, 

l*<^>.s;.  ('<>.  t  .  51st   Inf.       .Mustered  out   Sept.  25,   18*15. 

Menjaniiii.    Andrew,    .\slikum,   Auji.   2'>.    \^\\.  I'.akir.  Charles  W  ..  .Mi<ldlep<>rt.   Nov.  O.   iWii. 

Co.   (i.   J5tii    Inf..    i^   davs.      ni-sertod    Stiii.   S.  Co.  K.  I2tli  Inf.. '>  mos.     .Missing  .\])ril  17,  i8'>2. 

1861.  l!i>lio]).  Wallace.  Sheldon.  Sept.  20.  iWu.  Co. 

I'irin;,'er.  Jnhn.  .Middlepurt.  .>ept.  Ji>.  1N.4.  \^y).  {J,  51st  Inf.     l)ischar>,'ed  Dec.  2(i.  iS'^.  disaliiliiy. 

L".  5i?t  Inf..  3  mos.     Died  at  Nashville  of  wmumiI  I'.i>:).;am.   Leroy.    .Milford.   .\i»ril   4.    iX'>5.   Co. 

Dec.  13.  iW>4.  K.   43d    Inf..   g   mos.      Mustered   out    Nov.    30, 

llritton.  Khenezer.  .\shknni.  (  let.  30.  i.S/u.  Lo.  iKfi,. 

( i.  25th  Inf.      rransferre<l  to  (,0.  H.     I  )isi-liari;od  I'.amer.    Thomas.    .MiddlejHirt.    ."^ept.    20.    l8<'»!, 

Jan.  (».  i8<i5.  1        (",  51st  Inf..  4  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  25, 

P.liss.  John.   .Middlejiort.  <  »ct.  7.    i.S/14.  Lo.  t.  .  i.^sd^. 

51st  Inf..  13  mos.     Mustered  out  .^ept.  25.  iW»4.  Itijjj.;am.    .Mexamler,    Milford,    .\pril   4,    i8'>5, 

rirooks,  Joel  L..  .\shkum.  Oct.  30.   1861,  Co.  Co.  K.  43d  Inf..  9  mos.     Mustered  out  Nov.  30. 

(i.  25th    Inf..  27  mos.     Died  at   .Nashville.   Foh.  \9i\^. 

22.    iS'>4.  r.ailey.    Ivan    1...    Middleport.    ."Nept.    20.    iS/.i. 

r.rown.    William.    Miildleport.   ( )ct.    2~.    iS'14.  Co.      C.      51st      Inf.         Promoted      Lieutenant. 

Co.  C.  51st   Inf..   1   yr.     Mustcrerl  out  Sept.  25.  Mustered    out    Sept.    2^.     iS*!;.      Wounded    at 

i8^>5.  l-ranklin. 

IJlackwell.    ThiMuas.   Ashkum.    Jan.    2S.    1P62,  liryant.  Krancis  .M..  Mi<ldle])ort.  Dec.  i.  iS/ii. 

Co.  (i.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Co.  C.  51st  Inf..  4O  mos.     .Mustered  out  as  Cap- 

Ltryant,   Charles.    Middle|)ort.   Apr.    13.    iiS'>5.  lain  ."^ept.  25.   1805. 

Co.  C.  51st  Inf..  5  mos.     Mu.stercd  out  -Sept.  25.  Iturt.    I'.enjamin   .\..    .Milford.   .\ni:.    12.    iH(i2. 

i8^»5.  Co.    I".    ii3tli    Inf..  <>  mos.      Died   at   .^t.   Louis. 

liowen.   Jeremiah.    <  )narj;a.    March    18.    iS<)2,  Feb.  8.  iS«)3. 

Co.  C.  42d  Inf..  2-;  mos.     I^)St  one  leg  an<l  dis-  Bcvis.  John.   I'.elmont.  .Vup.   12.   i8f')2,  Co.  F. 

charged  June  I.  i8^>4.  113th   Inf.     Dischar>;ed   for  disability.     No  dale 

Maiky.    (ieor>.je    W'..    .Middlejiort.    .March    17,  ^iven. 

i8f>4,  Co.  C.  51st  Inf.      Transferred  to  \'.  R.  C.  Kri<I;,'es.  John  Ci..  Belmont.  Jan.  4.   i8<i4.  Co. 

I'eh.  8.  i8<>4.  1".  113th  Inf..  <>  mos.     Discharged  for  disabliiiy, 

ISurrounhs,  Isaac,  InM|Uois.  .\u^j.  24.  i8«ii.  L"o.  Sept.  2<>.   i8<j4. 

II.    42(1    Inf..    4    yrs.      Re-enlisted    as    veteran.  15ra<lrick.  Ilorter.   Middleport.   Nov.  28.   i8<)3. 

Mustered  out  with  rcKiment.  Co.  I".   113th   Inf..   18  nms.     Musteretl  out   May 

ISishopp.  Wallace.  .Sheldon.  Dec.  2^.  i8<)3,  Co.  2-;.  i8/)S. 

C'.  51st    Inf..    I    yr.     DischarRcd   Dec.   20.    18*14.  Ilrelsford.  Ca.ssius  .\l..  ( )narna.  t  )ct.   ig.   |8<>3. 

disability.  Co.  I".  113th  Inf..  18  mos.     Transferred  to  120th 

liyres.  .\yres.  IriMjUois.  .^ept.   15.   iS<ii.  (  •■    II  Illinois. 

42(1   Inf..  20  mos.     .Xpjiointed  Coriwral.  liarmr.  John,   .Middleport,  Jan.    15,   1864,  Co. 

I!ur>ress.  William.   .Middleport.  Sept  20.   i8(ii.  ]•".    113th    Inf..    18    tnos.      Traiisfered    to    120th 

Co.    C.    51st    Inf       \I.i.t.t..i    .„,!     ,.    ("Mrporal,  Illinois. 

.'^ept.  25.  i8*>5.  I'.arner.  Joseph.  Middleport,  Dec.  <j.  i8('(3.  C"o. 

liarrctt.  C^harles.  Chehanse.  .\u>i.  3.  18*11.  Co.  I'.    1  I3tli    Inf..    18   mos.      Transferred   to    i2<Mh 

D.  42(1  Inf..  141110$.     Discharged  ( )ct.  10.  i8<»2.  Illinois, 

for  disability.  I'.eschanl.   Thelis.    Middleimrt.   Jan.    15.    i8<»4. 

I'.urntraner.  (ieorRe  11. .  .Middleixirt.  Sept.  20,  Co.  F.  113th  Inf..  18  mos.     Transferred  to  120th 

18*11.    Co.    C.    51st     Inf.       Promoted    Sergeant.  Illinois. 

.Mustered  out  .Sept.  25.   1865.  P.eiuler.  Lyman,   Melmont.  Dec.    13.    18*13,  Co. 


698  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

F,    113th   Inf.,    lu  mos.     Died   in   Andcrsonvillc  Blakelv.  Frank.  Onarga,  Oct.  i,  1861,  Co.  M, 

Prison,  Oct.  10.  1864.  9th  Cav..  49  mos.    Mustered  out  as  veteran.  Oct. 

Bender.    Nathaniel    L..    :\liddleport.    Aug.    8,  31,   1865. 

1862,  Co.    1.    113th    Inf.,    10   mos.      Discharged  Brown.  Wilham  H.,  Onarga,  Sept.    10,   1861, 
May  15.  1863.  Co.  M,  9th  Cav.,  6  nius.     Discharged  ^larch  5, 

Baker,   WiUiam,   Middleport,   Aug.    n,    1862.  1862. 

Co.  I,  113th  Inf.    Returned  to  12th  Ilhnois  from  Burns,    Barney.   Onarga,    Sept.    10,    1861.   Co. 

which  he  had  deserted.  M,    9th    Cav.,    29    mos.      Died    of    wounds    at 

Black.  Alexander,  Middleport.  Aug.   11.   1862,  Memphis.  Feb.  12,  1864. 

Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  4  mos.    Died  at  St.  Louis.  Dec.  Barnes,  Anson  H.,  Onarga,  Aug.  1,  1862,  Co. 

20.  1862.  M.   9th   Cav..  33  mos.     Mustered   out   Oct.   31, 

B.arr.  Harvey.  Middle])ort,  Aug.  15.  1862.  Co.  1865. 

I.   113th  Inf..  5  mos.     Killed  at  Arkansas  Post.  Brewer,  Sanuiel  E.,  Onarga,  Aug.  1.  1862,  Co. 

Jan.  II.  1863.  .M.  gth   Cav..  35  mos.     Mustered  out  June   16, 

Blaw.    Thomas.    Middleport.    Aug.    14.    1862,  1865. 

Co. I.    113th    Inf..   34   mos.      Mustered  out   June  Brown.  Jacob  E.,  Onarga,  Aug.    i.   1862.  Co. 

20,   1865.  M,    9th    Cav..    21    mos.      Discharged    x\pril    21, 

Ihirns.   Thomas,    Middleport,   Aug.    14,    i8fi2,  1864,  disability. 

Co.    T.    113th   Inf..    II    mos.     Deserted   July    12.  Brelsford.  Horace  Al.,  Onarga.  Jan.   12,   1864, 

1863.  Co.  M.  9th  Cav..  17  mos.     Mustered  out  June  8, 
Black,  Quincy  .\.,  Middleport,  Dec.   11,  1863.  1865. 

Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.     Transferred  to  i2otli  Bills,  Charles  F.,  Onarga,  ^larch  5,  1864,  Co. 

Regiment.  M.  qth  Cav..  16  mos.    Mustered  out  July  8,  1865. 

Barnier,  Joseph,  Middleport,  .\pr.  i,  1865,  Co.  Bickerton,  Joseph,  ^Middleport,  Jan.    11.   1864, 

— .   113th   Inf.,  3   mos.     IMustered  out  June  20.  Co. — .9th  Cav.     Unassigned  recruit. 

1865.  Beedle,   Jonathan    M..    Beaver.   Aug.   <).    1862. 

Bookless,    William    J..    Middleport.    A|iril     i,  Co.  E,  76th  Inf..  9  mos.    Died  in  Memphis,  .\pril 

1865.  Co.  — ,  113th  Inf.     Rejected.  12.  1863. 

Beers,   John   W.,   ^liddleport,   ^May    14.    i8')4.  Brock,    Charles.    .\sh    (irove.    Aug.    15.    1862, 

Co.   B.   134111    Inf.,   5   niiis.     Mustered   out   Oct.  Co.  E,  76th  Inf..  3  mos.     Discharged  for  disabil- 

25,  1864.  ity  Nov.  25,   1862. 

Bigelow.   ClintDU.   Middleport,   May    14,    i8C)4,  Brock,   Silas,   .\sh   Grove,   .\ug.   8.    1862,   Co. 

Co.   B,    134111    Inf..   5   nms.      Mustered   nut    (  let.  E,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

25.  1864.  Barber.  Delorain  C,  Beaver,  Aug.  i,  1862,  Co. 

Boullette.  Francois,  Middleport,  Alay  14,  1864,  E,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     ^Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Co.   B,    134th    Inf.,   5   mos.     Mustered   out   Oct.  Black.   John,    Beaver,    Aug.    4.    1862.    Co.    E, 

25,  1864.  7r,th   Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mu.stcrcd  out  July   22.    1863. 

Bourassa,  James,    Middleport.   iNIay    14,    1804.  Barrett,  Jasper  N.,  Crabapple.  .\ug.   11.   1862, 

Co.   B,   134th    Inf.,   5   mos.     Mustered   out   Oct.  Co.  E.  76t!i  Inf..  3  yrs.     Absent  sick  on  mu.ster 

25.   1S64.  (lilt  of  regiment. 

Bidwell.  Charles  W".,  Chelianse.  Jan.  25,   18(15,  Bennett,  Joseph,  Concord,  .\ug.  4,  1862,  Co.  E, 

Co.  D.    150th   Inf.,   I    yr.      .Mu.-tered  dut  Jan,    1(1.  7()ih    Inf.,  3  yrs.      Mustered   out  July   22.    1865. 

18'')'').  lUirroughs.  .\bel.  Concord,  .\ug.  9,  1862,  Co, 

Benjamin,  George,  Clifton.  Jan.   11,   1865.  Co.  Iv  7f)th  Inf.,  2  yrs.    Died  at  \'icksburg  of  wounds 

D,  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  cut  Jan.  16,  1866.  July  22.  1864. 

Birflsley.    iM-ederick.   Onarga.    Sept.    10.    1861.  B.ratton,  Benjamin,  .\sh  Grove,  Aug.   1.   1862, 

Co.   .M.  9tli   Cav..  42  mos.     Mustered  out   Feli.  Co.    F..   7fit]i    Inf..    10  mos.      Died   at    l.;igrangc. 

28.   1865.  Tenn..   May    iS.    1863. 

Ilarrick.   (ieorge   H..  Onarga,   Sept.    to,    i8r)i,  lltlt.   Joel.    Ash   Gnne.   Aug.   (<.    iSdj.   Co.    E, 

Cu.    M,  9th   Cav..  45   mos.      Mustered   out   June  7f)th    Inf.,   3  >  rs.      Mustered   out    July   22.    1865. 

'I.  1865,  prisoner  of  war.  as  Corporal. 


IRi'ULuii  LUUNTV.  ILLINOIS. 


0<>; 


IJcst,  Jiiliii  II..  Crabjipplf,  Dec.  17.  iWij.  Co. 
K.  -'>th  Inf.,  S  nios.  Died  at  Morj;anzia,  Ln., 
Auii.   III.   iS'14. 

r.ratton,  lllijali,  Ash  (irnvi-.  .\\m.  1.  i8<ij.  I.11. 
K.  7(>lh  Int.,  2  NTS.  Killctl.  Jackvin,  .Mi.ss..  Inly 
7.   iS«4. 

Honnell,  William  R..  Miikllcix>rt.  .\np.  13, 
itVu,  Co.  C.  SSth  Inf..  (>  nios.  l)iscliar^;c(l  .March 
2.  iiS<>3.  (li.sal)ility  ;  rank.  Scrj^c-ant. 

I'.nrr  Ilirani.  I'lUcklcy,  .\np.  10.  iS<»2,  Co.  C. 
SSth   Inf..  34  niKS.     Mustincl  onl  Jnnc  i),  iW>5. 

linmctt.  F.Inn  C.  .\shknni.  .\n^.  10.  iS<ij. 
Co.  C.  88th  Inf..  1  yr.  Died  at  .Mnrfrif.slxmi. 
Ti-nn.,  .\uii.  3.  iS<\v 

r.nnkir.  ( )livi'r.  Clifton.  Auj,'.  lO.  iWu.  Co. 
n.  8«/h  Inf.  Captnrcd  at  battk-  of  Miirfrccs- 
boro. 

Hrown.  Lncian  15..  Shcldnn,  Oct.  1.  iS<)j. 
Snrgeon,  113th  Inf..  33  inos.  Mustered  ont  June 
JO.    i8<')5. 

Ikcket.  .\ndn.\v  W..  .Martinton.  (  )ct.  i.  i8<»j, 
Co.  H.  113th  Inf..  T^^  man.  MnstcrctI  out  June  20. 
1865.  as  Captain. 

Mrandenburj;,  Henry.  Middleiwrt.  .\uii.  18. 
1862,  Co.  B,  113th  Inf..  10  inos.  Died  at  X'icks- 
bnrfj.  June  18.  i8*>3. 

Buck.  N'oah.  .Middle()ort.  .\u},'.  i).  i8<)2.  Co. 
I!.  113th  Inf..  13  nios.  Died  at  Corinth.  .Miss.. 
Sept.    17.   i8<>3. 

I'.icklc.  John  C,  .\shkum.  -Xu^.  *).  i8<v.',  (\>. 
Ii.  113th  Inf..  8  mos.  Discharged  .\pril  22. 
18/^13.  disability. 

Uartholoinew,  J<ihn.  .Martinton.  .\u^.  w.  i8<>2. 
Co.  I'..  113th  Inf..  13  mos.    Died  at  Corinth,  .Sept. 

5.    '8"3- 

r.rooks.  Edward  M.,  (Jnarjja.  .\u^.  6,  18^)2,  Co. 
I).  1 13th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  as  Serjeant 
June  20.  1863. 

r.riden.  Jcihn  .M..  ( Inar^a,  July  30.  18/(2,  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf..  7  mos.  Died  at  Del  Key.  .March 
5.   i8<>3.     Home  on  sick  leave. 

r.eers,  ( leor^e  W..  Onar^a,  .Vu^.  7.  i8<>2,  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf..  6  mos.  Discharged  !*"eb.  20,  iW>3, 
disability. 

hrown.  .'^amuel.  Onarjia.  .\uj;.  7,  i8<i2.  Co.  D. 
113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Muslereil  otit  Jnly  1.  i8<»5. 
prisoner  of  war. 

Mishop,  CieorKC,  .\sh  drove,  .\uj;.  12.  i8r»2,  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20, 
iSTis. 


Itoweii,  John  l'"„  IJnarna,  Jan.  14.  18^14,  Lo. 
I).  Ii3tli  Inf.,  18  mos.  Transferred  to  i2i)th 
Illinois. 

r.ridnes,  William  J..  Melnuml,  .Vufj.  12,  i8<)2. 
C'li.  I',  n.Vb  Inf.,  (1  n»i>s.  kesinne<l  as  Captain 
Feb.   13.   i8<>3. 

Main.  William.  Middle|x>rt,  .Xu^.  12,  i8f)2.  Co. 
I",  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  20, 
|8<>5.  as  isl  Lieutenant. 

ISolin,  William.  .MiddUixirt.  .\n>,'.  12.  i8«i2,  Co. 
I'.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  20. 
as  .Serjjeant. 

liarden,  Calvin.  .Middleport,  -Xufj.  u.  1862,  Co. 
I",  ii3tli  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustere<l  out  June  20. 
i8'>5.  as  (."orporal. 

I'arden.  (jeorjje,  Middleport.  Anv.-  i-.  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf..  5  mos.  Killed  at  .Arkansas 
I'ost,  Jan.  1 1,  1863. 

Bowman.  Isaac  M.,  Middlc|>ort.  Aug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  I".  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  Jmie 
20.   18(15. 

r.ell.  John.  .Middleixirt.  .\u^i.  12.  i8<)2.  Co.  I". 
113th  Inf..  5  mos.  Dischargetl  Jan.  10.  18/13. 
di>al)ility. 

Bourassa.  James,  Middleport.  .\\\n.  12.  i8ri2. 
Co.  I'".  113th  Inf..  4  mos.  Discharjjed  Dec.  25. 
i8/'>2.  disability. 

Itelair,  I'rank.  Beaver.  .\up.  12.  i8/t2.  Co.  I*", 
113th  Inf..  x^  """*•     Mustered  out  .May  25.  18/15. 

I'.arstow.  Ilirani  F..  Loda.  Sept.  15.  i8/)i.  Co. 
C.  loth  Cav.,  16  mos.  Left  service  April  20. 
18^.3. 

Baker.  Hiram.  L«Hla.  .'^ept.  15.  18/11.  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav.,  51  mos.     Ke-enlisted  as  veteran. 

I'.r.idlex.  (iillK-rt  M..  l.oihi.  Sept.  15.  |8/>I.  Co. 
C.   lolh  Cav.     Discharj^ed  for  disability. 

Burns.  Nathan.  Ixnla.  Sept.  15.  iW)i.  Co.  C, 
loth  t'av.  Di.scharjjed  for  promotion  in  ist  .\rkan- 
sas  Infantry. 

Itenway.  Na|)oleon.  Uxla.  .Sept.  15.  i8/»i.  Co. 
C.    loth  t'av.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran.      No  date. 

Baker.  C;irlos,  Lo<l;i  Sept.  15.  18/11.  Co.  C. 
loth  Cav 

Bousall.  \\  illiam  W..  L4Hla,  ."^ept.  15.  i8(>i.  Co. 
C,  loth  v.'av.     Discharged  for  disability.     .No  date. 

Bitlcney,  I^wis.  Uxla.  Se|»t.  15,  iW>i.  Co. 
C.  loth  Cav.     Dischar^:ed  for  disability.    No  date. 

Brown,  .\nderson,  L<Kla.  .Sept.  15.  i8/>i.  l"o. 
C.  lolh  Cav.,  22  moii.  Discharged  for  disability. 
July  2,^.  i8/'i3. 


700  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

Ilailev.    Hcnjamiii.    Loda.    Dec.    28.    1861.   Co.  Co.  E.  jOtli  Inf..  9  inos.     Died  at  Memphis.  May 

C,  loth  Cav.     Xo  data.  4,    1863. 

Beach.  Julius.  Loda.  Jan.  it).  1864,  Co.  C.  loth  Canada.  James.  Middleport.  Dec.  30.  1864,  Co. 

Cav..    23    mos.      Mustered    (nit    Nov.    22.    1865.  I.  20th  Inf..  6  mos.     Xo  data. 

veteran.  Clark,    llvlan.    I'.eaver.   Aug.  8.    1862.   Co.   E, 

Burtner,  John  W.,  Luda.  Jan.  19.  1864.  Co.  C'.  ^Oth  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  as  1st  Sergeant, 

lOth  Cav..  2^  mos.     Mustered  out  Xov.  22.  ii>(>^.  July   22.   1865. 

veteran.  Chalfant.  Jolm.   Milford,  April   22.   1861.   Co. 

Bross,  John,  Loda.  Jan.  12.   1864,  Co.  C,  loth  L  20th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Xo  data. 

Cav..    2^    mos.      Mustered    out    Xov.    22.    1865,  Childs.  Henry.  Ash  Grove,  .\u.i;.   1,   1862,  Co. 

veteran.  K.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

liartholomew.  I'eter.  Danfnrth.  Xov.  10.  i8f>i.  Clemans.  William.  Milford.  Jan.  22.  1863.  Co. 

Co.  E,   nth  Cav..  47  mos.     Mustered  out  SLpl.  I,  20th  Inf..  2  yrs.     No.  data. 

30.  1865,  veteran.  Clements.  Noble.  Concord.  Aug-.  12,  1862.  Co. 

I'.erland,  Joseph.  L'Erable.  Dec.    19.   iSdi.  Cn.  F,  113th  InC,  9  mos.    Discharged  May  20.  1863, 

F,    12th  Cav.     No  record.  disability. 

i'.rault,  Timothy,  L'Erable,  Dec.   19.   i8fii.  Co.  Clark.  James  M.,  t  )nnrga.  June  4.    1861.  Co. 

E,  i2ih  Cav..  2/  mos.     Died  at  St.  Louis.  March  ]•_  25th  Inf..  i  yr.     Died  at  Clear  Creek.  Tenn., 
26,  1864.  June  2;^.  1862. 

I'.riggs.   Eli    1'..   Loda.   I'eb.    13.    1862.   Co.   L.  Coberly.    James.    Middleport,    Aug.    12.    i8()2. 

2(1  .Art'ly..  42  mos.     Clustered  out  Aug.  9,  1865.  Co.  F.  113th  Inf..  7  mos.     Discharged  March  4. 

Hurt,  Morris  L..  Loda,  Feb.  20,  1862,  Co.  L.  1863.  disability. 

2(1  -Vrt'lv..  41  mos.     Mustered  out  -Aug.  (;.  1865.  Campbell,  John.  ( )narga.  June  4.  1861,  Co.  F. 

liurkc.    James,    Loda,    I*"eb.    25,    1862,    Co.    L.  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  1864.  as 

2(1  .\rt'ly..  4  mos.     Discharged  June  25.  1862.  Sergeant. 

Coberly,  James,  Middleport,  Aug.  2.  1862.  Co.  Clem.    Peter,    Effner,    .\ug.    12.    1862,    Co.    F. 

F.  113th  Inf..  7  mos.     Discharged  for  disability.  113th   Inf.      Mustered   out  June   20.    1865. 
Re-enlisted  in  Co.   \'>.   134th   Inf.     Mustered  out  Canadv,    Solomon.    Martinton,    June    4,    1861. 
Oct.  25,.  1864.  Co.  I'",  25th  Inf..  31;  mos.     .Mustered  out  Sej)!.  5, 

Coberly,  James,  .Middleport.  May  24,  i8()4,  Co.  1864. 

r..   134th  Inf..  5  mos.     Died  Oct.  20,   1889.  Crabb.  Jarrett.  .Middleport.  .\ug.  12.  1862,  Co. 

Canady,  Solomcin  !■'..  .Midillepoit.  June  4.  iSfn.  !•".    ti3th    Inf.,    7    mos.      Discharged    March    if). 

Co.  F,  25th  Inf.  1863. 

Clemens,  Samuel.  Concord,  .\ug.  4,   18(12,  Cn.  Carson.  Thomas   !'■.,   Ashkuui,   Au.g.    18.   i8()i. 

v..   jfAh    Inf.,  6  mos.      Died  at   .Moscow.   Tenn..  Co.  (i.  25th   Inf.,  3  yrs.      .Mustered  out  Sept.  5, 

l'"eb.  2.   1863.  1864, 

Claire,   Hypolite.  I-"el).   29.    18^)4.   Co.    I-'.   3i)th  L'aviit,   W  illiam.   Helincmt.  Dec.    13,    1863.  Co. 

Inf.,  22  mos.  I'.   M3tli   Inf.     Xo  data. 

Cleaver.  Joseph   W,,   Milford,   Aug.   12,    1862.  Clark.  ( ieorge  A..  .Sheldon,  Sej^t.  28,  1 861,  Co. 

Co.   E,  76th   Inf..    13  mos.      Died   at  Cairo.    111..  F,  3<)th  Inf.,  51  mos.    Mustered  out  Dec.  6,  1865. 

Sc])t.  3.  1863.  as  Sergeant. 

Cadore.  Leander.    .Middkpnn.    Xnv.  26,    i8fii,  Canady.  Thomas  .A.,   Helmont,  Xov.  28,  1863, 

Co.  E,  1st  .Art'ly..   11  mos.  Co.  1".  113th  Inf..  18  mos.    Transferred  to  120th 

Cleaver.   Clinton.    Milford.    Aug.   (;.    1862,   Co.  Illinois. 

E,  76111  Inf..  17  mos.     Died  at  'I'.illabatchie.  La..  Campbell.  Jacob   H..    .Milford,  .Aug.   2~,.    1861. 

Jan.   I.   1863.  Co.  ('..  42(1  Inf.,  9  mos.    Discharged  May  7,  1862. 

Comcgys,    .Samuel    T,,    .Middleport,    Jmu'     13,  disal)ility. 

1861.   Co.   I.   2()tli    Inf.,  0   mos.      Died   at    Cairo.  Cutler,  (leorge.  Chebanse.  .Aug.   12,   1862,  Co. 

Nov.  21.  1861,  11,1  I  ^th  Inf..  3  yrs.    Transferred  to  \".  R.  Corps, 

Caldwell.    Is.iac    .M.,   C"oncord,   ,\u.g.    11.    1862,  ( 'ct.  12.  1863. 


IRt)QU01S  COUNTY.  ILLINUIS.  701 

Carltiiii,  Lharlis.   I.tnla.  Jan.    1.   iS«i4.  i,.  (,.  C  .  571I1  Inf.,  5'"-      I">i. -1  .it  I'l.'n.  .Ii    k\      l"cb., 

4.'i|    Inf.,    J    \r>.      I'n»ni<)tfil    Scrncant    Major.  iWii. 

Mnstcnd  mil  IVc.  U>.  i8(>5.  Casi-.  .Mlnrt.  t  li».li.in»c.   .\..v.  7.   i.S<»i.  1. 1>.  C 

t'i>l)b.    IIiiclI    M..   Mi«l(ilc|Kjrt,   .\nn.    id.    iS<ij.  38111  Inf.     Dcscrtcil  wliili-  at  Camp  Douglas. 

C«i.  1.  ii3tli  Inf..  7  mi)!;.     iJi.scharniMl  .Mart-h  7.  L'haiiin.  Cliark-s  «i..  Clifion,  Nov.  7.  i8<>i.  Co. 

1^)3.  (  ,  5«tli    Inf..   5  mos.     Dicil   .Xpril    13.    1W12.  of 

Clianiilcr.  William.  .\sli  timvc.  (let.   iS.  iS<i|  ^^,,1n.I^  ri-oi-ivcil  at  Shnoli. 

Co.  K.  iJth  Inf..  9  mos.     Mnsti-n-d  out  July  r  <k.  Mi-lvin  U..  Chchansc.  I'ch.  J~.  iW»5.  Co. 

18(15.  II.     581I1     Inf..     I     \r.       I'romotctl     Lieutenant. 

Courtrisilit.    jovcpli    I'...    .\liililU|)<irt.    Aw^i.    <<.  Mn>tiri-tl  out  .March  j.  i8*><». 

i8<)J.  Co.  1.  I  i^tli  Inf..  7  mos.    I)i.>icliarj;i«l  Manh  ConnviT.    William    .*^..    Chcliansc.    .March    13. 

7.  18/13.  18*15.  Co.  11.58111  Inf..  1  \r.    .Mustered  out  March 

Carlson.  Miles  \  ..  .\shkum.  leh.  _'8.  18(15.  Co.  2.   i8</<. 

K.  431I   Inf..  48  tiays.     Mustered  out   .\pril   16.  Comerford.     Michael.    Chel»anse.     March     14, 

iW>5.  18^.5.  Co.  n.  58th  Inf..  6  mos.     Died  at  Mont- 

Cari)enter.  John.    .Middleport.   .\un.    15.    i8»ij.  >jonier>.  .\Ia..  Sept.  d,  i8^>5. 

Co.   I.   113th   Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  Chamlx-rs.    James    K..    Middleport.    July    24. 

20,  18*15.  18*12.  Co.  A.  7fith  Inf..  34  mos.    Uischarned  May 

Carr.  William.  .Middleport.  Sept.  20.  i8<ii.  Cm.  21.  |8*»5. 

C.   51st    Inf..  4*1  mos.      Mustered   out   June   2'i.  Crozier.   William.    .Midille|)ort.  Jnl\    24.    1W12. 

i8*>3.  as  Corporal.  I  o.  A.  7*1111  Inf..  3  mos.    Dii-il  at  Columbus.  Ky.. 

Canaila.  Horace  I'..  .Mid<lle|)ort.  .Sept.  2^).  i8fii.  Oct.  8.  18(12. 

Co.  C.  51st   Inf..  8  mos.     Died  at   Famiinpton.  Clark,    .\hraham.    Middleport.   July    24.    18*12. 

Mi.ss..   May  28.   18*12.  i".   A.  ,~'ilh   Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22. 

Camp.    Frederick    W ..    .Middleport.    (  )ct.    24.  18(15. 

1861,  Co.  C.  51st  Inf.     .\'o  data.  Col.son.   Mln-nezer  W  ..   Irocpiois.  l-"el).  2.   18(14. 

Canada.   Mathew.   Mitldleixirt.   Nov.    15.   i8(ii.  Co.  .\.  7'itli  Inf..  3  yr.-.     Transferred  to  \'.  R.  C. 

Co.  C.  51st  Inf.,  45  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  *•.  Nov.  8,  18(13. 

1865.  Cox.    .\iidre\v    J..    .Middle|>ort.   Jan.    12.    18(14. 

Chamberlain.  .\u>;ust  .\..  .Midilleport.  Nov.  20.  Co.  .\.  7(ith  Inf..  2  yrs.    Transferred  to  37th  Illi- 

l8r>i.  Co.  C,  51st  Inf..  7  mos.     nie<l  at  Farminj;-  nois.  July   i«>.   18(15. 

ton.  Miss..  June  24.  18(^12.  (.'ourtrijjht.    Isaac    I)..    Middle|)ort.    .\i\)X.    14, 

Curry.    William.    .Middleport.   .Se]>t.    20.    i8(ii.  i8Ci»,  Co.  I.  7rith  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July 

C<J.  C.  51st    Inf..  «)  mos.      Died  at    l-'armiiiKton.  22.  18(15. 

Miss..  May  28.   1862.  Carter,  .\iidre\v  I...  .\.sh  (irove,  July  22.  18*12. 

Crawford.  Robert  I"..  Mid<lleport.  (  let.  2.  i8(^>i.  Co.   K.  7(>ih   Inf..  3  yrs.     rrtmioted  Lieutenant. 

Co.  C.  51st  Inf.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran.  .Mustered  out  July  22.  l8(^>5. 

Crow.  James.   Midilleixirt.  Oct.   10.   18*11.  Co.  Claw.son.  Jonathan.  .\sh  (Irove.  .\uj;.  5.  18(12. 

C.  51st  Inf..  13  mos.     Discharneil  Sept.  27,  18(12.  Co.    K.   7(>th    Inf..   4   mos.      Died   at    I-ajjranne. 

disability.  Tenn..   Dec.  4.   i8('i2. 

Carl.  Henry.  Middle|Kirt.  .March  17.  18(14.  Co.  Clay.  Henry.  L<Mla.  .\uj;.  1.  18(^12.  Co.  K.  7(ith 

C.  51st    Inf..    18  mos.      Mustereil   out   Sejrt.  25.  Inf..  25  da\s.     Missing  .\un.  2^1.  18^12. 

18(15.  Clark.  Calvin   R..  .\sh  (irove.  .Xuj;.    i.    18*12. 

Carl.  tJoliah.  Middleport.  .March  17.  18^14,  Co.  Co.  K.  76th  Int..  3  yrs.     Mn-ilered  <iut  Julv  22. 

C".   51st    Inf..    14  mos.      Mustered   out    May    18.  18(15. 

18^15.  '  vrraiis.   William.   Mid<llepi>ii.   (  lu.    u.    i.-m.), 

Connell,   CicorKe.    .Middle|xirt.    Fel).    27.    18*..  i\.  7*iili  Inf.  Rejected. 

Co.   t".   51st    Inf..   4    mos.      Killed    at    Kenesa«  Crawford.  RoU-rt  < )..  .\shkum.  .\ui;.  *i.   18^^12. 

Mountain.  June  27.  18(14.  Co.  C'.  88tli   Inf..  34   nms.      Mustered  out   Jtiiu 

Clark.   William.  Onar^a.   .Sept.   24.    i8^)i.  Co.  <>.   18(15.  ist  Lieutenant. 


702 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Caswell.  Edwin  F.,  Clifton,  Aiitj.  lo,  1862,  Co. 
C,  88th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  9, 
1865. 

Crawford,  Isaac,  Ashkum.  Aug.  10,  1862,  Co. 

C,  88th  Inf.,  8  mos.     Missing  May,   1863. 
Caswell.    Arthur    D..    Clifton.    July    30,    1862. 

Co.  C.  88th  Inf.,  34  mos.  ^Mustered  nut  June  9, 
1865. 

Correll.  Samuel  S.,  Belmont,  .\ug.  11.  1862, 
Co.  C,  88th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Discharged  March  3, 
1863.     ^^'ounded  at  Perry ville,  Ky. 

Cook,  Wilson,  Onarga,  Aug.  14,  1862.  Co.  D, 
113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20.  1865, 
as  Corporal. 

Curtis,  Alonzo  W..  Onarga,  Aug.  14.  1862. 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  6  mos.  Died  at  Young"s  Point, 
La.,  Feb.  10,  1863. 

Chandler,  Joseph  W.,  Onarga.  Aug.  14,  1862, 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  35  mos.  Mustered  out  July  i. 
1865,  prisoner  of  war. 

Conklin,  Benjamin  F.,  Onarga,  Aug.  20,  1862, 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  3  wrs.  Transferred  to  Vet. 
Reserve  Corps. 

Courtright,  Joseph,  Middleport,  Oct.  24,  1863, 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  19  mos.  Mustered  out  May 
28,  1865. 

Crowder,  Wiley,  Middleport,  Aug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf.,  13  mos.  Discharged  Sept.  3, 
1863.  disability. 

Cottrell,  John,  Middleport,  Aug.  12.  1862.  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20. 
1865. 

Campbell,  William  H.,  Middleport,  Jan.  30, 
1865,  Co.  D,  150th  Inf..  I  vr.  Mustered  nut  Jan. 
16,   1866. 

Cadore,  Joscjjh,  Middleport,  Jan.  30,  1865,  Co. 

D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 
Cameron.  Thomas,   Middleport,   Feb.  8,    1865, 

Co.  D,  150th  Inf.,  I  vr.  .Mustered  out  [an.  16, 
1865. 

Council,  Hiram  T.,  Milford.  Jan.  13.  i8C)5,  C'<i. 
D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Crowder,  Kilburn.  .Milfor<l.  Jan.  21.  1865,  Co. 
I).  150th  Inf..  1  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Crowder.  Joseph,  Milford,  Jan.  21.  1865,  Co. 
n.  i5otli   Inf..   I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   16,  1866. 

Crocket.  .Mien  M..  .Miildle])(irt,  I'eh.  6.  1865, 
Co.  D,  150th  Inf..  1  vr.  .Mustered  out  |an.  16, 
1866. 


Case,  Levi,  ^liddleport,  Jan.  2^.  1865,  Co.  D, 
150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Cook,  David  B.,  Oilman,  Jan.  30,  1865,  Co. 
D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Cook,  Asa  P.,  Onarga.  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 
;\I.  9th  Cav.,  49  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31, 
i8f)5,  as   1st  Lieutenant. 

Clark,  Daniel  P.,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  49  mos.  ^ilustered  out  Oct.  31, 
1865,  as  Corporal,  veteran. 

Chenewoth,  Riley,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 
;\I,  9th  Cav..  6  mos.  Died  at  Reeve's  Station, 
Mo.,  March  22.  1862. 

Coffin,  John  W.,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav..  46  mos.  Mustered  out  July  8,  1865, 
veteran. 

Cook,  Asa  P.,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co.  M, 
9th  Cav.,  49  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31.  1865, 
veteran. 

Cast.  Ephraim,  C)narga,  Nov.  i,  1861,  Co.  M, 
9th  Cav.,  I  mo.    Rejected  Dec.  8,  1861. 

Craig,  John,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co.  M, 
9th  Cav.,  41)  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31.  1865, 
veteran. 

Crow,  Thomas  N.,  Onarga,  .\ug.  i.  1862,  Co. 
M.  9th  Cav.,  35  mos.  Mustered  out  June  16, 
1865. 

Crawford,  George  B..  Onarga,  Aug.  i,  1862, 
Co.  M,  9th  Cav.,  39  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct. 
31.  1865,  as  hospital  steward. 

Cooper,  George  H..  Onarga,  Aug.  i,  1862.  Co. 
M.  9th  Cav.,  2  yrs.  Killed  at  Oxford,  Miss., 
Aug.   13.  1864. 

Crinunins.  David,  Onarga,  March  26,  1864, 
Co.  .M,  ()th  Cav..  19  mos.  Mustered  out  (let. 
31,  1865. 

Caswell.  Charles  I).,  (  )narga.  ( k't.  1,  1862,  Co. 
— .  9th  Cav.     I'nassigned  recruit. 

Cassells.  Lowrey.  ( )narga,  Sept.  15.  1861,  Co. 
C,  10th  Cav.,  50  mos.  Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
Mustered  out   Nov.  22.  1865. 

Chidsey,  Daniel.  Onarga,  Se])t.  15,  1861,  Co. 
C.  loth  L'av.,  ^^j  mos.  Died  at  Memphis.  ( )ct.  15. 
1864. 

Clark,  Robert  I'...  Onarga,  Sept.  15,  uSC)!.  Co. 
C.  lotli  Cav.,  50  mos.  Veteran.  Mustered  out 
Nov.  22.   1 865. 

C'annon.  William.  (  )narga.  .Sept.  15,  i8()i.  Co. 
C,   loth  Cav. 


IKoyUOIS  COUNTV.  ILLINOIS. 


7^i 


Calligliati,  Jolin,  Oiiarjja,  Sept.  15,  i8<ji,  In. 
C,  loth  Lav. 

CIiiit;liaii,  (Ictirtjc,  ( )narKa,  .Sipi.  15.  iS<)i,  Co. 

C,  loth  Cav.,  yj  iiiKS.     Mustered  out   Dec.  30. 
1804. 

Cnuinin;liani,  lieorgc  1'..  Midilk]H>rt.  Jan.  19, 

1863,  Co.  1),  isi  .\rl'l>.,  31  luos.     .Mustered  out 
July  28,  i8<>5,  Captain. 

Crow,  Williani,  .\IiddleiH>rt,  Dec.  .'4,  1WJ3.  Co. 

D.  1st  .\rl'ly.,  20  nios.     .Mustered  out  July  28. 
i8<'»5. 

Cavitt.  William  R..  .Middli|Mirt,  .\u^;.  13.  iS<)2. 
Co.  D,  ii3tli  Int.  Died  in  .\ndersonville  Pri.son. 
.\up.  J4.   1804. 

Clark.  Kzekiel  D..  Middleport,  .\up.  11.  i8<j2. 
Co.  I,  1131I1  Inf.,  II)  nios.  Discliarged  .March 
15.    18(14. 

Cobb,  .Mfrcd,  Middleport,  Aug.  15,  i8<>2,  Co. 
1,  113th  Inf.,  7  mos.    Discharged  .March  7.  18(13. 

Coverdale,  William  S.,  Middleport.  .\uv,'.  8. 
iW)2.  Co.  I.  113th  Inf.  l)i sella ri:vil  at  Cain)! 
Ikitler.    Xo  date. 

Carpenter,  Abraham,  Middki)ort,  An;^.  7,  iS<)_'. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mii>terrd  out  Iiuk' 
20.  i»)4. 

Clark.  ( )scar,  Middlepori,  .\\\^.  9,  i.V).-,  *  •>. 
I.  113th  Inf.     Di.scharKcd  at  St.  Louis.     Xo  date. 

Clark,  William.  .Middleport,  .Vufj.  11,  i8<)2, 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf..  1;  mos.  Discharjjed  May  15. 
1863. 

Chadwick,  .Monzo  D.,  .Middleport,  .\ufj.  13. 
1862,  Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mu.stered  out 
June  20,  1865. 

Carpenter,  Geor^je,  .Middleport.  .\ug.  7,  i8()j. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .Musteretl  out  June 
20,  1805. 

Carpjcnter,  Friend  J..  .\Iiddle|)ort,  .\uK.  15, 
1862,  Co.  I.  Ii3lh  Inf.  Discharjjed  at  Memphis. 
.Xo  date. 

Carjxnter.  Thomas,  .\Iiddle|)ort.  Auj;.  8,  i8<>2, 
Co.  I.  1 13th  Inf.,  4  mos.  Died  at  .Memphis.  Dec. 
15.  1862. 

(.'(Mik.  David  I!.,  tiilnwn,  .May  14,  i8<>4.  i  .  . 
Ii.    134th    Inf..   5    mos.      Mustered   <«it   Oct.    25. 

1864.  as   1st  Sergeant. 

Callahan.  William  K..  .Milford,  .Max  1  j,  is>,^. 
Co.  15,  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.  .Musten-d  out  <  >ct.  .'5. 
18(14,  as  C'orporal. 

Conoway,  .'\doIphus,  Ash  Grove,  May  14,  1864. 
41 


Co.  1!.  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.  .Mustered  out  « )ct. 
25.  i8(>4. 

Carroll.  Richard,  Miildlejiort,  Jan.  7,  18(15,  *-"• 
D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  i86(i. 
as  2d  Lieutenant. 

Collett,  John  15.,  Clifton.  Jan.  7,  1865.  Co.  D. 
150th   Inf..   I   yr.     Mu.steri-d  out  Jan.   i(>,    18(1(1. 

Chandler,  Isaac.  Milford,  -Sept.  2(j.  i8(j4,  Co. 
D.   1st  .\rt"ly.     Xo  other  data. 

Cojip,  Uriah,  Jr.,  Loda.  Jan.  2^,  1862.  Co.  L. 
2d  .\rt"ly. 

Cresley.  Henry.  Loda,  Jan.  10,  1863,  Co.  L, 
2(1  .\rlly.,  31  mos.     Discharjied  .\up.  9.  1865. 

ClilTord,  William,  .\sh  Grove.  Di-c.  3,  1863,  Co. 
L,  2d  .\rt'ly.,  21  mos.    Discharged  .\ug.  9,  1865. 

C'aldwell.  James,  Clifton,  Jan.  1.  1862,  Co.  E, 
35th  Inf.,  Jj  mos.    Missing  Xov.  7,  1863. 

Darrough,  John  S.,  Middleport.  .\ug.  12,  iS(t2, 
Co.  F.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Congressional  medal 
awarded  for  bravery. 

Dawson,  l^-wis  S.,  Milford,  Jan.  20,  1865,  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  i6,  186C. 

Dewey,  John,  Middle|)ort,  .\ug.  23,  1862,  Co. 
I),  104th  Inf..  1  yr.  Discharge*!  for  disability. 
Died  in   1885. 

Denning,  William,  Onar:;.i.  \  i\.  -n,  iN.i.  *  i. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  Dec.  10,  18(14. 

Davis,  .\sahel  S..  .Middleixirt.  May  24.  i8(ii. 
Co.  I,  i3lh  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Xo  data. 

Dillon,  Xewton,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861.  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  38  mos.  Died  at  Columbia,  Tenn.. 
of  wounds.   Xov.  24.   i8(>4.     N'eteran. 

Dawson.  Mahlon  M.,  Middleport,  Jan.  2,  18(14. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  16  mos.    Died  .April  12.  1903. 

Daniels.  William,  Onarga.  F'eb.  i.  1862,  Co. 
M,  <;th  Cav..  1  mo.  Died  at  St.  Louis,  March  i. 
i8r.2. 

Duffieltl.  James,  .\IuldU-port,  jimc  13.  iS"i. 
Co.  I,  2olh  Inf.     Xo  returns. 

Dunn.  I5ernard.  Onarga,  Oct.  1,  1862,  Co.  .M, 
<>th  Cav.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31.  i8()5,  as 
Sergeant. 

Dwyer,  Patrick.  Middle|K)rt,  June  13,  1861, 
Co.  I.  2otli  Inf.     .Vo  data. 

Dopps.  John,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C,  loth 
I'av.     Discharged  for  dis;ibility.    Xo  date. 

Davis,  William  J..  .Milfonl.  April  22.  i8()i.  Co. 
I.  20lh  Inf.,  22  mos.     Died  .March  10.  1863. 

Dunn,  John,  Loda,  Jan.  3.  1864,  Co.  C.  10th 
("av.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  22.  1865. 


704 


AST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


Dalton.  Kobtrt   11..  Ash  Cirove.  June  4.   18O1.  A,  71st  Inf..  3  nios.     .Mustered  out  V)ct.  2y.  1862. 

Co.  F,  25th  Int..  2  \TS.    Discharged  .April  2.  1863.  Daw.son.  William  .M..  Crabapple.  Aug.  9,  1862. 

Deneese,  Thomas,  Middle])ort.  .\i;irch  5.   1864.  Co.  E.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22. 

Co.  D.   1st  .\rt'ly.  1865.  wounded. 

Dunn,  Giles,  Ash  Grove,  June  4.  1861,  Co.  F.  Dawson,  Anderson.  Crabapple.  Dec.   17.    i8'>3. 

25th  Inf.,  30  mos.     Cor])nral.     Killetl  at  .Missinn  Co.    E,   76th    Inf..    i    mo.      Discharged   Jan.    12. 

Ridge,  Nov.  25,  1863.  1864,  disability. 

Durand.  Octave.  L'Erable,  Aug.   14,  1862.  Co.  Davis,  Joseph,  Ash  (Irove.  Aug.  22.  i8C)2,  Co. 

E.  89th  Inf.     Mustered  out  June  10,  1865.  K.  7fitli  Inf.,  30  mos.    Discharged  Feb.  24.  1865. 

Davis,    Stephen.    ?iIiddleport,    March    1.    1862.  as  Captain. 

Co.  C.  42d  Inf.,  19  mos.     Killed  at  Chickamauga.  Duke.  William  T..  Ash  Grove.  Aug.   i.    1862. 

Sept.  20,  1863.  Co.   K.  76tii   Int..  3  yrs.     .\bsent  at  rnusttr  out. 

Durand,    Brazil,    L'Erable,   Sept.    i.    1861.   Co.  wounded. 

E,   35th  Inf..  40  mof.     Mustered  out  Jan.  2.  i8()3.  Dille.   John    1!..    Loda.    .\ug.   9.    1862.   Co.    K, 

veteran.  76th    Int.,   28  mos.     Discharged   Dec.    10.    1864, 

Dod.ion,  1{.  \\  .,  Chchanse,  .Aug.   15.   i8f)i.  Co.  as  Lieutenant. 

D.  lOth  Inf..  4  yrs.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran.  Degans,  Jacob  E..  Milford.  .Aug.  6.  i8'')2,  Co. 

Driscoll.  Martin.  .Ashkum,   I-"eb.  28.    1863.  Co.  K,   7r)th    Inf..    3    yrs.      On    furlough    at   time   of 

K,   43d    Inf.    10   mos.      Mustered    out    Xov.    30.  muster  out. 

1865.  Dellibac,    Louis,   Loda,   .Aug.    i.    1862.   Co.    K, 

Dennett.    \\'illia)ii    J.,    .Middleport.    .\ov.    15,  7rith    Iiif..   2   yrs.      Killed   at    battle   of   Jackson, 

1861.   Co.   C,   51.-1    Inf.      .Mustered   out   June    I'l.  Jul\   7.   lSri4. 


1865. 

Downing.  Solomon  .M..  .Midddlejiurt.  (  )ct.  2i\ 
l86i,  Co.  C,  51st  Inf..  ()  nins.  Disclniged  .Ajjril 
26,  1862,  disability. 

Di.xon,    John    J..    .Mid(lle])i)rt.    SejJt.    20.    (Sf)!. 


Deagan,  John.  .Middleport.  Feb.  13.  i8f)4.  Co. 
K,  76th  Inf.     Xo  data. 

Darner,  Xelson,  llucklcx,  Aug.  i,  1862,  Co. 
C,  88th  Inf.,  34  mos.    Mustered  out  June  9.  1865. 

Darner.  Austin.  lUieklex .  Aug.  I.  1862,  Co. 
Co.  C.  51st   Inf..    13  mos.      Di-eharged  (  )et.    13.      C.  88th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Transferred  to  \'eteran  Re- 


1862,  disability. 

Davis.  George.  Chebanse.   .\|-irch  1.    iSf>5.  Co, 
H.  58th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  .March  3.  i86f). 


Dimick.   Harmon.    Martinton.    .March   fi.    i8(>3.      iSf^^v  disabi!it\-. 


serve  Corps  in  1864. 

Dalton.  Dexter  X..  (  )narga.  .Arg.  7.  1S62.  Co. 
I).    113th    Inf..   7   mos.      Discharged    March    I7. 


Co.  H.  58th  Inf..  7  mos.     Died  at   .Montgomerx. 
Ala..  Oct.  25,   18A3. 

Dulogues,    Francis.    I'ajjineau.    .March   f..    i8r,3.      May  28.  18^13.  disal)ilit\. 
Co.   II.  58th  Inf..  3  mos.     Died  at   .Montgon 


Denning,    Isaac    .Xewton.    ( )narga.    .Aug.     12. 
1862,    Co.    D.    113th    Inf..    10   mos.      Discharged 


iiery 
.Ala.,  .Aug.  1 1.  1863. 

Disnoyer.  .Antoine,  I'apineau,  .March  d.  18C)-. 
Co.  H,  3Sth  Int..  I  w.  Mustered  out  .\iarcli  3. 
1866. 

Dutcher.  l-'rancis  C.  Martinton.  h'eb.  17.  181)3. 
Co.  H.  58th  Inf.,  3  mos.  Mustered  out  Jnlv  21, 
1865. 

Dafriemeyer.    Jonathan.    L'hel)anse,    .March    14. 


Dewew  Julius  L..  (  )narga.  .Aug.  20.  iS()2. 
Co.  1).  1:3th  Inf.,  8  mos.  Discharged  .\pril  2-. 
i8C)3,  disability. 

Doad.  IIenr\-,  lieawr.  Dec.  11.  18^)3.  Co.  1). 
1  13th  Int..  18  mos.  Taken  |)risoner.  exch.anged 
and  transferred  to  120th  Illinois. 

Daltou,  James  K..  Del  Rey,  Jan.  4.  1864.  Co. 
I).  113th  Inf..  I  mo.     Died  in  Camp  Ilutler.  I'"el). 


1865.   Co.   H,   38th    Inf..   7   mos.      .Mu>tere.l   out  ''^^    '''^''+ 

Oct.  9,  1863.  Davis.  (Ireenbury.  (  )narga.  Jan.   14.  i8fi+.  di^. 

Donovan.  Thomas  J..  Concord.  .\ug.    1.    iS(>2.  1^-    'L^'li    Inf-.  9  mos.     Died   hi    .Andersonville, 

Co.   E.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  <  ''•"'•    i"-    '8'>4. 
'^^v  Dalton,   Isaac.  Onarga.  Jan.   28.    1864,  Co.   D. 

Dunn.    I'.ernard.    .Middleport.  July   7.    iSf.j.  (",1.  113th    Inf..    10  mos.      Deserted    Xov.    t8.    1864. 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ll.I.I\n|S.  705 

Drillin^jt-r.   Iliiirv.  MiddUport.  (let.  jH.   i8<>,v  Kjjla-rl.  Jaiiu-s,  Miil(llq><>rt.  Ma>    14.  iWij.  (<<. 

Co.  !•".  ii.^th  Int.     Rejected.  15,  i.Wtli   Inf..  (>  mns.     Rc-cnlistc<l. 

!)rl■Ilin^;l■r.  Jiilni  I'...  .\li«l<IU-|ii>ri.  Dec.  1 1.  iS/>v  Kdwanis,    Samuel    H..    .\li<ldle}»<>ri.    .\iik.    12. 

Co.  V.  n^tli  Int..  iS  luos.    Traiisferretl  to  ijcnli  |W>2.  lo.   I',   ii.^th    Inf..   .^  yrs.     Mustered   out 

Illinois.  June  20.  i8<>5. 

Daniels.    Harrison.    C  luhause.    Anj;.    1.    iS'ij.  iCdwards.  Jes.se  J.,  Middleiwrt.  ( krt.   18,   i8Cn. 

Co.  II.   ii.^tli  Inf..  .^3  mos.     .Mustered  out  Jiuie  Co.   C.   51st    Inf..   4   \rs.      I'ronioied    .SerKeanl- 

20.  18^15.  1st  Lieutenant.  .Major. 

Duell.  .Silas  K..  Chehanse.  .Vug.    11.   iS<.j.  ("<>.  Kvans.  Wiliard.  .\sli  ( irove.  June  4.  l>«il.  Co. 

II.    ii.^ili    Inf..  .14  nins.      Mustered  out   June   5.  I".  -'5tli  Inf..  14  nios.     Disdiarned  .\n>;.  <>.  iSf.j. 

i8<i5.  I'ldwanls.    I'.elijainin.    ( )narKa.    June   4.    \>*'>\. 

Davidson.    William    .\..    .MidilK|Nirt.    Auv;.    <>.  Co.   I-'.  25th   Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  5. 

1W12.  Co.   I.   u.^tii   Inf..  .^4  mos.     .Musieied  out  18(14. 

June  20.  18^)5.  as  Ser>;eant.  l-"llistoii.  (iei>r).;e  \  ..  .Milford.  .Xpril  4.  18*15.  I  o. 

Davi^.    Leonard.    .Mirldle)Mirt.    \x\\i.    14.    i8<i2.  (i.  4<<tli  Inf.. '1  mos.     .Mustered  out  .*sipt.  <;.  18*15. 

Co.  I.  I  i.^lli  Inf..  ^.^  in.is.     .Mustcre<l  out  Ma>   17.  l-"lIiston.   Robert.   .Milford.   .\pril  4.    18*15.  Co. 

1W15.  (i.  4i>tli  Inf.. '1  mos.     .Mustered  oiu  ."^ipt.  ^^  i8'i5. 

Dovan.    .Mattliia>.    .MiddUpurt.    Aui:.   <i.    i8''2.  Lastburn.  .\llen  .M..  .Mid<lleport.  ."Nept.  20.  i8'ii . 

Co.    I.    ii_^lli    Inf..  34   mos.      .Mustered  «  ui   Jiuie  Co.  C.  51st   Inf.,  4  yrs.      .Mustered  out  Sept.  25. 

2«i.   18*15.  18*15.  as  .s^erj^eanl. 

Dnsenlierry.     tiarretl.     .Middleport.      \u}4.     11.  Ldwards.    Levi.    .Middleport.    .March    3.    i8<i2. 

1862.  Co.  I.  I  l.Vh  Inf..  3  mos.     .Mustered  out  Ji'ly  Co.  C.  51st   Inf..  8  mo.s.     Died  at  .\aslivile.  .Nov. 

10.  18*15.  prisoner  nf  war.  2.  l8^>2. 

Di-cker.  J<ihn.  .Middleport.  .\u\i.   i.v   18*12.  Co.  Klls.  Joseph.  .Middleport.  <  >ct.  4.   18*14.  Co.  C. 

I.  113th  Inf..  7  mos.     Discharged  .March  7.  18*^13.  51SC  inf..  2  mos.     Died  IX'C.  14.  18*^14.  at  I'rank- 

Decker.  Isaac.  .MicMleport.  .\uir.  13.  18*12.  ('<>.  lin.  of  wounds. 

I.    113th    Inf..  34  mos.      Mnstered   out    June   20.  i-x-kstrand.    John     II.,    .Middleport.    .Sept.    20. 

18*^15.  as  C"or|Hiral.  i8<ii.   Co.   C'.   5isi    Inf.      i<e-enliste<l   as   veteran. 

Dawson.    Sniile).    .Milford.    Dec.   o.    i8''3.   C^.  woundeil  and  discliar;^ed. 

I.    113th    Inf..  «>   mos.      Died   in   Cahawhi.    Ala..  l^lliolt.    Thomas.  Clulianse.  Nov.   10.   18111.  Co. 

prison.  Sept.  8.  18*14.  C".  58th    Inf..    13   m..s.     Di,-,!  at    Memphis.    Dec. 

Dawson.  Mahlon  M..  .Miildleport.  Jan.  4.  1814.  17.   18*12. 

Ci\   I.   113th   Inf..   17  ni'iS.     Dischriruerl   Ma-.    18.  Lllis.    .\hraham    11.    .S..    Chehanse.    March    14. 

i8*^>5.  i8*>5.  Co.  II.  58th  Inf..  1  yr.     .Mnstereil  out  .March 

Denny.  William  ."^..  .Millonl.  Dec.  <).  1^*13.  Ci'.  14.  i8*i<i. 

I.    113th    Inf..    18    niii'.      Tnii-fcrrcd    to    120th  l-.l!ioi,  Janu>    l\..    Middleport.   .\\\ii.   22.    18*12. 

Illinois.  (11.   .\.  7*>th   Inf..   17  mos.     Discharijeil   I'eh.   17. 

Decker.    JackMiii.    .Milli.nl.    I  >i.c.   >).    1N13.    Co.  18*14. 

1.    1131I1    Inf..    18    mos.      Transferred    to    i20tli  K.astl>nrn.  deorjie  W.  Concord.  June  24.  18*12. 

Illinois  Co.   A.  7*ith   Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Jnl>    22. 

Dillnii.  Ilcnrv.  .\sh  Cirove.  .Ma\    14.  18*14.  Co.  18*15.  as  Corixiral. 

1'..    134th    Inf..    ;    in.is.      Mustered   out    <  >ct.    2^.  l-lasthurn    Henry    II..  Concord.  July   24.    18*12. 

18*14.  Co.  \.  7*ilh  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22. 

Devore.    DaMd.    .Milli.nl.    .\1  i\     14.    I.'«i4.    t.o.  18^15. 

11.  134th    Inf..   5   mos.      Mustered   out   *  >ct.    j;.  F.asthurn.   David  C'..  C"onconl.  July   24.    18*12. 
l8*^>4.  Co.  .\.  7*ith   Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Jul\    22. 

Dillon.    William    C ..   t  »na^^;a.    ."^ept.    in.    iNii.  18*15. 

Co.  .M.  <)th  Cav..  41)  ntos.     Mustered  out  *'ci.  \\ .  I'.asthnrn.  Walter  S..  Ctincord.  Jnl\    24.   18*12. 

18^)5,  as  1st  Lieutenant.  Cd    A.  7*ith  Inf..  10  mos.     Discharged  .\pril  31. 

K^jlnrt.  James.  Middleport.  .\uy.  12.   iS<i_'.  I    ..  t8fi3.  disahility. 

'•'    113th   Inf..  5  mos.     Discharijed  for  disa'>ilit\.  FuidsleN.    lames   C.    Sr..    Middleimrl.    Aoril    1. 


7o6  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

iS^f>4.  Co.  A,  70th   Inf..  3  yrs.     Transferred  to  Edint^s.  Charles.  Loda.  Jan.   12.    1864,  Co.  C, 

37th  Regiment  Illinois  N'olunteers,  July  19.  1865.  10th  Cav..  23  nios.     Mustered  out  Xov.  22.  1865. 

Endsley,   James   C.  Jr.,    Middleport.   April    i,  Etherington.  James.  Middleport.  (  )ct.  17.  1861, 

1864,  Co.   A,   76th    Inf.,    I    yr.     iKIled   at    Fort  Co.  D.  ist  Art'ly..  14  mus.     Discharged  Dec.  16. 
Blakely,  April  9,  1865.  1862. 

Eastburn,  James  H.,   Concord,   .Aug.  7.    1862,  Eno,  l-'rank  ii.,  Loda.  Feb.  3.  1862,  Co.  L.  2d 

Co.  E.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  nut  July  22.  Art'ly.,    15    mos.      Died    on    steamer    Champion, 

1865,  1st  Lieutenant.  May  6,  1862. 

Eastburn,    Isaac   H.,   Concord,    Aug.   8.    1862,  Ely,  William  \\'csley.  Concord,  Sept.  28.  1861, 

Co.  E,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     .Mustered  oat  Jul\-  22.  Co.  F.  3<)th  Inf..  31   mos.     Mustereil  out  Dec.  6. 

1865,  1st  Sergeant.                        '  1865. 

Eastburn,  Joseph  F.,  Concord,  Aug.  7.   1862,  Fleming,  James  B.,  Middleport.  July  24,  iS'jj. 

Co.  E,  76th  Inf.,  28  mos.     Died  in  Sheldon.  Dec.  Co.  .\.  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Distinguished  for  ■;Z^\- 

9,  1864.  lantry  at  Fort  Blakeley,  April  g.  1865. 

Eastburn,  Thomas  F.,  Concord.  .\ug.  4,  1862,  Fowler.    Charles.    Middleport.   Jan.    13,    1865, 

Co.  E,  76th  Inf..  2  yrs.     Died  at  Mem])his,  Sept.  Co.  D.   150th  Inf.,   i   yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   16, 

28,  1864.  1866. 

Early,  Daniel  T.,  .Martinton.  Aug.  9.  1862,  Co.  Frith,  John,  Chebanse,  July   7,    1862,  Co.    II. 

A.  113th  Inf..  4  mos.  113th  Inf.,  4  yrs.     Promoted  1st  Lieutenint  Co. 

Evans,  Owen  L.,  Onarga.   .\ug.  7.   i8r)2,  Co.  I.  52d  I'.  S.  C.  T. 

D,  113th  Inf.,  2^  mos.     Killed  at  .Arkansas  P(jst,  I'ry,   William   K.,   .Middleport,   Xnv.   24,    i8f)2, 

July  II,  1864.  Co.   I.   113th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Died  at  Cam])  llutler, 

Edwards,    Samuel,    P.elmont,    Aug.    u,    iS(i2,  .VjM-il  10,  1863. 

Co.  F,   113th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  nut  June  Flesher,  Henry,  Iroquois  County.  Xov.  1.  i8()3, 

20,  186=;.  Co.  F,   113th  Inf.,  22  mos. 

Egbert,  James,  Middleport,  .\ug.  12,  18(12,  Co.  Francis,  ^Michael,  Middleport,  Jan.  7.  1864,  Co. 

F,  113th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Discharged  Jan.  12,  1863,  I,    113th    Inf.,    18   mos.      Transferred    to    i20'Ji 

disability.  Illinois. 

Edwards.    Charles    H..    Middleijort,    .\ug.    11.  Fry.   Benjamin,  Concord,  Jan.   1.    1864,  Co.   I, 

1862,  Co.  I.   113th   Inf.,  34  mos.     .Mu.stered  o;it  ii3tli  Inf.,  18  mos.    Transferred  to  120th  Illinois. 

June  20,  1865.  Friel,  George,  Middlc])ort.  June  13,   1861,  Co. 

Empie,  John   II.,    .Middleport,   May    14.    1804.  I,  20th  Inf.,  2  yrs.     Killed  in  battle  of  Champion 

Co.  IS,  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.     .Mustered  out  (  )ct.  25.  Hills,  May  16,  1863. 

1864.  Friel,    William    :\I.,    Concord.    Aug.    6,    1862, 

lily,    David.    lro(|U(iis,    .May    14,    1864,   dK    !'.,  Co.   E,  7r,th   Inf.      Mustered   out    |ulv   22.    1865. 

134th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Mustered  out  (  )ct.  25,   1804.  ,-is  Corporal. 

Ely,  Anthony  M„  Iroquois,  May  14.  "864,  Co.  j.-,.;^,    j^„,^.^^  Middleport,  |une  1  ^  i8r.,    Co    I. 

P..  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.    Mustered  out  Oct.  25.  1864.  ^oth  Inf.,  4  vrs.    Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

ICd wards,  Jesse  H.,  Middleport,  Mav  14,  1864,  ,    ,■      nr-,„ 

,     ,    .                    \,            ■,           ,  ,  T  Frances,    Saniiul    I'.,    Middleport.    .March    ?o. 

Co.    Ii.    1  U'h    Inf..    3   mos.      .Musterec    nut    >  )ct.  or      r-      ^            .     1    .-                       ,r             , 

„,     -^                  •  1865,  Co.   I,    113th    Int.,   3   mns.      Mustered  out 

•^                                                                              .  [une  20,  i8o^. 

Elzroth,  Wiilard.  Millnr.l.   .Mav    14.    18(14,  Co.  "                       -^ 

B,  M4tl,    Inf..    ;    mn>.      .Mustered    nut    Oct.   23,  '''='-'^'''-    I-e-^nard     \  .,    Middleport,    June     13. 
jgj-  18C11,   Co.   I,   2otli    In  I..   4   mns.      Died   at  Cairo, 

Ewins,    William    L.,    .Milfnrd,    Jan.    20.    iSCs,  "^'t-  22,  1861. 

Co.  D,  150th  Inf.,   I   yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   16.  l''-v.  Jolm,  Middleport,  March  30.  i8(.5,  Co.  I, 

1866.  -"^''  '"*••  .^  "■"'■'^-     -Mnstered  nut  June  Jn.  1865. 

lildridge.  Jnlm    11..   l.nda,   Sept.    15,    18(11.  Co.  I'riel,    James    I-".,    Middlejiort,    June    13,    1861, 

C,  lotb  Cav.,  40  mos.     Mustered  out    Dec.   3).  Co.   I,   20th   Inf..  4  yrs.     Mustered  out  as   Ser- 
i8('i4.  geant. 


IRl)QU()IS  COUNTY.  ILIJN"!- 


7^7 


I'ostcr,  riicodorc,  1-oda.  Ma\  14,  i>««4.  In. 
li,  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.  \lii.i.  I..!  ..Ill  I  1. 1  .'■- 
1864,  as  Corporal. 

Fricl,  Robert  R..  Midilk-j.-urt.  March  .^i.  iSi'm. 
Co.  1,  Jolh  Inf.     .\ol  imistcrcd. 

I'aniiin);,  James.  Kiliiiuiit,  Ma\    14.   i8(t4.  1 
C.    i.Uth    Inf.,  5   nios.      .MusU-rttl   onl   «  Krl.   ^5. 
18^14. 

IVisbic,  Jolui  R..  OnarRa,  June  4.  iWn.  C<>.  I  . 
25tli  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Discharged  July  5.  if<<«4,  ac- 
count of  wounds. 

Friel,  Robert  R..  Mid<llei>ort.  Jan.  10.  1865. 
Co.  D,  isotli  Inf..   I   vr.     .Mustered  nut  Jan.   Hi, 

Freeman,  .Mmizo  T..  Ash  drove.  June  4,  1861. 
Co.  F,  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.  .Mustered  out  Sept.  5. 
l8^^. 

Follett.  John  \\  ..  (  inari^a.  Sept.  10.  i8^»i.  Co. 
M.  9lh  Cav..  4<)  nios.  .Mustered  out  (  >ct.  31. 
18^)5,  veteran. 

Foster.  Robert,  t  liebanse.  \\\^.  2<>.  |8<>1.  Co. 
( i.  J5th  Inf..  15  ni(».  Discliarned  Nov.  24.  i8f»2. 
disability. 

I'ellows.  James  C.  ( )narjja.  Nuv.  15.  iX<>i.  (  ••. 
M.    i)th  Cav..  3  yrs.     Di.scharKed  Dec.  10.  18(14. 

Flowers.  .\.  ]..  Sheldon.  Sept  's:  i^^'.'  '  •■ 
E.  3<)th   Inf. 

I'reeman.  James  I!..  ( )nar;;a.  .^ept.  lo,  1801. 
Cii.  M.  i)\\\  C:iv..  3  mos.     Rejected  Dec.  S.  iSdi. 

Freeman.  Sanniel  G.,  Milfonl.  Aup.  25.  1861, 
Co.  (i,  42(1  Inf.,  3  yrs.  'iVansferred  to  X'eteran 
Reserve  Corps  Feb.  26,  1864. 

I'uller.  I'rank.  Mnarj^a.  .Vur.  i.  i8<i2.  Co.  .M. 
i)th  Cav. 

Foster,  I'hilandi-r  II..  lr<K|U<jis.  .Xuf:.  17.  iS*'!. 
Co.  H,  42(1  Inf..  4  mos.  Died  at  Tipliin.  .Mn.. 
Dec.  25,  i8<>i. 

Fcely,  James.  Onarga,  .\iik  i.  iSi-j.  »  ■■.  .\l. 
<;th  Cav..  3<)  mos.     .Mustered  out  <  )ct.  31.  \9i\i,. 

Fry,  Klijah  M..  Iroquois,  .Vujj.  i.  i8<>2.  Co.  II. 
42(1  Inf..  46  mos.     Mustered  out  June  ih.   |8<>5. 

I'oland.  RolHTt.  I^Hla.  Se]>t.  15,  iR'*!,  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav. 

Frazce.  John  T..  ( >narnn,  Sept.  24.  ^'^•i.  Co. 
C,  57th  Inf.,  10  mos.     Discharged  July  11.  1862. 

Frederick.  Conrad,  F^a,  Sept.  i,  i8rti.  Co. 
C.  loth  Cav. 

Frazee.  I-ouis  D..  f  )narKa,  Sept.  24,  1861,  Co. 


C,   57th    Inf..   3>7   nios.      .Mustered   out    iHx".   V). 

I'ord,  John  J.,  .Milford.  Jan.  ji.  iW>5.  Co.  D. 
I5()tli  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  id.  i8fi<j. 

I'reeman.  James  15.,  Oiiar^a.  l-'eb.  8,  i8<(2,  Co. 
57th    Inf..   35  mos.     Mustered  out    Dec.  *>, 
i8<J4. 

I'rizon,  I^iurant.  I'apineau,  .March  <>.  i8(»5,  to. 
II.  5Sth  Inf..  I  yr.    Mustered  out  .March  <>.  iR^rfi. 

Frizon,  Cornelius,  Papiuean,  .March  6.  i8<)5. 
Co.  11,  58th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  .March  6, 
1866. 

Fr.ier.  Harvey,  MiddleiHirt.  July  2.  1W12,  Co. 
.\.  71st  Inf..  4  mos.     Mustered  out  (  >ct.  2<^.  |8<«2. 

1-ruil.  Jeremiah.  Mi(l(lle|Mirt,  July  24,  18^12. 
Co.  A,  70th  Inf..  3  yr.s.  Mustered  out  July  22. 
1865. 

Fleminp,  James  B..  MiddleiM)rt,  July  24.  iWi2. 
Co.  \.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22, 
1865,  as  Corporal. 

Fleminn,  Thonws  R.  W'..  Midd!c|K»rt,  July  24. 
1862,  Co.  A.  76th  Inf.,  8  mos.  DiscliarRed  March 
10.  1863,  disabilitN. 

French.  Frank  \V.  H.,  Innpiois,  July  24,  1862. 
Co.  .\.  76th  Inf..  37  mos.  Mustered  out  .\ug. 
10.    18^15.      Wounded. 

I'ennimore.  Richard  E.,  Crabapple.  July  24. 
18/.2,  Co.  .\.  7^'th  Inf..  iR  mos.  Died  at  \icks- 
burp.  Jan.  30,  1864. 

Free-man,  James  O..  C"ral)ap|>Ie.  .Aur.  9.  18C12. 
Co.  E,  7^>th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22. 
i8^»5.  as  Coqtorai. 

Foster,  RoUrt  W..  Craliapple,  .\ug.  i.  1862. 
Co.  F.,  7''>th  Inf..  3  \rs.  .\bsent.  sick  at  muster 
out  of  rcfiinient. 

I'Vazier.  Cicorjic  W  .  Concord.  .Aur.  i>,  1862, 
Co.  I-'.  7^>th  Inf..  3  yrs.  .Mustered  out  July  22. 
1865. 

Fry.  Martin,  Concord,  .\ur.  q.  iW>2,  Co.  E, 
7''>th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Jul\   22,  iW)5. 

I'ord,  Claries  R..  Lxla.  .\ur.  22.  i8^>2.  Co.  K. 
Tftth  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Resipncd  as  ist  Lieutenant. 
.XuR.  (»,   18^14. 

I'rancis.  Cliarles  I..,  l.txLi.  .\ur.   i.   i8<i_.   ' 
C.  88tli  Inf..  3  yrs.     Proniotc<l.  rank  not  stated. 

Fronville.  Ix>uis  T..  Clifton,  .\ur.  14.  1862, 
Co.  D.  8»ith  Inf..  3  mos.    Died  Xov.  14.  1862. 

Fickle.  Cleortje  B.,  Onarpa.  Oct.   1,  i8^>2.  Co. 


7o8 


PAST  AXl)  PRESENT  OF 


D.   U3th  Int..  4  nios.     Resigned  Feb.   13.   1863, 
as  2d  Lieutenant. 

Frisbie.  Henry  L.,  Onarga,  Aug.  4,  1862,  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf.,  35  mos.  Mustered  out  as  2d  Lieu- 
tenant June  20,  1865. 

Fuller,  Delos  T.,  Onarga,  Aug.  15,  1862,  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  as  Sergeant 
June  20,  1865. 

Frazee,  FredeiHck  S.,  Onarga,  Aug.  6.  1862. 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  8  mos.  Discharged  .^pril  10. 
1863.  disability. 

Frazee,  James  T.,  Onarga,  .\ug.  7.  1862,  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Dischargcil  .\ug.  18,  1863, 
disability. 

Frazee.  William  H.,  Onarga,  Aug.  14,  1862, 
Co.  D.  113th  Inf.,  26  mos.  Died  at  Camp  Butkr. 
Oct.  8,  1864. 

Frame,  James  T.,  (3narga,  Aug.  9.  1862,  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf.,  4  mos.  Discharged  Dec.  ig.  1862. 
disabilit). 

Foy,  Samuel,  Gilmun,  Aug.  21.  1862,  Co,  D, 
113th  Inf..  5  mos.  Discharged  b\-l).  10.  1S63.  dis- 
ability. 

F'rost,  Hasoii  (j..  ( )iiarga.  (  )ct.  7,  1862,  Co.  D, 
113th  Inf..  1  m;i. 

Flesher,  .Alonzo,  Iroquois.  Jan.  14,  1864.  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf..  8  nin>. 

Fletcher,  .Alfred.  Iroquois.  Aug.  12.  1862,  Co. 
l\  113th  Inf.,  .^T,  mos.  Discharged  .May  15.  1865, 
as  2d  Lieutenant. 

Fayer.  Henry,  .Middleiwrt,  Aug.  12.  1S62.  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf..  9  mos.  Discharged  May  12,  i8r)_^. 
disability. 

Fleck,  .Michael,  .Middleport,  -Aug.  12,  1862,  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  20, 
1865. 

Flesher.  Manfred.  Iroquois,  .Aug.  12.  18(12,  Co. 
I',  1  13th  Inf.,  14  mos.  Died  at  home  on  sick  leave 
Oct.    :3.    18(1:5. 

Mesher.  Henry,  ( iilman.  Dec.  1,  1863.  Co.  !•", 
I  13111  Inf.,  18  mos.     Transferred  to  120th  Illinois. 

Freberg,  John,  ISeaver.  .\ug.  12.  i8r)2.  Co.  I", 
113th  Inf..  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  Jime  20.  1865. 

breberg,  I'eter,  I'.eavcr,  .Aug.  12,  1862.  Co.  I". 
113th  Inf..  r,  mos.  Died  ill  .Mi'mphis.  I'eb.  2(>. 
1863. 

I''ry.  Sanniel,  Concord.  .\ug.  7,  1862.  Co.  1. 
1131I1  Inf.,  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  20.  18(15. 

I'ry.  I  Icmy.  Conco/d,  .Aug.  13,  i8(')2,  Co.  j, 
I  13th  Inf.,  17  mos.  Died  at  Camp  Yates,  Jan.  i  t,. 
18C4. 


Fry,  William,  Concord,  Aug.  9,  1862.  Co.  I. 
1 13th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Alustered  out  June  20,  1865. 

1>> .  John,  Concord,  Aug.  9,  1862,  Co.  L  1  i3ih 
Inf.,  34  mos.     Alustered  out  June  20,   1865. 

Foos,  Henry,  Aliddlcport,  Aug.  7,  1862,  Co, 
I.  113th  Inf.     Discharged.     Xo  other  data. 

Fever,  Henry,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C, 
10th  Cav..  51  mos.     Alustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 

Fever,  Delphin,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co,  C, 
10th  Cav.,  51  mos.     Mustered  out  Xov.  22,.  1865, 

Finn,  Michael,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav.,  51  mos.     Alustered  out  Xov.  22.  1865. 

Frink.  William,  Aliddleimrt.  Sept.  15,  1861.  Co. 
D.  1st  Art'ly.    Xo  data. 

Fink.  James,  Aliddleport.  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co. 
D,  1st  Art'ly.     X'o  data. 

Forbes,  A.  AL,  Loda,  .March  1,  1862,  Co.  L. 
2d  Art'ly.  Discharged  Dec.  15,  1863,  <Iisability. 

Graham,  Joseph  A,,  Aliddleport,  June  4,  1861, 
Co.  F,  25th  Inf..  9  mos.  Discharged  for  disabilitv. 
Died  Dec.  2.  1888. 

Gralo,  Peter,  Iroquois,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  A. 
76th  Inf.,  25  mos.  Died  at  Port  Hudson,  La.. 
-Aug.  30,  1864. 

Gilbert,  Christian  C,  Aug.  18.  1861.  Co.  C, 
47th  Inf.,  38  mos.  Wounded  in  right  thigh  at 
Corinth,  Aliss.,  Oct.  3,  1862. 

Gaskill.  William  H..  P.elmont.  July  24.  1862. 
Co.  A,  76tli  Inf..  3  yrs.  Absent,  sick  on  muster 
out  of  regiment. 

Gardiner,  George  i>„  Aliddleport,  Oct.  4,  1864. 

*-'o-    ^--   ?,?i^^    Iiif-.    IS   nios.      Died    .Vovember    19, 
1 8)8. 

Gravelot,  Hypolitc,  lro(|nois,  July  24.  1862,  Co. 
-A,  7r)th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865, 

Gubtill,  Lucius,  Hehnont.  Aug.  9,  1862,  Co.  15. 
I  I3tli   Inf..  3  yrs. 

(iravelot,  Louis,  Iroquois,  July  24,  1862,  Co. 
A,  7(')th  Inf.  .Mu.stered  out  July  22.  1863,  as 
Coqioral. 

Gubtill,  Ini,  Middlejiort,  I'Vb.  28,  18(15.  Co.  l\ 
I5(ith  Inf.,  7  mos. 

(iarlaiid.  John  W.,  Crabapple,  Aug,  3.  18(12.  Co, 
I-:,  76ih  Inf.,  Id  mos.  Dic-d  at  .Milford,  111.  Dec 
7.   1863. 

Gamash,  l-rank.  I  .'iMalile,  Aug.  1(1,  1S62.  Co, 
I),  8i)ili  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  June  24,  1865. 

Gniv.  b'.li.  Craliajiple  .Aug.  9,  1862.  Co.  E, 
7(.th  Int..  8  m,w.  Discharged  .\pril  7,  i8ri_^ 
disaliilit\ . 


IROOroiS  COUNTY.  II.IJNOIS. 


70.J 


(■ravelin.  I'cicr.  .\li«l<IIti)ort.  St-pl.  J<>.  i>«>j.  C<i. 
I.   1st  .\rtl\..  J5  yrs. 

(iiIlH.'rt.    SinKlclnii,    Coiicor«l.    Auk-    '.S.    >>*'>-*. 
Co.  K.  7(Hh  Inf.     Mustcrtil  wii  July  .jj,  iS*!.:;. 
(iraffiiis.   John.    .Miil<lli|><>rt.   Juiu-    13.    |S<>1.    (<>. 

I.  20th   Inf..  8  mos. 

tiillKrt.  John  S..  A.sh  (Jrovc.  July  22.  iW>.>.  Co. 
K.  7MI1   Inf. 

(iarrisiin.  (itiirKf  W'.,  .^sh  (irovc,  July  _•_'. 
iWu.  Co.  I.  _»oih  iiii..  4  yr«.  Ue-i-nlisicd  a.-*  vct- 
iran. 

(irinini.  Clark  I"..  Midtliiport.  Sept.  10,  i8<ii. 
Co.  I).  1st  .Xrt'ly..  3  yrs.  .Miisii-rcil  out  as  .Scr- 
jltaiit,  ."^cpt.    10.    l^<'>4. 

(iilmorc,  Cliarlis  .M..  .\sli  (irove.  Jnl\  jj.  i><'>2. 
Co.  1,  jotli  Inf..  10  nvjs. 

(irayhani.  Tildcn.  .\sh  (irnvc,  Jiil\  .'j,  iS<ij. 
Co.  I.  2<)th  Inf..  3  yrs. 

(larri.son.  (icorKC  \\'.,  Ash  (irove.  Jan.  5.  |X(>4. 
Co.  I  joth  Inf..  18  nios. 

Ijray,  Jaii:i-s,  Ltnla.  June  4.  i8<ii.  Co.  I-".  J5th 
Inf.,  3  yr>.      .Mnsicreil  out   Sept.  5,   1864. 

(aihl.  Joseph.  .Martinton.  June  4.  i8*>i,  Co.  I*". 
25th  Inf..  ly  nios.  .Mortally  wonndeil  at  Stone 
River.  Dec.  31,  i»)2.  DictI  Jan.  8.  i8*.3.  at 
Murfreislxmi. 

(lallaway.  Klijah  C.  <  )narj;a.  June  4.  i8<)i.  Co. 
r.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  .<ept.  25.  l8(>4. 

<  ireen.  Alonzo  .\|..  (  Jiarya.  June  4.  i8<ii.  Co. 
1".  25tli  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  23.  i8<i4. 

(ireen.  John  (j..  ( )narjpi.  June  4.  1861.  Co.  I-', 
25th   Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sq>t.  25.   1W15. 

(iihson,  Willian).  Crisccul.  .\u>;.  30.  i8'^»i.  Co. 
K.  37th  Inf..  jij  n.os.     .Mustered  out  (  )cl.  4.  i8<'i4. 

(iilhert.  William.  InHU'.ois.  .\uj:.  24.  i8'ii.  Co. 

II.  42rl   Inf..  2  1-2  mos.     Died  .Nov.   II.  iX'ii. 
(iravel.  (iiorfje.  .Middleport.  Sept.  2«j.  i8(>i,  ' 

C.  51st  Inf..  3  yrs.     Died  in  .\ndersonvillc  l'ri>..ii. 
Oct.  16,  i8f)4.     (irave  .No.  lo.w.?- 

Cohhie.   Francis.  Lo<la.   .Sept.    1.   i8()i.  C. 
loth  Cav.     No  date. 

( ireen.  Ltwis.  .Miildle|>ort.  ."^-pi.  18,  iWn.  Co. 
C.  51st  Inf.,  .^4  in".>.  Died  ai  I.ouisville.  July 
6,  18/14.  '*f  wninds. 

(iaftield.  John.  Middleport,  .Sept.  2(\  18*11.  Co. 
C,  51st  Inf..  40  iro-.     .Mi'slercd  out  Jin.  ifi.  iW>5. 

(iriffiih.  Franklin.  Clu'ban.ic.  .\pril  1.  iW>5.  Co. 
M.  58th  Inf..  I  yr.  .Mustered  out  .\pril  1.  |8/V>. 
as  C'aptain. 

(iilunn.  John,  <  '  ■ ' .Manh   13.   18*15.  »  . 


H.  58th  Inf.,  7  mos.    .Mus«ere<l  twit  Oct.  12.  I»>5. 

(iarLind.  Fdward.  LFrable.  Jan.  24.  1W12.  Co. 
I-".  12th  Cav.     .No  ri-ctjrd. 

(ioldtrap,  John  V.,  Chelanse.  I-eh.  2~.  l8<)5.  Co. 
II.  38tli  Inf.  7  mos.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  y.  1A15. 

(iildea.  Dennis.  Clifton,  July  28.  i8<.2,  Co.  C. 
88tli  Inf.,  34  mos.  .Mustereil  «>ui  June  <).  l8'>5.  as 
.S«.r)4eant. 

darnexh.  .\lfrcd.  Clifton,  Auj;.  lO.  l8ri2.  Co. 
D,  8yth  Inf.,  34  mos.  .Mustered  mit  Jtuu-  10. 
18*15.  as  C"ori>oral. 

( iuhlail.  John,  .\shkuin.  .\u>;.  <>.  l8*>2,  Co.  IJ, 
113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  20.  i8'>5. 
as  C"ori>oral. 

(iuhtail.  Lucius,  .\slikum.  Mm-  9.  1862.  Co.  15. 
I  13th  Inf.,  .^4  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  20.  i8*>5. 

( ial>le.  (ieiir^e  \\'..  •  )uart;n.  .\u>j.  i<».  l8')2.  (A>. 
D.  ii3ih  Inf..  4  mos.  Diid  at  Vazoo  River.  Jan. 
2.  18*13. 

(iihiMins.  William  !■"..  ( )nar>;a.  .Xuj;.  1.  i8<i2. 
Co.  D.  Ii3tli  Ir.f..  35  mos.  MiiMered  <iut  July  1. 
l8<t5.  prisoner  of  war. 

(iardr.er.  l-'arlis  IS..  ( iilmaii.  mil;-  '-'•  i8'>2.  Co. 
I',  ii3tli  Inf..  7  mos.  Discharged  .March  4.  18*13. 
disaliility. 

( lallatjher,  Tliomas.  Chelwu.se,  Ana.  *>.  i8<i2. 
Co.  II.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .MustertHJ  oni  June 
20.  18*15. 

(ioldtrap.  Jeremiah.  ChchaiiM.  .Xiii.;.  --.  i.^... 
(."o.  II.  1 131I1  Inf..  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  20. 
18*15. 

(iilU-rt.  (ieor^e  W'.,  .Middlep"ii.  .\u-..-.  1..  ■•'■j. 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf.  Dischargid  at  Memphis.  No 
date. 

(iilln-rt.  ( )\ven,  .MiddiejMirt.  .May  14,  i)>^>4,  (  ■•. 
r..  i.yth  Inf..  5  mos.     .Mustered  out  (  >ct.  25.  18*14. 

<  iilhert.  William.  .Ash  (irove,  .May  14,  18*14, 
I  o.  I'.,  I34lh  Inf..  5  mos.  .Mtistired  <iut  (  )i-t.  25. 
18*^.4. 

'iravel.  Joseph.  .\liddle|)ort.  .May  14.  18*14.  Co. 
.;.  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.    .Mustered  out  ( let.  25.  18*14. 

(ileason,  Jostph  C.,  Clifton,  I'Vh.  *».  18*15.  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustereil  out  Jan.  1*1.  i8*)*>. 

(iossard,  William  II..  .Middleport.  Jan.  14. 
18*15,  Co.  I).  150th  Inf .  I  yr.  .Mustered  out  Jan. 
1*1.  18*1*1. 

(iaIiaKher,  IXnnis.  Clifton.  I-Vh.  *».  18*15.  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  1*1.  i8*)*^i. 

(iordon.  Daniel,  C'hel.anse.  l-'eh.  *i,  18*15,  Co. 
1>.  150th  Inf..  I  '  •■      ^ItiMereii  out   |au.  1*1.  18*1*'). 


no 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Goldtrap,  David,  Clifton,  Feb.  6,  1865,  Co. 
D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Guiles,  Nelson,  Onarga,  Sept.  10.  i86i.  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.  49  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31, 
1865,  veteran. 

Gable,  George,  Onarga,  Sept.  10.  1861.  Co.  :\I. 
9th  Cav.,  3  mos.    Rejected  Dec.  8,  1861. 

Greer,  William,  Onarga,  Aug.  10.  1862,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  35  mos.  Mustered  out  June  16. 
1865. 

Gable.  Alfred  .\..  (  )narL;a.  Au.^ust  1.  iS^u,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  35  mos.  Mustered  out  June  16, 
1865. 

Graves,  Franklin  W.,  Onarga,  Aug.  i.  1862. 
Co.  M,  9th  Cav..  35  mos.  Mustered  out  June  16, 
1865. 

Grover.  John  A.,  Loda,  Jan.  5.  1864,  Co.  C. 
loth  Cav.,  23  mos.    Mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 

Glover.  David,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C. 
loth  Cav.     Missing.     No  date. 

Grider,  Henry,  Loda,  Sept.  15.  i86r.  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav.,  51  mos.     Clustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 

Harroun.  Alvin  D..  Middleport,  June  24,  1862. 
Co.  A,  76th  Inf..  3  vrs.  Mustered  out  lulv  22. 
1865. 

Hoel.  Adolohus,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862,  Co. 
A.  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Harrington,  George  C,  Middleport.  June  24, 
1862,  Co.  A.  76th  Inf..  II  mos.  Captain.  Pro- 
moted Major.  Resigned  on  account  of  sickness 
June  2y.  1863. 

Hogle,  Austin  \\'..  .\liddlei)ort.  June  24.  1862. 
Co.  A,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Lieutenant.  Mustered 
out  July  22,  1865. 

Hickman,  Sylvester,  Ash  Grove.  Sept.  i,  1861, 
Co.  C,  1 2th  Inf.,  3  yrs. 

.  Hogan,  Amaziah.  P>elmont,  July  24.  1862,  Co. 
A,  76th  Inf.,  14  mos.  Discharged  Sept.  16,  1863, 
for  disability. 

Hammond,  Isaac  W.,  Aug.  9,  1862,  Cn.  I.  1  i.^ih 
Inf..  3  yrs.     Died  April  21.   1899. 

Hundley,  Nehcmiah,  Middleport.  jul\  24.  1862, 
Co.  .\,  76th  Inf.,  17  mos.  Died  at  St.  Louis, 
Dec.  18.  1863. 

Hoyt,  Peter  C.,  Middleport,  Sq)t.  jo,  iH<>\. 
Co.  C.  51st  Inf.,  14  mos.  Discharged  fur  disabil- 
ity.   Died  Nov.  7,  igor. 

Harwood,  James  F.,  Middleixul.  Inly  24,  ]HG2. 
Co.  A,  76111  Inf.,  3  vrs.  Mustered  out  lulv  22, 
1865. 


Holly,  Samuel,  Ash  Grove.  Oct.  2j.  1864.  Co. 

D.  1 2th  Inf. 

Harroun.  Alfred  S..  Middleport.  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  A,  7r)th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22, 
1865. 

High,  l->ank  M.,  Middleport.  April  22,  1861. 
Co.  I,  20th  Inf.,  4  yrs.  Mu.'^tered  out  as  Hospital 
Steward. 

Hudson,  Oliver.  Middleport,  Dec.  16,  1863,  Co. 
I.  20th  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Missing.  Supposed  to  have 
been   killed   at   battle  of   Bentonville.   N.   C. 

Hi.gh.  Samuel  Y..  Middleport.  July  24.  1862, 
Co.  A.  7f'>ili  Inf..  3  vrs.  Mustered  out  Julv  22. 
1865. 

Harrison,  Scott,  Aliddleport.  June  13,  1861.  Co. 

I,  20tb  Inf.,  ID  mos.     Killed  at  battle  of  Shiloh, 
April  6.  1862. 

Hix)p.  Joseph,  Middleport.  Feb.  10,  1864.  Co. 
A,  76th  Inf.  Transferred  to  37th  Illinois  In- 
fantry. 

Hart,  John  G.,  Middleport.  June  13,  1861.  Co. 
Co.  I.  2otli  Inf.,  18  mos.  Discharged  Dec.  5. 
1863,  disability. 

Hogle.  Langdon.  Middleport.  Dec.  31,  1863.  Co. 
A,  76tli  Inf.,  0  mos.  Died  at  Memphis,  Sept.  22. 
1864. 

Hastings.  Samuel,  Onarga,  June  4,  1861.  Co. 
F,  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  1864. 
as  Sergeant. 

Hogle.  Cornelius.  Tlcaver.  Aug,  22.   1862.  Co. 

E,  76th  Inf.     Mustered  out  July  22.   1865. 
Horner,  John.  Martinton,  June  4,  1861,  Co.  F, 

25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Sept.  5,  1864. 

FloUoway.  Phillip,  Crabapple,  Aug.  11.  1862, 
Co.  E,  76th  Inf.    Absent,  wounded,  at  muster  out. 

Hamilton,  George  T.,  Chebanse,  Aug.  26,  1861, 
Co.  G.  25th  Inf.,  6  mos.  Discharged  Feb.  25. 
1863.  disability. 

ila.skins.  Addison.  Milfi.rd.  Aug.  8,  1862,  Co. 
E.  7(ith  Inf.     No  data. 

Horner,  Elam,  Middleport,  Sept.  12,  1861,  Co. 

II.  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  Sept.  12.  1864. 
Ilerrinian.  John  S.,  Crab  .\pple,  Aug.  9,  1862, 

Ci>.    I'.,   jCnh   Inf..  6  mos.     Discharged  Feb.    18. 
18(13.  disability. 

llaynes.  Charles.  Milford.  .Vug.  29,  1861.  Co. 
('..  4_'d  Inf.,  \(i  mos.  Discharged  Dec.  i8.  1862, 
disability. 

Handy.    Thomas    I'..    I'rairie    Green.    Aug.    2. 


IRooroIS  COUNTY.  II.I.I.VOIS.  711 

i8f>j.  Co.  E.  76th  Inf.,  4  nios.    Diwl  at  Columljus.  Hall.  Sylvc-stcr,  Conconl,  .\ur.    11.   1H62,  Co. 

Ky..  Nnv.  J3.  iS6j.  H,   -<<\h    Inf..   _>   yrs.     Dicil   July    24.    \>V^.  of 

lltKi^lnnd.   I>;iac.   Iro<iuois.  .\iifj.   I~.   1861,  Co.  wounds. 

H.  +2(1  Inf.,  5  mos.    Died  at  Smitlitoii,  Mo..  Jan.  Hojjio.  Sylvotcr,  Concord.  Nov.  26,  iW>i.  Co. 

3.  iW)2.  C.  51st  Inf.,  2  njos.     Disclurm-t!  Jan.  23.  iS'ti. 

Ilaufjhu.  John  T.,  Concord,  .\ug.  «).  l8<>2,  Co.  Huss<?y.  Henry  It.,  .\sli  (irovi-.  Jul\   j.».   iS'u. 

K.  t^hIi  Inf..  18  nios.     Discharged  Feb.  3,  1864,  Co.  K,  -6tli  Inf..  33  nn>s.     Killed  with  the  colors 

disability.  at  the  battle  of  l"t>rt  lilakely,  .April  <».  l8«>5. 

Howard.    Phillip  S..  .\shkum.  .Xuj;.    13.   i8<ii.  ilojjle.  I.eauder,  Concord,  Se|>t.  jo,   i8(>i.  Co. 

'          I).     10th     Inf.      Corporal.       Kc-enliste<l    as  C,  51st  Inf.,  4  yrs.     Rc-enliste<l  as  veteran.     Mus- 

\cur:m.  tered    ont    Sept.    25.    1865. 

IIatti>n.    JauK'^    W  ..    I'rairic   (ireen.    .Vuj;.    Q-  Hoiiii.  Lnrenzn.  .\>h  (imve,  .\up.  1.  iWii.  Co. 

iW>2,  Co.  F.  7')th  Inf..  J  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  K.  7'>th  Inf.,  34  nios.     DiM-harfied  May  31.  1865, 

22.  1863.  on  accovuit  of  womids. 

Hardin,  William,  .\shkuin,  Feb.  28,  1865,  Co.  Ho>;le,   Michael,  Concord,  .Sept.  20,   |8^>I,  Co. 

K.  43(1    Inf..    Id  nios.      Mustered  out   Nov.   .^O.  C.  31st  Inf..  6  inos.     Died  in  .Shehlon.  .March  26, 

i8<>3.  18/. J. 

liaxton.  James  \V..  Milford.  July  28.  1862.  (■.  Iluiry.  Willciin   k..  I.cMla.  .\u},'.  (>.   18*12,  Co. 

E.  76th  Inf..  3  yis.     Mustered  out  July  22.  iW)3.  K.  7<ith  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Wounded.  Hoover.   luhan.  Concord,   Sept.  20.    1861,  Co. 

Hettield.  .\dam  S..  .\liddle|xirt.  .^e]t.  20.  i8<ii.  C,  51st  Inf..  40  nios.     Musteretl  out  Jan.  16,  1865. 

Co.  C.  51st  Inf.,  4  yrs.    Mustered  out  as  Quarter-  Hickman,  William.  .\sh  (imve.  .\un.  >).   18/12, 

master,  Sept.  23,  i8/')5.  Co.  K.  7''>tb  Inf..  3  yr-.     Mustere<I  out  July  22. 

Hammond.   Tliubill.  .Middleport,  SejU.  20.  ifWti.  18^13. 

t        (  ,  31st   Inf..  7  mos.     Discliarf;ed   .\pril  24.  Hoover.  Harvey  W.,  Conconl,  Sept.  20.  1861, 

if^'2.  ilisability.  Co.  C.  31st   Inf..  4  \rs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  23, 

Hciatjland.  Eli,  Concord,  .Aug.  9,  1862,  Co.  E.  1863. 

76th   Inf.,  8  mos.     DischarReil   March  23.   18^13.  Harris,  lliram   I!.,  .\sh  Grove,  July  25.  1862. 

disability.  Co.  K.  76th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Died  at  ( )xford,  .Miss.. 

H.Trri';.    Nathaniel    R..    Middler>ort.    Sept.    20.  Dec.  17.  i8/'>2. 

C.  51st  Inf..  4  mos.    Died  in  Chicago.  HtK>ver.   Michael.  Concord,  Dec.   i,   1861,  Co. 

Jar.  -'".   18A2.  C,  31st  Inf..  4^1  mos.     Mu.fterc<I  out  as  Sergeam, 

Haughn.  .<amuel  II..  Concord.  Dec.  23.   |8''»3.  Sept.  23.  18*13. 

Co.  v..  76th  Inf.,  II  nK>s.     Discharged  .Nov.  12.  Hayes,    Lewis.    Lo<!a,   .Aug.   t),    1862,   Co.    K. 

i8*')4.  7'ith   inf.      Mustered  out  July  22.   i8r>3. 

Hess,  .\ndrew,  .Middle|Mirt.  Oct.  17.  l8f>i.  Co.  Hoel,  (ie.irge  W.,  Concord,  Jan.   i,   18/12.  Co. 

C.  31st  Inf.,  r>  mos.     Discharged  .Vjiril  cj.   i8/'>2.  C.  31st  Inf..  ^2  mos.     Died  at  Chattano«iga,  Sejit. 

dis.ibility.  14.   18/14,  of  wounds. 

Hill.   Sidney   H.,   i'.i-aver,   .\ug.    11,   i8/>2,  Co.  Hull,  William  I,.,  Loda.  .Aug.  3.  18/12.  (n.  K. 

E.  76th  Inf.,  8  mos.     Discharged  .April  10,  1863.  7fith  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22,  18/13. 

(hsability.  Hoagkin«l,   Isaac.  Concord,  Jan.    16.   1862,  Co. 

Hess.  Joseph,    Middlep<irt,    Dec.    1.    i8/'ii,  Co.  C,   31st    Inf..  43   mos.      Miisitred  out    Sept     23. 

C.  51st    Inf..  3<)  mos.      Mustered  out    .March  <).  1863. 

lHf>s,.  Hawkins.  l-.Ji-ii.i,  A^U  (ir<>ve.  Dec.  <).  i."«i3.  in. 

Higginson,  James   W..   Ash   Grove.  July   28.  K.   7/ith    Inf..   8   mos       l)i,.(I   July    7.    18/14.   nf 

i8/>2.  Co.  E.  76th  Inf.,  13  mos.     Died  at  Natchez.  Wfiunds. 

.Nov.  2Ti.  18/13.  Ilogan.  Thciiii.i^.  i  .in.. id.  .March  3.  i.s«>j.  L'>. 

Hill.  Wallace,   .Middlc|K>rt,   .Nov.  3.   1861,  Co.  C,   31st    Inf..  42  mf»s       MtiMercd  out    Atii;.    16, 

C.  51st   Inf..  30  mos.     Traiisferrcil   to  \eteran  i8/'i3. 

Ri'ser\e  Corps,  .\pril  lO.  18/14.  Hart,  .Miles.  .Ash  tunve.  Jan.  3.  1.S1.4.  i  .,,  K. 


712  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

76th    Inf..   2   yrs.      Transferred   to   37tli    Illinois  l).    ii^tli    Inf..    16   nios.      Discharsrcd    Xov.    17, 

Regiment.  i!^>.?.  disahilitv . 

Hutzler,  David,  Concord,  Sept.  30,   1862.  Co.  Hull.  (  )rin.  .Spring  Creek.  Aug.   12.   1862.  Co. 

C,   51st   Inf.,    17  mos.     Transferred   to   X'eteran  \),  1  i^tli  Inf..  3  vrs.     Transferred  to  U.  S.  C.  T. 

Reserve  Corps,  Feb.  8,  1864.  for  ijnimotion.  June  27.  1864. 

Hawkins,    Lewis,    Middleport.    1\1).    iS.    1865.  1  iarris.  Silas  A.,  Asn  Grove,  Aug.  15.  1862,  Co. 

Co.   K.  76th   Inf..  3    iios.     Discharged   .May    14.  !).  113th  Inf..  5  nms.     Discharged  Jan.  12,  1863, 

1865.  disahility. 

Hopkins,  Jerome.  Onarga.  Se|)t.  24.  1861.  C©.  Heuston.  Alfred  L.,  1  Jnarga,  Oct.  23,  1863,  Co. 

C,  57th  Inf.,  9  mos.     Discharged  June  11,  1862.  D.    113th    Inf..    iS   mos.      Transferred    to    120th 

Hurd.  Xelson  K..  Buckley,  Aug.  10,  1862.  Co.  Illinois. 

C,  88th  Inf..  34  mos.    I'.Iustered  out  June  9,  1865.  Hall.  Dwight  1'...  Onarga,  Jan.  4.  1864,  Co.  D, 
Hilloe,  George,  Chebanse,  Xov.  5,  \P<C>\.  Co.  C,  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.    Transferred  to  120th  Illinois. 

58th  Inf.    Xo  data.  Hall.   Thomas    P..   Onarga.   Jan.  4,    1864.   Co. 

Howard.  Francis  B.,   Buckley,  July  2S.   1862.  D,    113th    Inf..    18   mos.      Transferred    to    120th 

Co.  C.  88th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out    \vvx  (;,  Illinois. 

1865.  Harris.  I-rank  H..  t)na;ga.  Jan.  29.  1864,  Co. 

Heam.  David  J.,  Clifton.  Xov.  7.  1861,  Co.  C,  D.    113th    Inf..   16  mos.      Mustered  out   May  31, 

58th  Inf..  39  mos.     Mustered  out  Feb.  7,  1865.  '^^^5- 

Hollowav.  Martin  \\'..  Martinton,  Aug.  9.  1862,  Harrison.  Luke.  (  )narga,  Jan.  4.   1864,  Co.   D, 

Co.   II.    113th   Inf.,  6  mos.     Discharged   I'eb.  20.  M3th    Inf.,   3   mos.      Died   in    Memphis,  June    I, 

1863.   disability.  18O4. 

Harris.   William.  Onarga.   May  28,    1862,  Co.  Hooker,    Waller,    Middkport.    Au,g.    12.    1862. 

G,   69th    Inf.,   4   mos.      Mu.stered    out    Sept.    2J.  Co.   F,   Ii3lh   Inf.,  30  mos.      Died  at  home,  Feb. 

1862.  20.  1865.  ]iaroled  prisoner. 

Hyatt,  Jo.seph.  .Middleiiort.  May   14.   18(14.  Co.  Hooker,   Tolman,    Middlejinrt.   .\ug.    12,    1862, 

B,  I34tb  Inf.,  5  mos.     Mustered  out  (  )ct.  25,  1864.  Co.  F,   113th   Inf..   13  '>;i)s.     Discharged  Sept.  3. 

Hail,  ."Samuel  G.,  Onarga,  Aug.  12.   1862.  Co.  1863.  disability. 

D.  113th  Inf..  6  mos.     Died  at  Young's   Point.  Hawks.  Sanuiel.  Concord,  Aug.   12.   1862,  Co. 
La..  Feb.  13,  1863.  I'.  1  13th  Inf..  >)  mos.     Discharged  May  16.  1863, 

Hosmer.  George,  Onarga,  Aug.   18,   i8f)2.  Co.  disahilitx. 

D.    113th   Inf.,  34  mos.      Mustered  out    Tune  20.  Henderson.    IK'ury    .\..    Middleport.    .\ug.    12, 

1865,  as  Sergeant.  1S62,  Co.  F,  1  131I1  Inf.,  7  mos.     Died  at  Young's 

Harper.  John,  Onarga,  July  29,   1862,  Cn.   I),  Point,  La.,   .March    iS,    18(13. 

113th  Inf..  26  mos.     Killed  Sei)t.  30.  iSrq.     C,,r-  Hostin,    Rich:n-d    I\,    llolmonl.    Dec.    11.    18(13, 

PO""*!'-  I'll.  ]■'.  ii3th  Inf.,  iS  mos.     Mustered  out  June  2. 

Harper,  .Andrew  S.,  (  )narga,  Aug.  16,  i8()2.  Co.  1895. 

D.    ii3lh    Inf..   5   mos.      Died  ;il    Holly    Springs.  Ilazlett,  Geovgv  W.,   .Middkport,  Jan.  4.   18(14. 

Miss.,  Jan.   n.   1863.  C,,.  \.\  i,,,',  |„f^  id  mos.     .Mustered  out  .May  28. 

Harper,  Samuel  J..  Onarga.  Au,g.  4.  1892,  Co.  i8()5. 

D.  113th  Inf.,  7  mos.     Died  at  St.  Louis,  Feb.  25,  Iliekory,    Isaac  .Middleport,  Jan.   15,  18(14,  Co. 

''^'.V  I".  113th  Inf.,  13  mos.     Discharged  Feb.  7,  1865. 

HariHT,  .\le.\ander.  Onarga,  .\ug.  7,  1862,  Co.  disability. 

I).    ii3lh    Inf.,  34  mo';.      .Mustered  out   June  20.  Henry,   Charles   A..    .\Iiddleiirirt,  Jan.  4.    18(14, 

1865.  as  Corporal.  Co.  |.\  11:5th  inf..  18  r.i.is.     Transferred  to  120th 

Hopkins,  James  (i.,  Onarga,  .\u.g.  9.  i8()j.  Co.  Illinois. 

D.   113th  Inf.,  8  mos.     Died  at  Onarga.  Ainil  (>.  Hooker.    Alhn.    I'.elniom.    Xov.   28,    18(13,   Co. 

18(13.      Home  on   sick   leave.  I'.    1  1  :;ih    Inf.,    iS    mos.      Transferred    to    I20th 

Hoyt,    I'ldw.ird.    Onarga,    .\ug,    12,    1862,    (.'o.  Illinois. 


IKOQLOIS  C<)L"\TV.  ILLINOIS.  -■? 

Hart.   |;inK>  II..  .\|iiUllc|Kirt.  IXc.  j,  i»«ij.  Co.  I  o.   I).   I5«mIi   Int..   l    \r.     .Mustered  out  Jan.    |(>, 

!•".    il.vl'    '"•'      '•'^    '""^       'IVaiwfi  ifiil    III    i.'iiiii  iWif>. 

Illinois.  HoIiDos.   Hcnr>.  ( Jiiar^a.  Sq)t.   lo.    1861.  Co. 

Hickon.    .Muliacl.    ."  litUll<.i».ri.  Jan.    15.    iS^q.  M.  <jil)  t  av..  43  inos.    .Mii.-tircd  otit  .Xpril  5.  1W15. 

Co.  I-".  ti.vli  I'll'     iX  in.is       riiii-firrnl  In  I  .'oili  llcniirlcks,   Charles.   ( )iiarKa.    Sept.    to,    iM<ii, 

Illinois.  Co.  .\l.  yth  Cav..  43  nios.     Miisiereil  out  .ApiHI  5, 

Manna.     IvKlianl    Jainc.>..    ClulahM.    Aw^.     I.  iJV>.S. 

i8<>-'.  Co.  H.  ii3tli   In:'      rr.mi  .till  (aiitain  d .  Haft.   Claii!<.   Onarj^a.    Dec.    1,    lS«i|.   Co.    .\I, 

K.  5i.st  C.  S.  C.  T.  i;ih  Cav.,  47  nios.    MusliTcd  out  ( )ct.  31.  1865. 

IlaJKlit.  Matthew,  elitl)an>e,  .\u«.  11.  iS<ij.  i....  limit.  I).  \V..  (  hiarjja.  .\nj;.    1.   iS<>.'.  Co.   M, 

I.    ii.^ih    ii:f  .    14    iii..~       MiKiiTiil   lint   June  20,  <jth  Cav..  45  da>s.     Rejected  Sept.  15,   l>^iJ. 

1865.  Hahn,  Thomas.  <  hiar^a,  .Aug.  i,  1862,  Co.  M, 

Hii|ikwi>,  Jeioinc.   .MiiUilepurt.   .\iij;.    15.    i8(')j.  ijlh  Cav.      .\"o  <hta. 

Co.  I,  I  I  vh  Inf.  .^4  nil-.     Mn  si  .red  out  June  20.  Howard,  Uavid   I!..  I  )narj;a.  I"eh.   1,  l8<>3.  Co. 

18^)5.  .\l.  >fih  Cav.,  a  nios.     .Mustered  out  Oct.   31, 

Hoj^le.   IKnr\.   .Mi(l.|li|)'.n.   .\ll);.    II.   iJVij.  Co.  |S(>5. 

I.  .I3tli  Int.     Rejected.  Howard.  Ueiijaiiiin.  L<i<la.  Sept.   15.  iS<»i.  I  o. 

Hill.  John.   .Middlepi.rt.  .\up.  «>.   |8/>J,  Co.   1,  C,   loth  Cav..  50  nios.      .Mustcreii  out   .Nov.  22, 

ii.vli  Inf..  10  nios.     l)ischnr;;e<l  May  j8.  18^)3.  1805. 

Haniniond.  Charles,  MiddleiMjrt,  .\n;;.  11.  iS6j.  H<«hI.  l-'lisha  S..  Loda,  Sept.   15.   iS<ii.  tlo.  C. 

Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  34  nios.    Mustere«l  out  June  20.  mtli  Cav..  30  mos.     Discharged  .March  4,   |8<>3. 

i.*Vi.S.  di>aliiliiy. 

Halderiitin.  Clans.  .Mid<lle]Kirt.  .\ng.  10,  i8<>J.  Hanson.  Henry.  Loila,  Sej)!.   15.   iX*!!.  Co.  C. 

Co.  I.   113th   Inf.,  2  mos.     Died  at  Camp  Han-  loth  Cav.,  28  mos.     .Mustered  out  Dec.  30,  1863. 

cock.  Oct.    n^    1862.  Hyde.  Jn.sephus  l\.  Loda.  Sept.   13,  1861.  Co. 

Harilestv.   .Martin.  Sheldon.  .\ug.  9.   i.S/)2.  t^u.  l  .    lolh   (.'av..   51    n\i».      .Mustered   imt    Nov.   22. 

I.  1 13th  Inf.,  34  uHis.     .Mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  i8<'i5. 

June   20.    1865.  Ilainiin,  William  J.,  i.oda,  Sept.   15.   iS/n.  (.0. 

Henston.  Wallace   I-'..  Onarga.  .Mav    14.   18/14.  C .   loth  Cav.     Died.     Date  lun  given. 

Co.    1'.    134th    Inf..   5   mos.      .Mustered  out   Oct.  Hammond,  William,  Ij^nla,  Sept.  15,  i8r>i,  Co. 

2^.  18/14.  C.    loth  Cav.      Discharged    for  ilisahility.      Date 

Haviland.   James.    .\lidd!e|)ort.    .May    14.    18/14,  not  given. 

Co.   IS.    i.^4th    Inf.,  5   mos.      .Mustered  out   Oct.  Harris.  Simon.   Loda.  Sept.    15,    1861.  Co.  C, 

25.   i8/>4.  loth  Cav.      Killed  in  i, attic,  time  and  place  not 

Harwood.  Lewis.  Crescent,  .May  14.  1S/J4.  C<j.  given. 

I!,    134th    Inf.,   5   mos.      Mu.stercd   out   Oct.   25.  Haley.   John.    Lo<la.    Sept.    15.    iS/.i.    ( 

'''^'4-  loth  Cav..  2  yrs.    Died  at  Little  KtHrk,  .\rk..  Sept. 

Horner,  John,   .Middleixjrt.  Jan.   12.   i8/)5.  Co.  i«,  im,\. 

D.  150th  Inf..  1  yr.    Mustered  out  Jan.  iC.  iST/,.  Howar.I.  ISeniamin.  L.Kia.  Jan.  ?,  18^.4.  („.  l  . 

Hall.  Kohert  S..  Onaiga.  Jan.  30.  18/^.5.  Co.  I).  ,p,,,  ^v,^.     ^^  ,„^,^      .Mustered  out  as  Sergi-airt. 

150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  ont  Jan.  i'>.  18/1^1.  >^-|,^.    ,^    ,j^^,, 

Henderson,   William   A..   .Middleptirt,    Jan.  2s,.  ,,      ,       ,,           v     i      1      i               ^,      ,■      ,- 

ar     ,'     ,^          u  1    /                M             ■          .  Hawks,  Henrv  N.,  Lo<la,  Jan.  3.  18/14,  <^  "•  •^  • 

18^13.  Co.  D.  isoih  Inf..  I  \r.     Mustered  out  Ian.  .,   ,,                          \i     .       1       .  v        ^,     u,  . 

•„               •                                                    •  loth  Cav..  23  mos.     Mustircd  out  Nov.  22.  i8<)^. 
i/>.  i8/)/>. 

Hanson,  Janus  H..  .Milford.  Feh.  7.  i8<^s.  I  -.  "'"*'•    •'^■"""'''-   '""''•    ''■"'■    '^-    '**^'*-  ^''*-   ^'• 

1).  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustert.l  out  Jan.  ir,.',8/./..  ""''  ^■=»^-  "3  '""*•     -^'I'stered  out  Nov.  22.  iHC^S- 

Hanson.  William   .\..  .Milford,  Jan.  30,   18/15.  Havens,  .\le.\ander,  Danforth,  Oct.  3.  1861.  Co. 

Co.  D,  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  '"•  ' "''  <-'av..  12  mos.     Discliargc.I  Oct.  5.  i8r,.'. 

i}</V',  disahilily. 

Ilmiston.    l<<i|K-rt     .M..    L.m!.i.     Pan.     Vi     iX/i?.  I  Kiiderson.  Sidne\ .  .MiddU'iMirt.  Sept.  14.  |8(>|. 


714  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

Co.  D.  1st  Art'ly..  2  mos.    Died  at  Cairo.  Xov.  23.  Jacobs.  .Adam.  .Middleport.  Aug.  14.  1862.  Co. 

i86i.  I".  ii3tli  I"f-  3  ys. 

Hoyt,   Henry  J-    -Middleport.   Sein.    14.    1861.  Jackson.   Frank.  Belmont.   July  22.    1862,  Co. 

Co.   D.   ist  Art'ly.  7  mos.      Discliarsjcd    May  2.  A.  7C>th  Int..  22  mos.     Died  at  Vicksburg.  May, 

1862.  1864. 

Henry,  Thomas  J.,  Middleport,  Sept.  16,  1861,  JefYerson,  Thomas.  Middleport,  June  13,  1861, 

Co.    D,    1st   Art'ly.,    17   mos.     Missing   Feb.   21.  Co.  I.  20th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Discharged  at  expiration 

1863.  of  enlistment. 

Hamilton.  Dickson.  Middleport.  Oct.  27,  1861.  Jamison,  Thomas.  Middleport.  June  13.   1861, 

Co.  D,  1st  Art'ly.,  45  mos.     Mustered  out  July  Co,  I,  20th  Inf.,  3  yrs. 
28.  1865.  John,   David,   Middleport.  June   13,    1861,   Co. 

Hammond.   Andrew  J.,    Loda.   Jan.    23.    1862,  1.    20th    Inf.,    4    yrs.      Re-enlisted    as    veteran. 

Co.  L,  2d  Art'ly.,  9  mos.     Discharged  f  )ct.   IQ.  Mustered  out  as  Sergeant. 
1862.  Jewel.  William  A.,  Middleport.  Jan.   5,   1864, 

Havens,  Albert  T.,  Loda,   Feb.   10,   1862.  Co.  Co.  I.  20th  Inf..  14  mos.     Killed  at  Fayetteville. 

L.  2d   Art'ly..  42   mos.      Mustered  out   Aug.  g.  X.  C.  March  11.  1865. 
1865.  Jones,    riiillii).   Onarga.  June  4.   1861,  Co.   F, 

Igney,  Frank,  .\shkuni.  Xov,  7.   18^11.  Co.  C.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Discharged  Sept.  5.  1864. 
58th    Inf.,    41     mos.       Re-enlisted    as    veteran.  Jarrctt.   John.   Middleport.   June  4,    1861,   Co. 

Mustered  out  April  i,  1866.  F.  25th   Inf..  3  yrs.     Discharged  Sept.  5.   1864. 

Izzard,  George  W.,  Middleport.  Jan.  24.  i8(')2,  Jnlmscm,  James,  Martinton,  June  4,   1861,  Co. 

Co.  A,  76th  Inf.     Killed  at  Jackson.  .Miss,.  July  F,  25th  Inf..  30  mos.     Killed  at  Mission  Ridge. 

7,   1864.  Xov.  25,  1863. 

Irvin,   Abram,    Concord,    Aug.    22,    1862,    Co.  Johns,  William,   Martinton,  June  4,   1861,  Co. 

E,  76th  Inf..  28  mos.     Discharged  Dec.  10.  1864.  F.   25th   Inf..    ig   mos.      Killed   at    Stone   River, 
Isljester,  William,  Onarga,  Aug.  7,   1862.  Co.  Dec.  31.  1862. 

C,   88th    Inf.,   34   mos.      Promoted  Captain,   but  Jones,  John   ii.,  .Maitinton.  June  4.   1861.  Co. 

mustered  out  as  Sergeant,  June  9,  1865.  I",  25th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Died  at  Springfield.  Mo.. 

Isler,  George,  Middleport,  Aug.   12,  1862,  Co.  Xov.  11,  1861. 

F,  n3th  Inf..  5  mos.     Discharged  Jan.  12,  1863,  Johnson,  David  W.,  Middleport.  Feb.  29,  1864. 
disability.  Co.  C,  12th  Inf..  17  mos.     Mustered  out  July  24, 

Isler,    X'athaniel.    Middleport,    Oct,    27,    i86i,  iWi;. 
Co.  D,  1st  Art'ly.     Missing,  supposed  dead.     Xo  Janies,  Benjamin  F.,  Middleport.  Sept.  20,  1861, 
''''^*'''-  Co,  C,  51st   Inf,,  4  vrs.     Promoted  to  Quarter- 
James,  George  W.,  Middle])ort.  July  24,   18^,2,  Master." 
Co.  A.  7r,th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  j„,^„^„„^  ^tto,  Middleport,  Sept.  20.  1861,  Co. 

T^'         ^^  ^  C.   Tist  Inf..  7  mos.  Di.scliarged  April    19,   1862, 

Jones,   Henry  L..   Middleport.  July  24.    1862,  disabilitv 

Co.  A,  76th  Inf.,  9  mos.    Died  at  Memphis,  April  '        ','  .      ^r-,„  ^-  --,.     .- 

-   jgg  '  Joly,  Robert  A..  Middleport,  Xov,  i,  1861,  Co. 

Toiler,.,    T-.,,,.- AT    -vfin        .    \  o/-  ^-  5'^t  Inf.,  7  mos.     Died  near  Corinth,  Miss., 

(onn.son,  James  .M..  .Middleport.  Ant;'.  11.  i8ri2,  t  „^ 

^„T    ,,,^,    T   r  Tune   12,   1862. 
Lo.I,  113th  Inf.,  3  yrs. 

Jones,  Alexander  C„  Middleport,  fulv  24,  1862,  Johnson.  John  W.,  Middleport.  Feb.  27.  1864. 

Co.  A,  76th  Inf.,  3  vrs.     Mustered"  out  Tulv  22.  *^"-  "^^  ^i^t  I"f-  1/  mos.     Mustered  out  Sept,  25, 

1865,  ■     ■  i8fi5. 

Johns,   Flisha,   Middleport,   .\tig.  <).   1862,   Co,  Jaquith,   James    II,.   Chehaiise,    .\pril    i,    18C15, 

B,    I  [3th    Inf,,  3  yrs,  Co.  II.  58th  Inf.,  7  mos.    Captain.    Died  at  Mont- 
Jacobs,  Daniel  G.,  Concord,   jnlv  24.  1S62,  Co.  .goniery,  .\la..  (  )ct.   15,  1865, 

.•\.  -Ctih  Inf..  7  mos.     Died  at   Mrmphis.  I'\b.   ij.  Jarvis,  Joseph.  .Martinton.  March  t.  1865,  Co, 

'8'''3-  11,  38lh  Inf.,  i  yr.     Mustered  out  March  1.1866. 


luoorois  rniiVTV   iii  in'ois 


JiiiK-.s,  llciir\.  Martintiiii.  Icli.  JJi,  iJ^'.S.  Co. 
H.  5Sili  Inf..  I  yr.     Miisurcil  mit  l-ili.  J4,  lAi'i. 

Jackson,  John,  Clifton,  .Auk.  '•^.  i^^'J-J.  Co.  (1, 
-jil  Inf.,  35  nios.  .Mustered  out  as  .Sirrtjcant, 
July  13.  I8<J5. 

Jenkins,  Nelson  S..  Ash  Grove.  Aujj.  i,  iX'jj. 
Ci>.  K.  7»rtli  Inf.,  II  nios.  Discliarjjcd  June  io. 
i8<j3,  disability. 

Jones,  Seth,  Chelnnse,  .\ug.  9,  i86j,  Co.  11. 
I  i.^tli  Inf..  34  nios.     .Mustered  out  Jiuie  jcj.  i.S<>5. 

J' "lies.  Klislia.  .Martintoii,  .Vufj.  v-  i>^>-.  t-o. 
It.  H3th  Inf.,  34  nx)s.  Musterc<l  out  Jtuie  jo. 
l^<^»5,  as  .^er^;eant. 

Jones.  \\  illiani  R..  .Middkport,  .\ujj.  15,  |S(>J. 
Co.  D.  I  i3tli  Inf.,  2  nios.    Deserted  ( )ct.  12,  1862. 

Jones.  James  .'^..  ()ru»r>;a.  .\uj;.  15,  1862,  C«). 
I).  1 13th  Inf.,  J2  mos.     Killed  June  30.  iS<i4. 

Jacob,  Adam.  Middlcport,  Aug.  12,  1862,  Co. 
I".  ii3tli  Inf..  34  niDS.  .Mustered  out  June  20. 
1865. 

Johnson,  Patterson  .M.,  .Middleport.  .\u>;.  u, 
iX'iJ.  Co.  F,  113th  inf.,  7  nios.  Discharj,'cd 
.March  16,  1863. 

Jones.  I'"rank  .\..  .Miildleport.  .\»ii.  <>.  i8fjj. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf..  7  nios.  Dischar;;eil  .March  7. 
18^.3. 

Johnson.  James.  .Mitld!c|)ort.  .\\\\x.  11.  iS/u. 
Co.  I,  1 13th  Inf..  34  nios.  .Mustered  out  June  jo, 
i8r>3. 

Johnson,  John  P>.,  Middle|>ort,  Aua.  11.  i8<)j, 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf.  Dischar(j;ed  at  .Memphis,  no 
tlate  {jiven. 

Jones,  Joseph,  Middlei)ort.  May  14.  1864.  Co. 
n.  134th  Inf.,  5  n»s.    Mustered  out  Oct.  25.  i8/»4. 

Justus.  .\(|uilla,  <  )narjja,  .May  14.  i8<'>4.  L".  1!. 
134th  Inf..  :;  mos.    .Musteretl  out  Oct.  25.  1864. 

Jones.  Calvin  C,  .Middleport.  Jan.  u.  i8<>5. 
L'o.  P.  !:'>•''  Till*  I  >r  \(m.i,.,-.  ,1  mil  (;,„  |(, 
i8<irt. 

Jones,  liarrison.  -Middleport,  l-eb.  6,  1865.  Co. 
1),  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  \C}.  18^/1. 

Jones.  William  S..  Chebanse,  Feb.  6.  1865.  Co. 
D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  18/16. 

Joins.  Joseph  W.,  Onarjpi.  March  ft.  iW>5,  Co. 
.M.  <;tli  Cav..  8  mos.     Mustered  out  Oct.  31,  18/15. 

Jones,  diaries  H.,  Lo<Ia.  Sept.  15.  1861.  Co. 
C.  iJtIi  Cav..  39  mos.  Mustered  out  Dec.  30. 
1864. 

Johnson,  James  1...  .Middiqiort,  (  >ci.  7.  i8«.i. 
Co.  D,  ist  Art'ly..  4  mos.    Missinp  Pel).  8.  i86j. 


KiiiK,  ij«.or^;c  K.,  .Mid<lli|M>rt,  April  jj,  if«Ji, 
Co.  I,  joth  Inf..  I)  nios.  (.  apiund  at  (iuntown, 
escaiKHl  from  pri.son.  returned  to  his  company  and 
mustered  out  as  Captain.  June  jo,  1865. 

Kiiijr,  (leorvje  K.,  .Middleport.  .\up.  u.  i8/'>j. 
Co.  F,  Ii3:h  inf.,  34  mos. 

KiiiK.  Charles  N"..  .Middleport,  .May  14,  i8()4, 
Co.  1!,  134th  Inf.,  5  niiiS.     Miisltred  out  Tlct.  2^. 

18/^.4. 

Keen.  .Marceleus.  .M.ddliport.  -Xuj;.  I  J,  i.SdJ. 
Co.  I".  II31I1  Inf..  5  mos.  Died  ,.u  sieamer  <  VA 
Walsh).  Jan.  2 J,   1863. 

Kniit/.  John  I'..  <  in.irna.  June  8.  i!^»3,  Co.  1". 
J5tli  Inf..  15  nios.  .Mii>tiri-d  out  Scjit.  >.  iS/'m, 
as  1st  Lieutenant. 

Kaudt.  r.cniard,  .Midtllciiort.  Aiij,'.  u,  i8<jJ. 
Co.  1".  113th  Inf..  34  m<i<.  Mustered  out  hiin-  Jo. 
1865. 

Kimler,  Tlioinas.  l.oil.i.  June  4,  iNdi.  to.  I', 
J5tli  Inf..  31  mos.  .Mortally  wouinlcd  at  Mission 
Kidfje.  .Nov.  25.  1863.  Dic<l  Jan.  11.  1864.  at 
Cliattanoopa. 

Kelly.  Jacob,  Middleport,  Au)j;.  16,  1862,  Co. 
I,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustere<l  out  June  20, 
i8r,5. 

Karr.  Klisha,  Sheldon,  Oct.  j8.  i8<)i.  Co.  K, 
3»Uh  Inf..  30  mos.  Re-cniistcd  as  veteran.  Killed 
at  Drury's  HlufT.  \'a..  May  14.   i8/')4. 

Kenilall,  I'.dwiii.  .\siikuiii,  .March  3.  i8(j5.  Co. 
K.  43d  Inf.,  7  mos.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  10,  1865. 

Kane,  Jiilin  C,  Concord.  .\uK.  8.  18/12.  Co. 
I,  ii3tli  Inf.,  7  11XIS.     Discharged  .March  7.  1863. 

Kirk.  Joseph.  .Ashkuni,  Feb.  11.  18/15.  Co.  K. 
43d   Inf.,  10  mos.     Mustered  out  Nov.  30,  i8/')5. 

Kelly.  Isaac.  Concord,  Aup.  8,  1862,  Co.  I, 
I  i3tli  Inf.,  33  mos.    Musteretl  out  May  22,  1865. 

Korn.  Francis  M.,  .\shkum,  Feb.  11,  i8/>5,  Co. 
K.  431I  Inf..  H)  mos.  .Mnstereil  out  \.iv.  30. 
i8/')5. 

Kane.  'I'honias,  Concord,  .\un.  14.  iNij,  Co. 
1.  1131I1  Inf..  14  mos.  Died  at  Camp  Miitler.  Oct. 

I.?.   iW'i.V 

Kelcham,  Nelson.  .Ashkuin,  (kt.  ji.  i.S<ii.  Co. 
C".  51st  Inf..  47  mos.  Mustered  out  Sept.  25. 
18/15,  as  Coqioral. 

Karr.  John.  Concord.  .\iij;.  11.  iS/ij.  Co.  1. 
113th  Inf..  35  mos.  .Mustered  out  I11K  jj.  18*.;. 
jirisoner  of  war. 

Kellx.  Thornton  .\..  (  iiiar^;.i.  (  let.  i<;.  i8''3.  <■  o. 
1.  Ii3tli  Inf..  18  mos.  Trausferreil  to  ijoth 
Illinois. 


7i6  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

Kemp.  John   1).,  Lo'la.  Aug.   14.   1862.  Co.  (■.  (;tli  Cav..  41  mos.     .Mu>icre(l  out  .April  10.  i8f)3. 

721]  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustertd  out  Aug.  7.  1865.  veteran. 

Keath,   George  C.  Ash  (jrove.   Feb.  6.    1865.  Kent.  Edward   D.,  Onarga.  Xcv.  i.  1861.  Co. 

Co.  D,  150th  Inf..   I    \  r.     .Mu.stered  out  Jan.   rf).  .M.  yth  Cav.,  7  mos.     Discharged  June  i.  1862. 

1866.  Knight.  Curtis  L..  Onarga.  Dec.  3.   1863.  Co. 

Kinney,  Isaac  .M..  Heaver.  July  24,   i8<'j2.  Co.  .M.  (;th  Cav..  8  nios.     Discharged  July  24.   1864, 

.\.  /C)\h  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  i8C)5.  sick. 

Knight,  E.  R..  Onarga.  Sept.  10.  i8f)i.  Co.  M.  Kemp,  John.  Danforth.  Xov.   if>.   1861.  Co.  F, 

9th  Cav..  39  mos.     Mustered  out  Xov.  30.  1864.  iitli  Cav..  49  mos.     Mustered  out  Sept.  30.  1863. 

Karr.  John    H.,   Coiicord,  July  24,    1862.   Co.  Lee.    Davicl.    Onargi.    May    14,    1864.    Co.    B, 

.A,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1865.  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.     Mustered  out  Oct.  25,  1864. 

Karr.   .Marion.  Concord,  .\ug.  9.   i8()2    Co.  .\.  Long,    Enoch,    .Miih'k-iiort,    Oct.    3,    1863.   Co. 

7Ath   Inf.     .Mustered  out  JuiK-  20.   iSfi^.  as  Cor-  C,  2(1  Art"ly..  22  mos. 

IKiral.  Lindsay,  Alden,  Onar.ga,  ( )ct.  22.  1863.  Co.  D, 

Kendall.   Elisha    .M  .    Uelmont.   July   24.    1862.  i  I3tli  Inf.,  10  mos.    Died  iu  Andersonville  Prison, 

Co.  A,  76th   Inf.,  26  mos.     Died  at   Middleixirt,  Aug.  23,  1864. 

Sept.  27.  1864.  Loveless,  Henry  1)..  .Middleport,  June  13,  1861, 

Kane,   .\aron    \\.  Concord.   .\ug.   7.    1862.  Co.  Co.   I.  20th  Inf..   14  mos.   . 

I,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  as  Captain  Lanahan,    Michael  J.,  Onarga.  Jan.   29,    1864, 

June  20,  1865.  Co.  D,  113th  Inf.     Transferred  to  120th  Illinois. 

Kay.  James  W'..  .Middleixirt.  July  24.  1862.  Co.  Lewis.  George  \\'..  .Mi(ldle])ort.  Jmie  13.   1861. 

A.  /C)ih  Inf.,  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.   1863.  Co.  I.  20th  Inf.,  3  yrs. 

Kline.  James  .M..  lieaver.  .Aug.  9.  1862.  Co.  E.  Leathennan.    John    E..    Middleport.    -Aug.    12. 

76th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Died  at  Jefferson  Barracks.  .\ng.  1862.  Co.  !■',  113th  Inf.     Taken  prisoner  at  (nm- 

18,  i8<')3.  town.     Alu.stered  out  June  20.  1863. 

Keady.  John   I'..  .Ash  Grove,  Aug.   1.  i8ri2.  Co.  Lyman.  Jacob  A.,   .Middleport.  June   13.    1861, 

E.  761I1  Inf..  8nio>.     Discharged  .March  30.  18(13.  Co.   I,  20th  Inf.,  3  yrs. 

disability.  Lister.   John    C,    Middleport,    Aug.    12,    1862, 

Kinney,  William  G..  I'.eaver,  .\iig.  11,  1862,  Co.  Co.   1",   113th   Inf.,  (>  mos.     Discharged  Feb.   i6. 

I-"..  76th  Inf..  34  mo.s.     Discharged  May  21.  1863,  1863. 

disability.  Leeds,  John.  Middleport,  Jime  13.  1861,  Co.  I, 

King,    William    II.,    Loda.    .\iig.    3.    18^2,    Co.  20th  Inf..  3  yrs. 

K.   7Gth    Inf.,   4    mos.      Dit'd   at    Holl\    Si>riiigs.  Longshore.     Richard,     .Middleport,     .Aug.     12, 

-Miss.,  Dec.   10.   18(12.  1862,  Co.   P.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Mustered  out 

Keath,  (labriel,  I'lelmont.  (  )ct.  10.  1864.  Co.  K.  June  20,  1865,  as  Cori)oral. 

76th  Inf.,   16  nif>s.      Transferred  to  37th   lllinoi-.  Lentz.  George  F.,   Middleport,  Jtme  13.   1861, 

Kelton,   Edward,  Clifton,   .Aug.    10.    1862.  Co.  Co.  1.  20th  Inf..  3  mos.  Discharged  for  (hsability. 

C.  88th  Inf.,  13  mos.     Discharged  Sept.  1 1.  1863.  Leathennan.     .Abritham,     Concord,     Au,g.     12, 

Kingman,  Charles  A..  Clifton,  July  29,   1862,  1862,  Co.  F,   113th   Inf.,  34  mos.     .Mustered  out 

Co.  C.  88th  Inf.,  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  c».  Jmie  20,    1865,  Corporal. 

■^''5-  Large,  John  W.  M.,  .Middle]X)rt,  Jan.  5.  i8r)4, 

Kitson,  George  A..  Clifton.  .\ug.    1.   18^)2.  Co.  Co.  [,20th  Inf.,  18  mos. 

C.  88th  Inf.,  7  mos.     Discharged   .March  4,   18(13.  l.;irrow,  Edward,   Beaver,   .\ug.    12,   1862,  Co. 
disai)ihty.  1\  1  13th  Inf.     Deserted. 

Keyser.  David  M.,  Onarga.  .Aug.  13,  1862,  Co.  I  eek.    Henry,   Mi(ldle|iort,  June    13,    i8(,i,  Co. 

D.  r  13th  Inf.,  4  mos.    Deserted  Xov.  10.  i8r)2.  I.  20th    Inf.,  2  vrs.     Killed  at   .\tlanta.   lulv  22. 
Knight.  Curtis  L.,  Onarga.  Sept.  10,  iSf)!,  Co.  1864. 

M,   i>ih   Cav..    13   mos.      Mustered   out  Oct.    17.  Lealhernian.  Ronianzo.  Concord.  Oct.  i6.  186^, 

'^^'7  ^'"-  I''.  ii.Vli  Inf.     Die. I  in  Camp  Ihitler.  date  not 

Kiser,  Samuel,  (  )narga.  Oct.  20.   iHCu .  Cn.   M.  given. 


IROQl-OIS  COUNTY.  ILI.IXOIS.  717 

I^ikf.  Andrew  J..   .\>hkuin.  Jnnt-   1.    iNii.  Ln.  (.<■.   I.   51st    Inf..   .V   "«>•'       I^'f^'l   a'    Kiclinioiul. 

(i.  J5th    Inf..   14  ni.'s.     Serjeant -.Major  nf  ri-Ri-  .March  i-'.  I«'i4. 

HMrnt.     ji\  LieulcnaiU  of  Co,  G.     Rcsi)jm-<1  \\tg.  I.onp.  Janu-s.   .Milfonl.  May    14.   1W14.  Co.   11. 

4.  iW)j.  i.U'l'  '"f--  5  '"">■     .Miislorol  out  «  >ct.  J5,  1W14. 

Lyons,  .^xlvistcr.  Clularsc.  .\un-  '3.  i*^>^.  t"-  l.ynns.  Daniel  \\  ..  .Miililli'ixirt.  .^ipt.  jo.  iS<>i. 

II.   113th   Int..  8  mos.     I)ic<l  at   Younp's   I'oint.  Co.  C.  51st    inf..  7  mos.     Dischar^c'l  .\pril  24. 

.\pril  «j.  iWi.V  i)^>j.  (lisaliility. 

Lyman.  Jnhn  I)..  (  Hiar^a.  June  4.  iWm.  Co.  I-',  Lannhlin.  \\  illiani.  (  )narKa.  <  >ct.  i.v  |8^>I.  Co. 

25th  Ir.f..  i;  iiK>s.     Dicil  at  Camp  Cooper.  .\rk..  C.  57th  Inf..  1  \r.     Kiilal  at  Corinth.  .Miss..  Oct. 

.March   5.   ilV..'.  .V   iW.j. 

I.eathennan.     William.     MitI<lleiH>rt.    .\»k.    ~.  Leifjliton.  .Xn.hrose.  .Mi(l<lleix>rt.  .\ujj.  <>•  i^'iJ. 

1862.  Co.   I.    I  i.^tli   Inf.,  7  mos.      Died  at  Camp  Co.  it.  ii.^th  Inf..  1,^  mos.     I)ie<l  at  Corinth.  Sept. 

r.utler.  March   14.  iS^..v  27.    i8/>.v 

Little.  John.   .Mii|<l!e|K>rt.  June  4.   iS«ii.  Co.   F.  Lash.   Jonas.   (  )nart;a.   Sept.   J4.    lS<ii.   Co.   C. 

25th  Inf..  30  mos.     Killed  at  .Mission  Riilpe.  N'ov.  57t!i    Inf..  7  mos.      D!e<l  at    I'ittshiirp   l^mdin);. 

23.  ifV\^.  .\pril  15.  18^12. 

Lister.  Riley.  .Middle|>ort.  .\n},'.  7.  1862.  Co.  I.  Lee.  William.  (  Miarfja.   .Vufj.  9.    i8r»2.  Co.  D. 

113th   Inf..  14  mos.     Die<l  at  Camp  Uutler.  ( )ct.  Ii3lh  Inf.  ri  mos.     Diid  at  \  ickshurp.  June  2C). 

28.  i8r>_v  1863. 

Lee.    .Milo.    .Martintun.    June    4.    l8<i|.    Co.    I'.  Lyons,   Edward.  Chelianse.   Xov.   7.    18^11.  Co. 

25th    Inf.,  6  nws.      Died  at  Jeflfcrson    I'.arracks.  C\  58th  inf. 

.Mo.,   .\'ov.  27.    i8r>l.  Lewis.   l"raiKi>  .\|..  .\sli  iirove.  .\u^.  !<.   iS/iJ. 

I-avender.  (Icorye  J..  .\liddIe|)ort,  (  )ct.  28,  i8<ij.  C'o.  D.   Ii3lh   Inf.     .Mustered  out  June  20.   iS/.j. 

Co.  I.  113th  Inf..  3  mos.     Dc.serte<l  Feb.  10.  i8^»3.  Lock.  John.  Clifton.  Nov.  7,  i8^)t,  Co.  C.  58th 

I^shley.  Samuel.  .Mi(h!lcj)ort.  June  4.  1861.  Co.  Inf.       Re-enlisted    in    I'.atterv     11.     1st     .\liss<pnri 

Co.   v.  25th   Inf.  3  yrs.     .Mnstereil  out   Sept    ;;.  Lij^ht  .\nillery. 

iS/^.  I-ovctt.    .Michael,  Onarjra.   July   30.    i8/'>2.  Co. 

fx'ijjfhdy.  J.iines  .\.,  .Milfnrd.  Dec.  <>.  i*''^^  L o.  I).  113th  Inf..  13  mos.    DischarRcd  .\np.  28.  1W14. 

I.    113th    Inf..    <;    mos.      Died    in    .\n<lir<niuille  Lock.  .Simuel.  .\shkum.   Nov.   2.   iS^^M.  Co.  C  . 

Prison,  Sept.  y.  18/^4.  58tli  Inf. 

Lyon.  James  .\..  Fast  I'lend.  Jime  4.  iJ^'i.  L o.  Lacy.  Thomas.  (  )narna,   |ulv  30,  18/12.  Co.   I). 

F.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  1^*4.  113th   Inf..  8  mos.     Died  at   .Mound  Citv.   March 

Lee,  William  (i..  .Middle|K)rt.  .\up.    15,   i8r>2.  20.  18*13. 

Co.   I.   113th   Inf.,  j^T^  mos.     Discharged   May    15.  I-iw.   Joseph    .\..   I  hehanse.    .March    14.    1N13. 

l8^>5.  Co.  11.  58th  Inf..  I  vr.     Mustered  nut  March   13. 

Lyman.   .Alfred.    Ilelmont.   June  4.    iSTn.   Co.  iSTrfS. 

I-".  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  18^15.  Lucas.    Roliert    l!..   (  )nar^,Ti.   (  »ct.    1.    i8<)2.   Co. 

Lewis,  .\ndrew  J..   MiddIe|)ort.   l"et).  J\.   |8^>4.  D.    113th   Inf..   t^t^  mos.      .Mustered  out    June  20. 

Co.  — ,  Il3lh   Inf.     Rejected.  tWiS.  as  Captain. 

Lawhea<l.    Rolnrt.   Chehanse.    .March    i.    |8<>2.  Laj;ranj;e.  Thaver.   Middleport.    July    24.   18/.2. 

Co.  (i,  25th  Inf..  3  XT'".    Transferred  to  t  o.  II.  Co.    .\.   7''ilh    Ir.f..   i)   mo<.      IVoniotcd    Sertrcani- 

I>eek,  Cornelius  .M..  .MiddKr|)«irt.  .May  14.  1864,  Major. 

Co.  15.  134th  Inf..  5  mos.     Mustered  out  dct.  25.  Lauphlin.   James.    .Mid(i!cp<tri.   July    24.    i8(>2. 

1864.  Co    .\..  7f)th  Inf..  3  yrs      Absent,  sick  on  nnisier 

Luce.  Ira.  .Middle|H)it.  Mtfi.  2^).   iW>i.  Co.  (i.  out   of   regiment. 

25111  Inf.     .No  data.  Lyman.  John.  Helmont.  June  24.  i8/^>2.  Co.  .\, 

I.enfj.  William.  ( )nari,'a.  May   14.   18/14.  Co.   1*..  j<>tU    Inf..   ~  mos.      Dischari;eil    March    IJ.    i8<i^ 

134th  Inf..  5  n»>s.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  2-i.  liV^.  disabilitx 

Lyman.  Joseph  W'..  Mi<ldlq)orl.  Oct.   1.   |8/'.|.  I.esco.  Joseph.  irtH|uo|s.   |uK   J_^    iSi,j_  to.  .\. 


7iS 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


76th  Inf.,  1  yr.  Discharged  June  30,  1863. 
disability. 

Laney,  Henry  S.,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862,  Co. 
A,  76th  inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  as  Sergeant, 
July  22,  1865. 

Lesco.  Joel.  Iroquois,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  A, 
76th  Inf..  ^2  mos.  Died  of  wounds,  April  16, 
1865,  at  Fort  lilakely. 

Lyman,  Andrew.  .Middlei)ort.  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  A.  76th  Inf..  3  vrs.  ]\Iuslered  out  July  22, 
1865. 

Lovett,  George  U.,  Ivliddleport.  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  A.  76th  Inf.,  3  vrs.  Mustered  out  July  22, 
1865. 

Lagrange,  Thayer,  Middleport,  July  24,  1862, 
Co.  A,  76th  Inf.     Promoted  Sergeant-AIajor. 

Laplante,    Philip,    Beaver,   Aug.   8,    1862,    Co. 

D,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  as  Sergeant. 
July  22,  1865.     Promoted  Lieutenant. 

Lcard,  Robert  H.,  Milford.  Aug.  i,  1862,  Co. 

E,  76th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Died  at  Memphis,  .March 
II,    1863. 

Longnecker,  Harvey  B..  Ash  Grove,  -Vug.  ir, 
1862,  Co.  E,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Died  at  Mobile. 
June  I,  1865. 

Longnecker,  Charles  J.,  Ash  Grove,  July  11, 
1862,  Co.  E,  76th  Inf..  9  mos.  Discharged  April 
8,  1863,  disability. 

Lyman,  Jackson,  Milford,  Dec.  17,  1863,  Co. 
E,  76th  Inf..  2  yrs.    Transferred  to  37th  Illinois. 

Linball,  John,  Ash  Grove,  July  24.  1862,  Co. 
K,  76th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Discharged  March  20.  i8'^3. 
disability. 

Lutz,  George,  Loda.  .Vug.  9,  1862.  Co.  K.  7''ith 
Inf..  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Ludden,  Fred  M.,  Loda,  July  27.  1862,  Co.  K. 
76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 
Corps. 

Ludden,  Henry  M.,  Loda,  July  27,  1862,  Co.  I\. 
76th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Discharged  May  20.  1863. 

Lenaive,  Joseph.  Loda.  .\iig.  1.  1862,  Co.  K. 
76tli  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1863. 

Lakcy.  John  W.,  .-Vsh  Grove,  Feb.  3,  1864. 
Co.  K,  76th  Inf.,  13  mos.  Discharged  Mav  v, 
1865. 

Legg,  Isaac  V'.,  Loda,  Aug.  10.  1862,  Co.  C, 
88th  Inf.,  22  mos.  Discharged  June  4.  1864. 
disability. 

Lynn,  John,  Clifton,  July  29.  1862,  Co.  C.  88lh 
Inf.,  4  mos.    Died  Dec.  8,  1862,  of  wounds. 


Lourant,  Leon  J.,  L'Erable,  Aug.  16,  1862,  Co. 
D,  89th  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Died  in  Andersonville  Prison 
Sept.  I,  1864. 

Lyman,  Jonathan  W.,  ^iliddleport,  Aug.  9, 
1862.  Co.  B,  113th  Inf.,  3  mos.  Died  at  Jef- 
ferson  Barracks.  Jan.  21.    1863. 

Lyman,  Andrew  J.,  Middleport,  Aug.  9.  1862, 
Co.  B,  113th  Inf.  No  data. 

Lyman,  Jacob  X.,  ^liddleport,  Feb.  i,  1863,  Co. 
D,  130th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Clustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Lively,  James,  Beaver,  Feb.  i,  1865,  Co.  D, 
130th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  1866. 

Lyman,  John,  Middleport,  Feb.  i,  1865,  Co. 
D,  130th  Inf..  I  yr.    Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Little,  William  F..  Middleport,  Jan.  16,  1865, 
Co.  D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Clustered  out  Jan.  16, 
1866. 

Laroche,  Theophile,  Middleport,  Jan.  14,  1865, 
Co.  D,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  Jan.  16, 
1866. 

Larmeree.  Edward,  Onarga,  Jan.  30,  1865.  Co. 
D,  130th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Lasco,  Cliftord,  Middleport,  Feb.  6,  1863,  Co. 
D,  130th  Inf.,  I  yr.     JMustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Lyman,  Lewis,  Middleport.  Feb.  7,  1863.  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Long,  David,  Onarga,  Nov.  I,  1861.  Co.  F, 
9th  Cav.     No  data. 

Lowe,  John  \'.,  Onarga,  Nov.  i.  1861,  Co.  M, 
9th  Cav.,  47  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31,  1863, 
Sergeant,  Veteran. 

Letts,  Edward  N.,  Onarga,  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  49  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31,  1865, 
veteran. 

Lewis.  Cavalry,  Onarga,  Sept.  10.  1861,  Co. 
.\l.  gth  Cav..  39  mos.  Mustered  out  Dec.  10. 
i  8()4. 

Lewi.^.  'i'lKiinas,  (  )narga.  .^e])l.  10.  iSfu,  Co. 
-M,  ijth  Cav.,  43  mos.  .Mustered  out  .Ajiril  24, 
iSr)3. 

Lipi)inciiti,  jaciil),  Onarga,  Nov.  30,  1861.  Co. 
-M,  9tli   Cav.,  41   mos.     Mustered  out  April   24, 

isr,5. 

Langston,  Patrick.  Onarga.  Sept.  10,  1861.  Co. 
-M.  i;th  Cav.,  8  mos.  Dropped  from  rolls  April  ^o. 
1862. 

Lowe.  John  B.,  Onarga,  .^ug.  i,  1862,  Co.  AI, 

<)th   Cav..  35  mos.     Mustered  out  July  8,   1863. 

I  .(ickwdiid,   l-lilas.   (  )narga.   .\ug.    1.    1862,   Co. 


IKiMjr*  lis  L«)LM  V.   ll.l.iN.  U.S.  71V 

.M.  «/h  Cav.,  35  mos.     Miistcrv<l  om  Jiim-    i«>,  .Mclmltio.  John  M..  Ash  Cirove,  June  4.  iW>i. 

i8<>5.  Co.  1\  25tli  liiC,  3  yrs.     Miisti-rctl  out  Sept.  5. 

I.fwis.  William,  Onarjja.  .\iit;.  1.  i>«>-*.  C\>.  M.  1864. 

Vth  Cav..  35  mos.     Mustered  out  June  id.  1805.  .Morey,  William.  Lcxla.  .\un.' «J.   1862.  Co.   K. 

1j«ii.  Kilward  L..  Onarj^a,  .<ei>t.  15.  i8<»i.  Co.  p>ih  Int..  3  yrs.     .\lustcre<I  out  July  22.  |8*>5. 

C".   loth  Cav.,  31    ""-       \|nvi,,.,l  ,,.ii    V,.v    2J.  .Miller.  Jacoli.  Middle|K)rt.  June  13.  18'Ji.  Cc 

ii«)5.  veteran.  I.  -!otl«  Inf.,  4  n>os.    Died  at  Cairo,  Oct.  19,  1861. 

I.incau.  J'hn.  <  >nar).;a.  ."n.|U.   15.   iS<.i.  (\:  C.  .McCoy.  (leorRe,  .\sh  Cirove.  .Auj;.  7.  iR6j.  Co. 

loth  Cav     :■  ••  •  -      \!n-i.  r.,1  ..tii  V.,v    .._>    i!<(.c  I).  ii3tlt  Inf.,  y  mos.     Deserted  M.iy  6,  1863. 

veteran.  .Martin,  James   P.,  Martinton.   May  29.   i8<')i. 

I^nip,  John.   Uaniorili.   .\ov.  <<.   i8<>i,  C<>.    I  .  lo.  I',  J5tlt   Inf.,  2  yrs.    Kesi),jned  as   1st   l.icu- 

I  ilh  Ca\      |-  "'..-      \liivi.  r.,1  ..ni  v.ni    1. 1    I .v^ , ;  iciiant,  Juue  8,  i8<)3. 

veteran.  .McCoy,  James.  .Ash  Grove,  .Vug.  15,  i8f>2,  Co. 

I.eydeu,  John,  I.oda.  Jan.  23.  i8(t2,  Co.  1..  jil  I).   1  r3th   Inf..  2<)  inns.     IK->triol  Jan.  2<>.   18*15. 

.\rt'ly.,    M    ■"">        T>\.-lnri.'c.l    •  Vt      ij      iSi'u  .Morgan,  George  M.,  Sheldon,  Sept.  25,   i8<>i. 

disabilit>  '  o.   E.  39th    Inf.     .Mustered  out   Ttb.   2,    1865. 

I.i>nvir;;nun,  .\1..  L'llralik-,  .\uji.  10,  i8<i2,  Co.  Was  a  prisoner  of  war. 

I).  8«>th   Inf.,  6  n>>«      Wounded  at  Stone  River  .MclTunl.    .Miraham.    .Milfonl.    .\u>,'.    13.    i8<(.», 

and  discharged.  Co.   D,   113th   Inf.,  31   mos.     Died  at   Memphis. 

.\lunhall.  S.  C,  Crhaiia.  Auj;.  4.  \»f>2.  Co.  15.  March    12.    1865. 

7<>th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Sergeant  .Major.  .Miller.  Charles,  Chebanse,  .\ug.  25.   1861,  Co. 

Montgomery.  Samuel  W..  Ash  Grove.  .\ug.  6,  G,  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Musttrc<l  out  Sept.  5,  1864. 

i8')2,  Co.  ]•'..  7"th  Inf..  .>  \rs.     Died  of  wounds.  Miller,  Joseph.    Belmont,   -Aug.    12,   1862,   Co. 

July  II,  1864.  I'.    113th    Inf.,  26   mos.     Died    in     \ii.!.  r^iinJn.- 

Montgomery  J.  .\.,  (")narga,  Sept.  4,  1861,  Co.  IVison,  Oct.  18,  1864. 

M,  «7th  Cav..  40  mos.     Prisoner  of  war,  captureil  .Matthews.  William  H.,  C^narga,  March  8,  i8<')2, 

at  Pleasant  Hill.  .Miss.,  Jan.,  1864.  Co.  C",  4-'''   I'"'     ?-  '"■  -      "\histercd  out  .\pril 

Marklcv,   .Vmos   W.,  Concord,  .\ug.  4,    1862.  17,  iSC^^. 

Co.  K,  7'ith  Inf..  J  yrs.    Killed  at  Jackson.  Mi<~..  .Moore.  J..lni  Wtslty.  lleimont.  .Xug.   12.  18/12. 

July  7.    181J4.  Co.  F.   113th  Inf..  5  mos.     Discharged  Jan.   12. 

^fcKeever.  Patrick,  Middkport,  Nov.  18.  1863,  i8r>3.  disability. 

Co.    I,   56th    Inf..   20   mos.      Mustered  out    with  .McReyuoUls,  Henry,  Iroquois,  Sept.  12.   1861. 

regiment.  Co.   H.  42d   Inf.,   20  mos.     Discharged    May   4. 

.Mitchell.  Edward.   Middleport,  .\ug.  9,   1862.  1863,  for  disability. 

Co.  E.  76th  Inf..  1  yr.     Died  at  \'icksbnrg,  .\ng.  .Murray,   Xelson,   Beaver,   .\ug.    12,   1862,  Ox 

8.  1863.  F,   113th   Inf.,  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  20. 

.Ma\etti.  EuselK'.  .MiddlepDri.  .March  14.  18/14,  18^15. 

Co.  P..   i,^4th   Inf.,  5  mos.  .McManigall.  John.  .Ash  Grove,  Oct.   18.  18/14. 

.Marvin,  James,  .\sh  (irove,  .\uj:.  1,  1862,  Co.  Co.  K    i,?)li  Inf    o  m.is      Mustered  out  Julv  lo. 

E.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22,  1865.  18/15 

.Mixiney.  William  R..  Belmont.  .\ng.  9.   i8/>2,  .Mc.Maiiiis.    J.inics.    Belmont,    -Xug.    12.    1862. 

C"o.    K,    I22d    Inf..     ?       r^        r'i.nl!mii',l    in    riL'iu.ir  Co.     F,     113th     Inf.,    2')    irn-;        Hi"  •'    I"     Tr.yin,"''; 

army  until  1884.  -ounly,  Jan.  15,  18/15. 

.Myers.  Ix-wis,  .Mill  .r>l.  IXc.   17,  if</»3,  C. ..   I",.  .Mitten,   Thomas.    .\sh    (irove,   Oct.   24,    18/14. 

7'>th  Inf.,  2  yrs.     TransiV-red  to  37th  Regiment.  Co.  K    \jiU  Inf    S  m,.<      Mmtcrcd  out  June  20, 

Money,   .\be   W.,  Jan.    1.    1864.  Co.   H.   17th  18^15 

<"av..  I  yr.  McCuliocli,    Solonutn    B..    Iroquois,    Aug.    r2, 

Mitchell,  .Stephen  P..  Concord.  .Aug.  7.   1862.  1S/12.  Co.  F.  n3th  Inf     :  m.^     Discharged  Jan. 

Co.  E.  7/ith  Inf..  34  mos.    Mustered  out  May  31.  12,  18/13,  disability. 

18/15.  .Mason.  John,   Mi<ldU|>..ri. 
42 


720 


PAST  AND  PRESEXT  OF 


C.  31st   Inf.,  45  mos.     Mustered   out   Sept.   25, 
1865.  prisoner  of  war. 

.Mc.Xally.  William  James.  Belmont.  Aug.  12, 
1862,  Co.  F,  ii3tli  Int..  34  mos.  .Mustered  out 
June  20.  1865. 

Mason,  Pleasant  R.,  Middleport,  Oct.  15,  1861, 
Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  46  mos.  Mustered  out  Sept.  25, 
1865. 

McClintock.  W.  I'...  :\liddleport,  Aug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf..  3  mos.  Died  in  Chicago,  Xov. 
15.  1862. 

;\latlhe\vs.  William.  Middleport.  (let.  15.  1<%I, 
Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  5  mos.  Died  at  Mound  L'ity. 
March  25,  1862. 

Murray,  .Aaron,  iielmont,  Aug.  12.  1862.  Co. 
F.  113th  Inf.,  26  nios.     Discharged  Oct.  27,  1864. 

Miller,  Charles  W'.,  Middleport.  Sei)t.  20,  1861, 
Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  4  mos.  Died  in  Chicago,  Jan. 
7.   1862. 

Montgomery.  William,  Middleijort,  Sept.  20, 
1861.  Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Killed  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  Sept.  20,  1863. 

Miller,  William  H.,  Onarga,  Aug.  14,  1862. 
Co.  D,  n3th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  lune  20. 
1865. 

]\Ioore,  Jasper  X.,  Middleport,  March  3.  1862, 
Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  26  mos.  Died  at  Annapolis,  ^Id., 
jNlay  8,  1864. 

Mar.shall.  William,  Onarga,  Aug.  14.  1862.  Co. 

D.  1 13th  Inf..  18  mos.    Died  at  Camp  Butler,  Feb. 
22.  1864. 

McDermit,  William  J..  .Middleport,  Xov.  15. 
1861,  Co.  C.  51st  Inf..  38  mos.  Mustered  out 
Jan.  16,  1865. 

Meflford,  Andrew  J..  Milford.  .Aug.  11.  i8r)j. 
Co.  I).  1 1  ^th  Inf..  1^  mos.     Discharged  Sept.  10. 

i8r,3. 

.McOuigg,  Silas.   .Ashkum,   .Vov.  7,   1861.  'Co. 

C.  58th  Inf.,  42  mos.    Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
.\leizger.  David  H.,  Onarga,  (  )ct.   1.   1X62.  Co. 

D,  113th   Inf..  33  mos.      Clustered  nut  June  20. 
1865,  as  1st  Lieutenant. 

Mc.Xall,  James  M..  Plato.  Jan.  i,  1H62,  Co.  C. 
58th  Inf.,  5  mos.    Died  June  3,  1862. 

-Maggce,  Calvin,  Martinton.  -Aug.  9,  1862.  Co. 
B,   113111   Inf.     .Mustered  out  June  20,   18^)5. 

Mam'ng,  Leonard,  Cheban.se,  Xov.  9,  1863,  Co. 
II.  38th  Inf.,  3  mos.  Mustered  out  .April  i,  i8fi6, 
1st  Lieutenant. 

McLean.  W^illiam  .A  .  Middleport.  Oct.  i.  1862. 


yuartermaster,  113th  Inf..  22  mos.  Discharged 
for  promotion,  Aug.  12.  1864. 

Alurry,  John,  Ash  Grove,  Dec.  3.  1864.  Co. 
II,  37th  Inf.,  7  mos.     Mustered  out  July  7,  1865. 

^Montgomery,  John,  Concord.  Aug.  10,  1862, 
Co.  C,  93d  Inf.,  26  'mos.  Died  of  wounds  at 
Rome.  Ga.,  Oct.  21,  1864. 

Merrill,  Henr>-  X.,  Chebanse,  March  14,  1865, 
Co.  H,  58th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  March  13, 
1866. 

Aliller,  Charles  H.,  CHfton,  July  29.  1862.  Co. 
C,  88th  Inf.,  18  mos.  Died  Jan.  30.  u%4,  of 
wounds. 

Mercier.  Leander,  Papineau,  ;\Iarch  6,  1865, 
Co.  H,  38th  Inf.,  4  mos.  Died  at  Montgomery, 
Ala..  July  I,  1865. 

Morey.  Andrew.  Buckley,  Aug.  4.  1862,  Co. 
C,  88th  Inf..  1  yr.  Discharged  Aug.  29.  18^)3, 
sick. 

McGrath,  Thomas,  Chebanse,  ^larch  3.  1865, 
Co.  H.  58th  Inf..  1  yr.  Mustered  out  March  2, 
1866. 

Aliller.  George,  Iroquois,  July  24,  1862.  Co. 
A,  76th  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Killed  at  Jackson,  ]\Iiss..  July 
7,  1864. 

Moore,  Peter,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862.  Co.  A, 
76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  July  22.  1863, 
as  Sergeant. 

IMorris,  John,  Middleport,  July  24,  1862.  Co. 
A,  76th  Inf.,  2  yrs.  Corporal.  Died  at  Memphis, 
July  7,  1864. 

Alorgan,  Philander.  Middleport,  July  24,  1862. 
Co.  .A,  76th  Inf.,  (;  mos.  Discharged  M;i\  1, 
1863. 

Mc.Atee,  W'illiam,  Middleport,  July  24.  1862, 
Co.  A.  76th  Inf.,  3  mos.  Died  at  liolivar.  Tenn., 
Oct.  28,  1862. 

Mc.Atee,  James  W..  .\li(ldli])i)rl,  Julv  2\.  1862, 
Co.  .A.  76111  Inf.,  \  \rs.  .Mustered  out  lulv  22. 
1863. 

AFonre.  John  A.,  Belmont.  July  24,  1862,  Co. 
.\.  7(illi  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1863. 

Moore,  George  W.,  Belmont,  July  24.  1862. 
Co.  .A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Absent  with  wounds  when 
regiment  was  mustered  out. 

Moore,  Ezra,  R„  Belmont.  Jnl\  24.  1S62,  Co. 
A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1863. 

Mason,  Calvin,  Middleport,  Jan.  6,  1864.  Co. 
.A.  7r)th  Inf..  I  yr.     Died  at  Middleport.  111.,   [an. 

2,  i8r)3. 


/ 


jivN  i(  )!•(  )i^  ("( irv  IN'   ii.i.ixtiis    ■  -_M 

MoiilKonuTV.    II.   C.    lidiiicm.    Dec.    i.    iNi^.  .M.iil.mi.  Lhaiii]).   i:.,  L.mcunl.  .\u>;.   II.   iS<>J. 

Co.   .\,    -f.tli    Iiif,    ?    \r>.      'rraiisfcmil    t..    ijxh  Ci>.   I.    i  ntli    Inf..  j^  mn-.     Disi-harirol   Sf))t.   .V 

Illinoi.-  i>^  . 

Mcxjrc.    William    .\..    licIiiuMil,    Die.    i,    iX<»3,  M.irj;.iii,  J.   T.,  Coiicunl,  .\uj,'.  <;.   iS<jJ.  l  <..   1, 

Co.  .\,  jOlii    Inf      iS  111..-,   ni>cli.ir-».!    Ma\    11.  I  i^tli   Int..  f)  mos.     OcscrUvl  Feb.   1.   iWi.V 
1865.  .Murj^an.  Saimicl,  Concord,  M^.  11.  iXi>2.  Co. 

Moore,   Micajali   .^..   Kiliiiwni.   lili.    ii>.    i.S4>4.  I.    1131I1    liil..   J~   mos.    Diet!   al    .Meiiiphis.    .\o- 

Co.  A,  76tii  Inf..  17  nios.     Diiil  .it  Moliili'.  Iiih  2^.  vcmiIkt  J<i.   lS<>4. 
1865.  Inrjian.  I!.  1'.,  Conconi,  .\pr.  7.  18^)5.  Co.  I, 

Mercer.   William,   Crab  Apple,   .Xn;;.  9.    iJ«)-',  1  i.^tli  Int..  0  iiuis.    Translerreii  to  until  Illinois. 
Co.  K,  7<>tli  Int..  3  yrs.    ("or|H.ral.  .il»iiil  -iik  at  .Miiry;an.  Cornelius,  Concord.  .\n>;.  ij,  iS^u,  C<k 

muster  out  of  regiment.  I.    m_v'i    I'"-.  S  i"os.     Died   .il    Young's    i'oint. 

Mover.  Samuel,  Milford.   .\u),'.    11.    i.S()_'.  Cu.  La.,  .\pril  5,  18/^13. 
E,  7<itli  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865.  Marcier,    Moses.    Middlcport,    .Xur.    14.    iS'ij, 

.Mover,  Lewis,  Milford,  Dec.  17,  1863.  Co.  E,  Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  7  nios.     Discharped  .March  7, 

7<>ili  Inf..  2  yrs.     Transferred  to  37tli  ReKiiiient.  I863. 

.MurraN'.  Menry  S.,  Heaver,  .\up.  «j,  i86j,  Co.  M<K>re.    William    1 1.,    .Mid<lleport.    .\ii^;.     15. 

E,  76th  Inf..  I  yr.     Died  at  Memphis.  .Vur.   16,  1862.  Co.  I.  113th  Inf.     No  record. 

1863.  Moncher.  X'alentine.  Middleport.  Awa.  7.  iS'>_'. 

Mantor,  Thomas  \V'.,  Concord.  .Xujj.  <;.   iS<)j,  Li>,   I.   ii.^tli    Inf..    ?4  m(i<.     Mustered  i>ut    hme 

Co.  E,  76th   Inf.,   15  mos.     Died  at  Cairo,   111.,  20,  iST);. 
Nov.   13.   1863.  Mason.    riii>nia>.    .Mi<lillepciri.    .\la\     14,    i.Siq. 

.M<K>re.  William  l  ..  .\liddle|)orl,  ( )ct.  31).   |S<>3.  C"o.  I!.  I34tli  Inf..  ■;  nios      Mnstered  out  ( )it    j^. 

Co.  I".  M3th  Inf.,  18  mos.     Transferred  to  120th  i8<>4.     Corporal. 
Illinois.  Morse.   .Xhraham,   Keaver.   .May    14.    18(14.  to. 

.Mullen.    David   C.    Martinton.    IXc.   28.    1863.  I!.    134th    Inf.    ^    mos.      Mnstired    .mt    (  Vt     j;. 

Co.  V,  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.     .Mustered  out  June.  18^14. 
1865.  M(Mire.  1  liMiint;  R..  .Middlepurt.  .\l,iy  14.  iS/q, 

Miller,  James.    .Middleport,   I\c.   4,    !8<'i3.   Co.  Co.  15.  134th  Inf.  ^  in.iv     Mn-len-il  .mt  (  Vt    j^. 

F,  113th    Inf.,    to  mos.     Died   in   .\iulcr.sonville  i8<'i4. 

Prisf.n,  Oct..  1864.  .Mayette.    Ln.-eie.    .Muldlqurt.    .Ma>     14.    iS<.4. 

.Miner,    Henry    .\..   Chelwuse.    .Vuj;.    u.    18/12.  Co.    It.    134th    Inf.    5    m.s       Mnst.ivd   out    (  Vt. 

Co.    II.    113th    Inf..    13   mos.      Died   at    lorir.th.  25.   i8<i4. 
Miss.,  Sept.  (>.  i8'>3.  .McOuade.     .Muliael.     .Mid.lleix.rt.     .\la\      14. 

-Markley.     .Xhraham.      .Middleport.     .\u),'.      1  _'.  |8'>4.  Co.    1!.    134111    Inf.    :;   mos       Mnstcnd   out 

1862.  Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  4  mos.     Died  at  .Memphis.  Oct.  25,    1864. 
Tenn..  Dec.  f\  iW.j.  McClure.   llark.  ( Inarga.    .Ma\    14.    t>ii>^.  to. 

.McNier.     Josei>h     W  ..      .Mi.lilleport.     .\uj,'.     <;.  1!.    134th    Inf.    ;    in.  ■<       Mn-lni-.l    ..nt    (  ).l      ■; 

i8<>2.    Co.    1.    113th    Inf..    7    mos.      Disiharj^'ed  18^)4. 
•March  18.  1863.  Montj.;..mer>.   l),ivid,   .Mdior.l.   .\I,n    14.    i.><(.4. 

Markley,  Thom.-is.  Concord,  .\un.  «>.  18/12,  Co.  Co.    I',,    134111    Inf..   5  ni..s       Mnstrn-.I   ..m    (  Vi 

1,    113th    Inf..    7    mos.      Discharpeil    March    7.  25.  18^14 
lf^>3-  Mackne\.    llenrv.    .Midilleji. .rl.    .\l.iy    14.    i.S<i4. 

McCuIloujjh.    Isaac,    Conconi.    .Xug.   <),    1862,  Co.  D.  i^tth  Inf.  ;  \w«.     Miistere.l  .mt  (Vt    _>;. 

Co.  I.  113th   Inf..  1;  mos.     Discharge*!   .May   14.  18/^14 
^^>^■  Ma.x.son.    lienr\     .\..    ( iilman.    J.in.    30.    i>U,^. 

.Marrey.  C>nis,  Coiic<ird.   .Vug.    10.    18/.2.  C.i.  Co.  D.  i;.,ili   Inf.   1   \r      Mii-tire.l  ..m    Ian    i^i. 

I.  ii.V'i  '"f-  4  "'OS.     Die<l  in  .Memphis.  Dec.  7,  iW.<. 
"'*'•-■  .Matthews.    lh<.ma>.  .Middlejiort.  Jan.   17.  ii<i>^. 


722                                                       PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

Co.  D.  150th   Inf..   I  yr.     Mustered  iiut  Jan.   Hi,  .Mills.  James  -\..   L<»da.  Jan.  30.    1862,  Co.   L, 

1866.  2d  Art'ly.,  y]  nios.     .Mnstercd  out  l"eb.  2"/.  1865. 

Martell,    Albert.    Middleport.    Jan.    2(>.    1865,  ^Martini,   William.   Ash   Grove,   Dec.   3.    18O4, 

Co.  D,   150th  Int..   1  yr.     .Mustered  "Ut  Jan.   16,  Co.  L,  2d  Art'ly..  8  mos.     .Mustered  out  .\ug.  9, 

1866.  1865. 

JMartell,  .Merti.  .Middleport.  Jan.  20.  i8(>5.  Co.  Morey.   I'rederick,  Clifton,  Sept.    1,    i8()i,  Co. 

D,    150th    Inf..    1    yr.      .Mustered    out    Jan.    16.  E,  35th  Inf.,  40  mos.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  2.  1863. 

1866.  Morijan,  George  .M..  Sheldon.  Sept.  25.   i8(ii. 

Martell,  Peter,  Middleport,  Jan.  26,  1865,  Co.  Co.  E,  39th  Inf.,  3  mos.     Died  at  Williamsport, 

D,  150th  Int.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866.  Md.,  Dec.  9,  1S61. 

.Mahon.  John.   .Middleport.  Jan.  20.   1865,  Co.  Marcpiat,  William,  .Milford,  Jan.  2-j.  18O4,  Co. 

D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  1866.  .M.   17th  Cav.,  22  mos.     Mustered  <iut  Xov.  23, 

?klajors,  Samuel,  Onarga.  Sejrt.   10,   1861,  Co.  1865. 

M,  9th  Cav.,  39  mos.     Diseh.irged  Dec.  28,  18^14.  ilarlow,  Henry  J.,  (  )narga,  Aug.   1.  1861.  Co. 

as  2d  Lieutenant.  M,  9th  Cav..  47  mos.     .Mnsteied  out  June    i6'. 

^lontgomery,    James    .\.,    ( )uarga,    Sept.    10,  1865. 

1861,  Co.   M,  9th   Cav.,   4  onios.      Mustered   out  McMullen.  James.  (  )narga.   .\ug.   I.    18O1,  Co. 

Jan.  3,  1865.  .M.  9th   Ca\-..  47  mos.     Mustered  out  June   16, 

Murdough.    William    1!.,    Unarga,    Sept.     10,  1865. 

1861.  Co.  M,  9th  Cav.,  41;  mos.      Mustered  ci\it  Miller,  Joseph,  Onarga.  .Aug.   1.   1S61.  Co.  .M. 

Oct.  31,  1865,  as  veteran.  9th  Cav.,  47  mos.     Alu-stered  out  June  16,  1865. 

.Mc.Mahon,  Owen,  Onarga.  Sept.  10,  i8()i.  Co.  .Mead,  Lucien  P.,  Onarga,  Aug.    i.   i%i,  Co. 

.M,  9th   Cav..   },-;   mos.      Mustered   out   Oct.    13.  >r,  9th  Cav.,   47  mos.      .Mustered  out    lune    \Cx 

1864.  1865. 

Mendall.  Lucian.  Onarga.  Sept.   10,   i8(.i.  Co.  Marquat,  William,  Milford,   |an.  i-j .  1864.  Co. 

.M.  9th  Cav.,  I  yr.     Discharged  Sept.  29.  1862.  m.  x-\\\  Cav.     .Mustered  out  Xov.  2},.  1865. 

McMullen,  \\'alter,  Onarga.  Xov.  i,  1861,  Co.  Montgomery,    Chri.stopher.    Onarga.    Jan.    4. 

M.  9th  Cav..  40  mos.   Mu.stercd  out   .Marcli    11,  ,864.   Co.   .M.  ()th   Cav..  22  mos.      .Mustered  .ut 

1865.  Oet.  31.    1865.  as  Corporal. 

Mason.  Jonailian.  Onarga,  Sept.   \U.  i8()4.  Co.  McCroy.  Hugh.  Onarga,   |an.  4.   181)4.  Co.  .M. 

— ,  9th   Cav..    13   mos.      Mustered   nut   Oct.    31.  9th  Cav.,  19  mos.     Mu.stcred  out  .\ug.  5,  18C5. 

^    ^^,'                            ,    ,      ,  X^'eighbor,   Morris,   .-\sh  Grove,    June  4,    i86i, 

^  McGowau,  .-aun,el.  Loda    .Sept.    ,  ^.   ,80,.  Co.  ^o.  F.  25th  Inf.,  9  mos.     Killed  at' battle  of  Pea 

C.  10th  Cav..  33  uios.     D>ed  at  Huntsvdle.  .\rk..  j^i^,„^   ^^^  _  ^j^^^,^  g    ^^^^_ 

[unc  3.    1864.  >-■  ,    ,       T^     ■ 

■w^'r^r.*      T.       TIC.       -      tv       I'      n  -Nicholas,  Daiuel,  Onarga,  lune  4.  1861,  Co.  F, 

.McCartv.    |ohn.  Loda,  Sept.   i  t.    iSfu,  Co.  C.  ,    t   r                    t^-    .           , 

.„.i    I-      '     't\-    \           \   :        1-     1 -i-.         \-      1  .  -5"^  '"'••  10  mos.   Discharged  April  27,  1862. 

loth  Cav.      Di.scharged   for  disai!ilit\.      No  date  &!/•""• 

n-iveu.  Norton,  Wm.,  Belmont,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  .\, 

'"   .McD.m.dd.  Jo-,ei.l,.  Loda.  ScjU.    15.   i8(,:.  Co.  76th  Inf.,  3  mos.    Died  at  Bolivar,  Tenn..  Oct.  26. 

C.  loth  Cav.,     2-j  mos.     I)ie<l  at  L<»la.   Dec.  4.  '^^■^■ 

1863.  Xewton.  James,  Middleport.  Xov.  4.  1863,  Co. 

.Morlan.    I'.urr.    Loda.   Jan.    12,    18(14.    Co.    C,  ^-   '■*'   Art'ly..  48  mos.     Mustered  out  July  28, 

if)th  Cav..  23  mos.     Mustered  out  Xov.  22,  1865.  1865. 

Mcl'"arland.    Robert,   Danforth.    Dec.   2.    i8<>i.  Xo.sker,  Sanuiel  T.,  Concord,  . Vug.  4,  i8()2.  Co. 

Co.  F,  nth  Cav.,  46  mos.     Mustered  out  Sept.  i'..  76111  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out   July  22,  18(^)5. 

30.   1865.  Xobles,  John   C.    .Middleport,   Sept.    10,    1861. 

McClisIi,  l<:ii,  .Middleport,  .Nov.   12.   18(13,  C'l.  Co.  D.  ist  .Art'ly..  50  mos.   Mustered  out  July  28, 

D,  1st  .Art'ly..  i8  mos.  Mustered  out  May   17,  1865. 

'8C15.  Xeal,  Green  H.,  .\sh  Clrove,  July  25,  1862,  Co. 


IRogiDIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


r-i.\ 


K.  7«)th  Inf..  S  inos.  niM-liarmil  .\|iiil  ii.  rSii?. 
Disability. 

Nail.  (  )Iivtr  I'.,  Asli  drove,  .\u^.  i.  i.s<>J.  L>'. 
K,  T'rth  iiil..  J  mix.  Hii.I  ;it  Cnliitnlui^.  K\..  (  Vt. 
5.  1862. 

N'l'wtiiii,  c  li;ii!i>.  ( )i)ar).;a.  .Xcj.;.  i-',  iJ^u,  Ln. 
S.  ii.^tli  Int.,  34  iiios.  .Mu>tiri<!  nnt  limr  .m. 
18^)5,  as  Com.  StT^jcaiu. 

.Vice,  David,  ( iilninn,  Jan.  ."1.  iN>4,  C  >i.  1), 
ii,Vl>  I'll-.  18  nn)!s.     'iransli-rriil  in  uo  tli  Ills. 

Nov.  Will.  IL,  Oiiarga,  Jan.  14.  iS^q,  Co.  D, 
li^tli    Inf..    iS   ntos.       TransiVrriil   to    ijotli    III. 

Noiirio,  ( ioiizali-s,  I'apiiiau.  Jan.  233.  1865,  Co. 
D,  150th  Inf..  I  yr.   .Miislcrcd  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Xailc.  Daniel.  ( )iiarjj3.  Nov.  2.  1861,  Co.  .M, 
ytli  Cav..  4C1  iiios.     .MiistcTe<l  out  July  8,  1865. 

.\onall.  John  U.,  Onarga.  Nov.  Jan.  4,  1864, 
Co.  M,  9th  Cav..  22  nios.  Mustered  out  Oct.  31, 
i8/>3,  as  Cor|ioral. 

.NorN-all.  Geo.  W.,  Oiiar^a.  Jan.  4,  1864,  Co. 
M,  <>lh  Cav..  18  nios.  Mustered  out  July  13. 
i8'>5.  prisoner  of  war. 

.N'owell,  Josejjli.  ( )narjja,  Jan.  30,  i8f>5.  Co.  D. 
150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  t(>.  i8<W). 

Ni.xon.  John  J..  I^wla.  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C, 
intli  Cav.  Disclnrged  for  disability;  no  date 
given. 

.Newell.  .Valh.iniel  I*'..  Loda.  .Sept.  15.  iSiu. 
Co.  (. .  loth  Cav.,  DischarRed  for  ilisability ;  n.i 
date  giver.. 

O'Connor.  John,  .Mid<llef)ort,  Nov.  30.  1861. 
51^1  Inf.  Died  at  Louisville.  Ky..  <late 
I  kit  ;;iven. 

(  )verall,  Joseph.  (  )narg;i.  Sept.  10.  i8<ii.  Co. 
.\l.  <;lh  Cav..  5  nios.  .Mustered  out  Oct.  31.  1865. 
veteran. 

Oppy.  David  A..  Middle|)ort.  .March  20,  18^)4, 
Co.  C.  51st  Inf..  9  nios.  Die<l  Dec.  (•.  18/14.  of 
woumls. 

<  )wen,  William,  Onarga,  .\ug.  i,  1862,  Co.  M. 
tjth  Cav..  7^y  nios.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  31.   |8(>5. 

(  )weu.  James.  (  )narga.  Sept.  ^4.  iS^ii.  Co.  ('. 
5~th  Inf.,  37  rnos.  Mustered  out  Dec.  JO.  lW>4. 
as  Corporal. 

O'Donnell.  .\nliur.  I.<j(la,  .^ept.  15.  iN.i,  Lo. 
C.  loth  Cav.     Discharged ;  date  not  given. 

Owen.  John,  Onarga,  Sept.  24,  iS/fn.  Co.  C, 
57th  Inf..  4'i  mos.     Mu.stered  out  Julx  7.  i8r>5. 

Odin.  James.  Loda.  Jan.  ij.  18^14.  Co.  C',  loth 
Cav.,  23  mos.    Mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1863. 


(  )gle.  .Mirahani  1'...  Cliel>an>.e.  .March  (>.  iW>5. 
Co.  H.  58th  Inf.,  4  mos.  Died  at  .Montgomery, 
.\la..  July  9.  1865. 

(  )'r.rien,  James  IL,  Concord.  Jul>  .'4.  |8«>2. 
to.  .\.  7f)th  Inf..  17  mos.  Died  at  \  icksburg. 
Decemlier  2(>,   iW>3. 

Oppy,  D.  A..  Itelmont,  July  24.  iW>2.  Co.  .\, 
76tli  Inf..  6  mos.  Dischargc<l  .March  11.  i8<')3. 
disability. 

(  )lena.  .\ladore.  Clifton.  Aug.  l^.  |8'>2.  Co.  D. 
8»;th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  as  sergeant 
June  10.  iSi't^.  wounded. 

Owen,  James,  Onarga,  .\ug.  6.  1S62.  Co.  D, 
113th  Inf..  35  mos.    Mustered  out  June  20.  1865. 

(  )dell.  .Nathan  I!..  Uelniont.  .\ug.  12.  18^12. 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf..  6  mos.  Discharccd  Teh.  22. 
1863.  disability. 

OslKini.  John,  (jiiarga.  Sept.  10,  iS«)i.  Co.  .\1. 
9th  Cav.,  39  mos.     .Mustered  tnit  Dec.  10.  i8<')4. 

Price.  lienj.  F.,  Lcwla.  .Aug.  i.  1862.  Co.  M.  <)ih 
Cav..  3  \rs.  I>ist  left  arm  at  Guntown.  Died 
.Xjiril  28,  ii)02.  in  Watseka. 

Payton,  Henry  .\.,  Middle]>ort.  July  24.  i8^)2. 
Co.  .\.  7fiih  Inf..  3  yrs.  .\l)sent.  wounde<l.  when 
.  regiment  was  mustered  out. 

Purtill.  Henry.  .Middle|xirt.  Jan.  31.  18*15.  C^i. 
D.  I5nth  Inf..  I  yr.  Mustereil  out  with  regiment 
Jan.  If),  \^V,. 

Peltier.  Francis,  Middle|x>rt,  July  24.  lW>2.  Co. 
.\.  7''ith  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  18^)5. 

I'earce.  .Marion.  lr(M|u<>is,  Dec.  24.  iJ^^V  Co. 
I".  1 13th  Inf..  9  mos.  Transferred  to  Co.  I.  120th 
Illinois    Infantrx. 

Palmer.  Henry  H.,  Beaver,  .\ug.  7.  1862,  Co. 
R.  /fith  Inf.,  4  mos.  Died  at  Holly  prings.  Miss.. 
Di-c.  i.».  i86j. 

Peltier.  |-'r;incis  .\.,  lri>i|Uois.  Jul\  24.  |8<I2. 
Co.  .\.  7fith   Inf..  3  yrs.     Died  March   15,   181^). 

Pier.  Mason.  Milford,  .Vug.  10.  1862.  Co.  E. 
7(ilb  Inf..  I  \r  I'r.  wiicil  .11  Natclie/.  Aiil;.  14. 
l8r..V 

Pruiit.  Jciliii  1;.,  .\sli  timve.  .\ug.  31.  iSin. 
Co.  (1.  421I  Inf..  3  vrs,  Mustered  out  with  regi- 
ment. 

Pierce.  .Sanuiel.  i^'onconl.  .\ng.  11.  1862.  Co. 
I"',  7r»th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustereil  out  July  22,  1865. 

Paro,  Thomas,  Iro<|uois.  .Xug.  8.  i8r»2.  Co.  D. 
7<')th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Potter.  Henry  M..  Concord,  .'\ug.  4.  i8r>2.  Co. 
I'-.  T'lth  Inf..  3  yr>.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Parker,  James,  Iroquois,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  A. 
76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Perigo,  Warren,  Beaver,  Aug.  2.  1862.  Co.  E, 
76tli  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Perry,  Dan'l.  C,  Indiana,  March  18.  1864,  Co. 
D.  U3th  Inf..  18  nios.  Mustered  out  Sept.  10. 
1865. 

Powley,  Joseph  C,  Papineau,  Aug.  9,  1862, 
Co.  B.  113th  Inf.,  34  nios.  Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865. 

Pugh,  Edward,  Middleport.  June  13,  1861,  Co. 
I,  20th  Inf.,  4  yrs.     Re-enlisted  as  a  veteran. 

Peebles,  Ezra,  Martinton.  Aug.  9,  1862,  Co. 
B.   113th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20, 

1865. 

Pugh.  Edwin.  Middleport,  Jan.  5.  1864.  Co.  I, 
20th  Inf.,  18  mos.    Mustered  out  as  Sergeant. 

Ponto.  Francis.  Chebanse.  .\i\<^.  9.  1862,  Co.  1'., 
113th  Inf..  9  mos.  Killed  at  X'icksburg.  May  19, 
1863. 

Page,  Elam  M..  Middkport.  June  4,  1861. 
Co.  F,  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  Sept.  5, 
1864. 

Phelps,  Charles  S.,  Concord,  .\ug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf.,  9  mos.  Discharged  May  22, 
1863,  disability. 

Peckham.  Joshua,  Middleport.  June  4,  1861, 
Co.  F.  25th  Inf.,  9  mos.  Discharged  Feb.  5.  1862. 
disability. 

Patterson,  Thomas,  Middleport,  Aug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  I*".  113th  Inf..  9  mos.  Discharged  ;\Iay  12. 
1863,  disability. 

Peebles.  James.  Martinton.  June  4.  1861,  Co. 
F.  25th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  1864. 

Pierce,  Marion,  Middleport,  Dec.  4,  1863,  Co. 
F,  1 13th  Inf..  18  mos.    Transferred  to  120th  Ills. 

I'helan.  .Mark,  Middlep(jrt,  March  i,  1862,  Co. 
F.  25111  Inf..  3  mos.  Died  at  Batesville,  .\rk., 
June  10,  J 862. 

I'nllan.  Ocdrge  W'.,  .Mi(l(llc]>i)rt.  Dec.  4.  i8()3, 
Co.  !•".  I  i^tli  im'..  iS  mos.  Transferred  tn  uoth 
llliniiis. 

Peebles,  Thomas,  Martintmi,  June  4,  iSru.  Co. 
F.  25th  Inf.,  28  mns.  Killed  at  Chickani;uiga, 
Sept.  19,  1863. 

Pugh.  James  O.,  Middleport,  Dec.  28.  i8(')3, 
Co.  F.  113th  Inf.,  fi  mos.  Killed  at  Gunlown. 
Miss.,  June  10.  1864. 

Patterson.   David,  r)iiarga,  June  4,    1861,   Co. 


F,  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  }klustered  out  as  Corporal, 
Sept.  5,  1864. 

Pruitt,  Isaac  \Vm.,  Papineau.  Aug.  22,  1862, 
Co.  H,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June 
20,   1865. 

Powley,  George  H.,  Aliddleport,  Jan.  11,  1863, 
Co.  I\  25th  Inf..  20  mos.  Transferred  to  Co.  H. 
Mustered  out  Sept.  5,  1864. 

Packard,  Isaac  Z.,  Onarga,  ^Nlay  14,  1864,  Co. 
B.  134th  Inf.,  5  mos.  Mustered  out  Oct.  25, 
1864. 

Prewett,  Thomas,  Chebanse,  Aug.  16,  1861, 
Co.  G,  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  with  regi- 
ment, Sept.  5,  1864. 

Peck,  Amos  M.,  Onarga,  May  14,  1864,  Co.  B, 
134th  Inf.,  5  mos.  Mustered  out  with  regiment 
Oct.  25,   1864. 

Pruit,  Daniel,  Milford,  Aug.  25,  1861,  Co.  G. 
42(1  Inf.,  T,/  mos.  Mustered  out  as  Corporal, 
Sept.  16,  1864. 

Pittinger.  Samuel,  Milford,  Aug.  25.  1861, 
Co.  G,  42d  Inf.     Missing. 

Petticord,  Lewis,  Concord.  Aug.  12,  1862,  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Clustered  out  June  20, 
1865,  Corporal. 

Polmater,  Ellis,  Iroquois,  Aug.  17,  1861,  Co. 
H,  42d  Inf.,  8  mos.  Discharged  April  19,  1862, 
for  disability. 

Pugh,  William,  Concord,  Aug.  12,  1862.  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Alustered  out  as  Corporal 
June  20,  1865  ;  prisoner  of  war. 

Peterson,  Martin,  Ashkum,  March  3,  1865,  Co. 
K.  4^d  Inf.,  10  mos.  Clustered  out  Nov.  30. 
1865.' 

Perry,  Albert  W.,  Onarga,  Jan.  4,  1864,  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf.    Transferred  to  120th  Ills. 

i'eterson,  Chas.  G..  .\shknm.  I'eb.  28.  1865.  Co. 
K,  43d  Inf.,  ()  mos.  .Mustered  out  Xo\-.  30, 
18^.5. 

I'inr.e\-.  Wm.  T..  (  )narga.  .March  15.  18(13.  Co. 
I).    113111    Inf.,    iS    mos.      Transferred    to    120th 

Petts,  Nathaniel  1'...  Middlqjort,  Dec.  24,  1861, 
Co.  C,  51st  Inf..  1 1  mos.  Resigned  as  Captain 
Nov.  17.  1862;  .May  14,  i8ri4.  joined  I34tli  Ills, 
as  Cai^tain. 

Pierce,  Charles  S.,  Onarga,  .\ug.  6,  1862,  Co. 
1).  I  13th  Inf.,  4  mos.    Deserted  Dec.  21.  1862. 

Parker,  Henry  C,  Middleport,  Dec.   10,  1861, 


IkDOLOIS  COUNTY.  II.I.I.VDIS. 


/-.•) 


Co.  C,  51st  Inf..  4  luos.  Discharge*!  .\pril  24. 
iS<>.»,  (lisabiliu. 

I'arcdl.  tleo.  AV..  Onar>pi.  July  j8,  i}<0_',  Co. 
I),  iijjtl)  Int.,  17  inos.  Dioil  at  M«iiii>his,  I'l-nn.. 
l)cc.  31.  liUty 

I'icrson.  l-llijali.  .\li<Ullc|».  i ..  i>-.  _^.  i>'<.i.  ^  >■. 
C.  51st  Inf..  I  nw.    Deserted  Jan.  4,  1862. 

i'oiiton.  .Manluirc.  Clifton.  .\n|i.  17,  iX<t2.  C<>. 
1).  S<^tli  jti!'     >  •  •-      '>'.il  at  Loui>viilc.  Ky..  Sept. 

3-  '»<'»3- 

I'nrcell.  Henry  K.,  Unarga,  Sept.  24.  i8<ji.  Co. 
C.  57th   inf..  ^  nios.     Killeil  at  Shiiuli,  .\pril  <i. 

|W>2. 

Pinef-ar.  James.  Clilton.  .\uj^.  12.  iS'>2.  Co. 
I".  SXth  inf..  30  nH)s.  DisclKir-^'-i  '  • '•  ^'  iS<.5. 
iii.sability. 

Pijr>;ott.  John  H.,  .\shknni,  .\ov.  7.  ii>ni,  Co. 
C.  58th  Inf..  5  nios.     IX'serted  .\pril  2.  18^)2. 

Pratt,  .Monzo  M..  Midilleiwrt,  July  7.  i8<»2.  Co. 
.■\,  71st  int..  4  nios.     .Mustered  out  (  )ct.  3).  i8'>2. 

i'latt,  John,  C^K'ljanse,  Nov.  5.  i86r,  Co.  C, 
38th   inf.     .\o  data. 

I'latt.  Harvey.  Clielianse,  Nov.  5.  1861.  Co.  C. 
58th  Inf.     No  date. 

i'atricli.  John,  (.lieljanse.  .Marcii  14.  1W15.  Co. 
H.  58th  Inf.     .MissiuR. 

I'echin,  Kdw.  D.,  .MiddIe|>ort.  .\\^ii.  7,  1862. 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  34  inos.  Mustered  out  June  20. 
18^15,  Coqnral,  prisoner  of  war. 

Finneo,  .Mattiiew,  Midilleport,  .\ufj.  13.  1862, 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  7  nios.  Died  at  Vounp's  I'oint. 
La.,  March  14,  1863. 

I'arl<er.  D.  K.,  .Middlcport.  .\u>j.  y,  1862.  Co. 
I.  113th  Inf..  9  inos.     Discliarj,'etl  May  18.  1863. 

IMunimer,  Jacoli  I"..  .Middlcport.  .Xng.  I2.  l8^>2. 
Co.  I.  Ii3tli  Inf..  5  nios.  Died  on  steamlmat. 
Jan.  2^.  1863. 

i'arks.  J..lin.  Milfr.rd.  .May  14.  ifif^.  Co.  IV 
134th  Inf..  5  inos.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  23.  i8r>4. 

I'iercc.  Coinmlnis,  .Mil ford.  May  14.  1864,  Co. 
r..  134th  Inf..  5  inos.  .Mustcreil  out  (  )ct.  25. 
1 8^.4. 

Pratt,  Charles  C.  .Middlcport,  .May  14,  18^.4. 
Co.  I'.,  i.^th  Inf..  5  nios.  Mustered  out  Oct.  23, 
1864. 

Pratt.  .MauMin  .M..  .Middlep.rt.  .May  14.  1S/.4, 
Co.  11.  134th  Inf..  3  nios.     .Mustere<l  out  Oct.  25, 

Pnttry,  .\un«stus,  I>Kla,  May  14,  i8r>4.  Co.  11. 
134th  Inf..  3  nios.     .Mustered  out  CJct.  25.  1864. 


Pariccr.  Jesse,  Milford,  Jan.  21.  1865,  Co.  D. 
1301I1  Inf.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Price,  (jeorge  .\.,  (3narga,  .Nov.  5,  1861,  Co. 
M,  9th  Cav.,  48  nios.  Mustereil  out  Oct.  31. 
i8'>3,  Onarterniaster  Sergeant. 

i'utnam,  IDavi<l  II.,  <  hiarga,  .Sept.  10,  1801, 
Co.  .M.  9tli  Lav.,  31  inos.  Died  at  Memphis, 
.\|)ril  10,  1W14. 

Powell,  Will.  H.,  (Jnarga,  X"\     >     '^ 
.M.  i>th  C  av.      .No  <lata. 

Pope.  Hobert  .\.,  Onarga,  .\ug.  1,  i8<>2.  Co.  .M, 
yth  Cav.,  34  nios.  .Mustered  out  June  16.  i8<J5, 
as  Sergeant. 

Phelps,  Henry.  (Jnarga,  .\ug.  1,  1862.  Co.  M, 
9th  Cav..  35  nios.    .Mustered  out  July  8,  1865. 

Peters.  William,  Onarga.  .\ug.  i.  1862.  Co.  M, 
9tli  Cav.,  34  inos.     Mustered  out  June  16.  1865. 

Price.  Win.  H.,  (Jnarga.  .\ug.  i.  1862.  Co.  M, 
yth  Cav.,  34  inos.     Mustered  out  June  16.  1865. 

Post,  I'rancis,  Lo«la.  .Sept.  15.  1861.  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav.,  2  yrs.  Died  at  I'.rownsville.  .-\rk., 
Sept.  13.  1863. 

Parker,  .Mbert,  i.oda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav.     Di.scharged  ;  no  date  given. 

Plumnicr,  Tlios.,  Loda,  Sept.  15,  1861,  Co.  C, 
loth  Cav..  3(1  nios.    Mustered  out   l)eceinl)er  30. 

Perry.  Lewis,  L'Kral)le.  Aug.  17.  iW>2.  Co.  I). 
8<>th  Inf.,  3^  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  10.  |S(>3, 
Coq>orai. 

Oueer.  Henry,  .Middlcport.  June  4.  i8^>i.  Co. 
F,  23th  Inf..  3  mos.     Discliarged  .Sept.  12.  1861. 

(Juire.  Levi.  .Marlinton.  I'eb.  20.  1863.  Co.  H, 
38th  Inf.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Feb.  24.  iHf/i. 

(Juire.  Henry.  .Martinton,  .\ug.  9,  1862,  Co.  U, 
113th  inf..  i)  ini>-,.  Discharged  f.ir  disabilitv, 
.\pril  22,  iWt3,  Corixjral. 

Rush.  Llias,  Nov.  17,  1861,  Co.  K,  ist  .\rt'Iy., 
7  mos.     Discharged  for  disabtlit\.     Died  I-'eb.  6, 

Rush.  .Madison.  .Middlcport,  July  24.  1862,  Co. 
.\.  7(itli  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Roach.  John,  .Middlcport,  July  24,  1862,  Co.  A, 
Jinh  Inf..  3  \rv  Killed  nn  I".  P  \\  .  Rv.  April 
20.    i8<>8. 

Rockliold.  l-.zikul.  .MiddKp(.rl.  July  24.  i8/)2, 
C"o.  .\.  7rith  inf..  11  mos.  Killiij  li\  ^n.-rilliv 
June  2.  i8<'i3. 

Rineliart.  John.  .Middlcport,  July  24,  i8<»2,  Co. 


726  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

A,  76th  Inf.,  2  yrs.     Died  at  Halfway  Station.  Rankin.  Thompson,  Loda.  Sept.  15.  1861.  Co. 

July  24,  1864.  C.   loth  Cav..  51  mos.     Mustered  out  Nov.  22, 

Richardson,   David    P..    Middleport.   April   22,  1865.  veteran. 

1861,  Co.  I,  20th  Inf..  4  yrs.     Promoted  Corporal.  Rockfield,   \Vm.    H..   Milford,  Aug.    13.   1861. 

Sergt.,  Lieut,  and  Captain.  Co.  G,  42d  Inf..  yj  mos.    Mustered  out  Sept.  10. 

Raynor.  John  S..  Middleport,  July  24.  1862,  Co.  1864. 

A,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865.  Reardon,  John.  Loda.   Sept.   15.   1861,  Co.  C. 

Romine.  James,  :Middleport,  June  13.  1861.  Co.  loth  Cav.     Deserted,  date  not  given. 

I.  20th  Inf.,  4  yrs.    Teamster,  re-enlisted  as  vet-  Restler.  W'm.  B..  Middleport,,  Nov.  15,  1861. 

eran ;  prisoner.  Co.   C,   51st   Inf..  46  mop.     Mustered  out   Sept. 

Roberts.   Samuel.   Middleport.   July   24.    1862.  25,   1865. 

Co.  .\.  76th   Inf..    18  mos.     Died  at   \  icksburg.  Rogers.  James.   Loda.   Dec.    12.    1863,  Co.   C. 

Jan.  8,  1864.  loth  Cav.,  23  mos.     Mustered  out  Nov.  22,  1865. 

Riddle.  Joseph.  Middleport.  June  4.  1861.  Co.  Rohhins,     Cornelius.     Middleport.     Nov.     15. 

F.  23th  Inf..  Ci  mos.     Died  at  St.  Louis.  Dec.  18.  1861.  Co.  C.  51st  Inf..  45  mos.     Re-enlisted  as 

1 861.  veteran. 

Reed.  Matthew  P...  Crab  .\|)ple,  .\ug.  11.  i8(.2.  Rowland,  George,  Milford,  April  4.  1865,  Co. 

Co.  E.  7'ith  Inf..  3  yrs.     Ab.scnt.  sick  at  muster  E.    nth   Cav..   5   mos.     Mustered  out   Sept.   30. 

out  of  regiment.  1865. 

Riddle.  Lewis.  .Middleport.  .\ug.  n.  1862.  Co.  Rott.  Clinton  D.,  Onarga.  Sept.  24.  1861,  Co. 

F.  25th  Inf..  6  mos.     Died  at  St.  Louis.  Dec.  10.  ^'.  .vt''   l"' -  !^  "">s-     l^^'^d  at  Or.incy.  May  21. 

1861"!  1S62. 

Roberts,  George  W..   -Milford.   .Aug.  9,    1862.  Rowland.  Andrew,  Milford.  April  4.  1865,  Co. 

Co.  E,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  E.    nth   Cav..   5   mos.      Mustered  out   Sept.   30. 

1865.                        ^   '                                    "  ^^^-> 

Reeves,  Isaac,  Milford.  Aug.  n.  1862,  Co.  F.  Rounsaville.  Thos.  H..  Onarga.  Sept.  24.  1861. 

25th  Inf..  25  mos.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  3.  1864.  Co.  C.  37th  Inf..  T.  mos.     Killed  at  Shiloh.  .\pril 

Robinson,  John,  Onarga,  .Aug  n.  1862.  Co.  M,  6.  1862. 

9th  Cav.,  22  mos.    Killed  near  Fish  Creek.  Miss.,  Rush.  Daniel,  Middleport.  Sept.  10,  1861,  Co. 

Tunc  n.  1864.  D-  ist  .Art'ly.,  9  mos.     Died  at  Louisville.  Ky.. 

Rogers.  William.  .Milford.  .\ug.    n.   1862.  Co.  Jimc  17.  1862. 

F.  25th  Inf.    Rejected — not  eligible.  Reguicr.   P.aptiste,    Papineau.    March   6.    1863. 
Robinson,  James.  Onarga,  Aug.   n.   1862.  Co.  Co.  II.  38111   Inf.,   1   yr.     Mustered  out  March  6. 

M.  ijth   Cav..   3;   mos.     Mustered  out  Juno   t6.  1866. 

1865.  Richardson,  Dwight  F.,  Beaver.  July  24.  1865. 

Russell,  i,cwis.  .Martinton.  .Aug.  n.   i8()2.  Co.  Co.  .A.  76th  Inf.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

1".    23th    Inf..   37   mos.      Mustered   out    Sept.    3.  Robins.  Henry  11.,  I'rairie  (irecn.  .Vug.  9.  1862, 

i8('.4.  Co.  E.  /full  Inf..     3  yrs.      .Mustered  out  July  22. 

Reynolds,  William,  Onarga,  .\ug.  n,  iS()2.  Co.  iSA^. 

M.  9th   Cav..   33   mos.      Mustered   out    Juno    if).  Robins,  William,  .\lilfonl,  Aug.  (>,  i8()2.  Co.  E, 

1865.  7')lli    Inf..   3   yrs.      .\liiskred    out   July   22.    1863. 

Robinson,    llenr\.    C  hebanse,    .\ug.    23.    i8fii.  Roberts.  Thos.  II..  .\sli  ( irove.   lulv  22.   i8()2. 

Co.    G,   25th    Inf..    3    yrs.      Promoted    Coqioral  :  Co.    K.   ~(A\\    Inf..   3   yrs.      Promoted    1st    Lieut, 

sick  when  nuistcred  out.  .Mustered  out  July  22.  18^13. 

Ronk,  John  M..  Lorki.  .'^ept.   15.   iSTir.  Co.  C.  Ronvillo.   Louis.   |,<ula.   .\ug.  8,    i8()2.   Co.    K. 

loth  Cav..  31  mos.     .Mu-tored  out  N'ov.  22.  18^)3:  7MI1  Inf..  3  \  rs.     Transferred  to  veteran  resiTve 

veteran.  ,  .i|.- 

Rol)inM  n.  Roliorl.  I  hcbanse.  Sept.  3.  i8<)i.  Co.  Rinvillo.    .N'apoloon.    Loda.   .\ug.  8.    1862.   Co. 

G.  23th  Inf.,  17  mos.     Died  of  wounds  at  Knox-  K.  7(>tti  Inf..  2U  luos.     Discharged  on  .-iccourt  of 
villo.  Tenn..  l'\-b.  7.  1863.  wound-  Od.   13.  18^)4. 


1KU(JL()1>  LiiL.\l\.   ll.l.lXi  )1>. 


Koiivillc,  Nicholas.  I.txla,  Aiij;.  S.  iW>j.  L"<>.  K. 
7'>tli    Inf..  _^4   inus.      I>isch;ir);c<l   .M:i\    _>_v    '*'5- 

Kussill.  Aaron,  .\<h  Cirovc.  Aiij;.  i.  i><«jj.  Co. 
K.  "rith  Inf..  4  nios.  Died  at  Lagrange.  Tcnn.. 
Nov.  K'..  iST.j. 

Rowley.  Sanim-l  T.,  Ash  drove.  Jnl\  J5.  if<i>2. 
Co.  K.  7<ilh  Inf..  J  \  rs.  Killed  at  Jackson.  Miss., 
July  7.  iS'>4. 

Kainillen.  Nelson.  I.oda,  .\ujj.  S.  \H(>j.  C<>.  K. 
76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  jj.  i8(>3. 

Koliinson,  James  C.  (iilnian.  .\ug.  15.  iSiu.  Co. 
.\.  S8tli  Inf..  3  inos.  WuA  ii  i;,  mlln..  <  ;r..,-ii. 
K\..  Ni>v.    10.   18'ij. 

Radway.  Williani.  .MitUlkpori.  .\uji.  7.  iS(ij. 
Co.  C.  88th  Inf..  22  ••■-  Oiei!  at  .\a.shville. 
Tenn..  June  13.  181(4 

K<Kl,y:ers.   .\lfred.    Kiickiev.   .\u^.   5.    18/^12.  ("•.. 

C.  88lh  Inf..   I  yr.     .Missinj;:  .Vnj.:.  1.  i8<>,V 
Re.\.  Jose|)h.   Iro(|nois.  .Xny.    1.^.    1862.  Co   l'". 

88th  Inf..  34  nios.  .Mustered  out  June  ij.  i8f>5, 
x\ou;;ded. 

Rohandou,  .M..  Clifton.  .Xuj,'.  id.  i8/)_'.  (.  u.  H. 
8<^th  Inf..  4  mos.     .Missing  Dec.  31.  ii*f>2- 

Ramsey.  John  C.  ( )narga.  .\u.u:.  7.  1862.  Co.  D. 
113th  Inf..  35  mos.  Mustered  >>nt  Ji'ly  1.  18(15. 
prisoner  of  war. 

Roderick.   W".    I'...  (  Miari;.-!.  jul\    311.    iSo.',  Cu. 

D.  Ii3tli  Inf..  I)  itios.  Dischari;ed  M'ly  15.  i8'i3. 
disabilitv . 

Raynmrd.  Jnlin.  .Middleport.  .\uj.;.  15.  18112. 
Co.  I).  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Disch.irj^ed  M.i\  30. 
i8r.5. 

Richardson.  Irankiin.  .MiddlejuTt.  1  )ec.  3. 
i'*^>.V  *-<••  n.  113th  Inf..  18  mos.  Trai^sfrrnil  t' 
120th  Ills. 

Relyea.  ( ieor^e.  «  tnarj^a.  Jan.  11.  1<S()4,  Ln.  I ). 
113th  Inf..  18  mos.    'iransferrcd  to  i2otii  Ills. 

Rogers,  Joseph.  Middleport.  .\ug.  12.  18(12. 
Co.  I-".  Ii3lh  Inf..  (1  mos.  I)ischari;ed  as  i.st 
Lieutenant.    I'eli.    12.    18^13. 

Rees.  Robert,  lielmont.  Aw^.  12.  1862.  (.d.  !•". 
113th  Inf..  15  mos.  Discharged  Nov.  4,  18(13, 
disability. 

Reeves,  John,  Mi«Idleport.  .\ug.  12.  i8<>2.  Co. 
l".  113th  Inf..  34  nius.  .Mustered  out  June  20. 
1865.  prisoner  of  war. 

Rusli.  John.  Middle|>ort.  March  4.  i8<>4.  Co  I'. 
113th  Inf.  Diet!  at  Springfield.  111.,  date  not 
given. 

RfKit.  Krastus.  Chelanse.  .\ug.  1 1.  18(12.  I  >.  II. 


113th  Inf.,  (1  mos.  Discharge<I  i'eb.  18.  i8<)3. 
di>.il)ility. 

k'«th.  l-rank,  Chebanse.  .\ug.  13.  iWj2  Co.  II, 
ii3tli  Inf.,  22  mos.  Died  near  Ri])ley,  Miss., 
June  10.   18(14. 

Ru.sh,  William.  .Mid<lleport.  Aug.  8.  iW)2.  Co. 
I.  113th  Inf..  ft  mos.  Died  at  St.  Louis.  Feb.  17, 
18^13. 

Riimine.  .Ximrod,  Middleport.  .\ug.  11.  i8<i2. 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf..  7  mos.  Died  at  Young's  Point, 
La..  .March  13.  i8<.3. 

Reynolds.  Thnnias.  .Middleport.  .\ug.  11.  18(12. 
Co.  I.  ii3tli  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20. 
i8r.5. 

Rush.  Jesse,  Middlei)ort.  .\uj4.  14.  i8(.2.  Co.  1. 
1 13th  Inf..  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  }uv.v  20.  18(15. 

kiinliart.  John  1'...  \jn\n.  May  14.  18^^14.  Co.  I!. 
1341I1  Inf..  5  mos.     .Mustered  out  <  )ct.  2^.  18^14. 

Rigg'.e.  John  T..  Middlejjort.  .May  14.  18(14.  Co. 
I*..  134  Inf..  5  mos.  Mustered  out  (let.  2^.  i8()4. 

Royce.  .Nathaniel  C..  Middlejiort.  Jan.  i).  18(15, 
Co.  D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.  Mustered  oni  Jan.  1(1. 
i8^rf.. 

Riner.  Jacoli,  <  M;ari;.i.  .■^(.|il.  ki.  iShi.  i  i  >.  .\|. 
(jth  Cav..  7  mos.  Resitjred  March  27.  18(12.  as 
2(1  Lieut. 

Robinson.  Tho.N.  i ,..  1  iiKirija.  ^^.•pI.  lo.  iNoi.  i  o. 
M.<jthCav..  40  mos.  .Mustered  nut  Jan.  3.  18^15. 
as  sergeant. 

Robinson.  .Nelson  J..  •  inari;a.  .Nov.  1.  i8(ii.  Co. 
M.  <)th  Cav..  8  mii=.     Drowred  in  I'llack  river  June 

22.    l8()2. 

Robin.son,  \\  ni..  (  )narj;a.  .Nov.  1.  i.Sdi.  i  o.  .\l. 
Qth  Cav..  38  mos.  Mustered  out  as  serireant  Dec. 
10.    18(14. 

Riner.  William.  Onarga.  Nov.  20.  i8(ii.  (.0.  .M. 
i)lU  Cav..  40  mos.     Mustered  out  March  1 1.  18^15. 

South.  Iienjamin  R..  .\sli  (irove.  July  2^.  18(12. 
Co.  K.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Transferred  to  veteran 
reserve  corps. 

Silencer,  .\sher  .\. 

Stewart.  David  A..  (  >ct.  (p.  18(12.  C<i.  C.  13111 
Inf..  3  yrs. 

.'^outh.  .\lex.  II..  .\sh  drove.  June  4.  l8(ii.  Ln. 
V.  25111  Inf..  3  yrs.  I'romoted  sergeant,  then 
Lieut.  Mustered  out  .^ept.  5.  18(14.  Died  at 
Watsek-a.  Dec.  28.  i()</). 

.^napp.  (leorge  \V..  M.ay  14.  18(14.  Co.  I',.  134th 
Inf.,  5  mos. 


728  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

Siory.  L-a-ri^a-  W..  Spring  Crct-k,  June  4,  icS6i.  1862.   Co.    A.   j(>lh    Int..    3   >  rs.      Mustcreil    <nn 

Co.   F,   25th    Inf..    3   yrs.     Discliarc:(.-cl    Sept.    5,  July  22,   1865. 

1864.  Shockley.  IJenj.  F..  Middleport,  June  13.  1861. 

Smith.  Wni..  .\u.i;.  11.  1862.  Cn.  E.  /Otli  Inf..  Co.    I.  20th   Inf.,  4  yrs.     .Missing,   supposed  to 

^  yrs.  be  killed  in  North  Carolina. 

Sapp,  George.  Chebanse.    Feb.  2,  1862,  Co.  C,  Spencer.  Chas.  W'..  Middleport.  July  24,  1862. 

58th    Inf.     .Mustered  out  with   regiment.  Co.  A,  76th    Inf..    u    mos.      Died  at   \'ick.sburg 

Sweeny.   James,    June   4.    i8()i,    Co.    F.    25th  June  23.  1863. 

Inf..  3  yrs.     Wounded,  mustered  out  with   icgi-  Slunkvant.   Abel.    Middleport.  June    13.    1861. 

ment.  <-  ".  1.  20th  Inf..  3  yrs. 

Saind<in.  .Marcelius.  I'apineau,  March  0.   18^)5,  Savoie.  Edward.  Beaver.  July  28.  1862.  Co.  D, 

Co.  H,  58th  Inf..   I   yr.     .Mustered  out  March  6,  /fjth  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

1866.  Scott.    Harrison.    .Middleport,    June    13.    1861. 

Sweenv.    joseiili.  Julv   20.    1862,   Co.   D,   j(Ah  Co.  I.  20th  Inf..  10  mos.     Killed  at  Shiloh  .\pril 

Inf..  3  yrs.  6.  1862. 

Simmons.   Charles.   .Martintou.   Feb.   25.    1865,  Savoie,  .^zarie.   Reaver,  .\ug.  7,   1862.  Co.  D, 

Co.  H,  58th  Inf.,  I  yr.     ^Mustered  out  March  6,  76th  Inf..   3   yrs.     Transferred   to   \'.   R.    corps 

1866.  Ai)ril  2.  1864. 

St.  John.   Louis.    Nov.    15.    1861,    Co.    E.    ist  Sleeth,  E.  P...  Middleport.  June  13.  1861.  Co. 

.Art'ly.,  3  yrs.  I,  20th  Inf.,  3  \rs.     Promoted  to  sergeant. 

Skeels,  Irvin   P.,  .Ash   Grove,   .March  6,    1865,  .Schrine,   Justus,   Onarga,    Aug.    i,    1862,    Co. 

Co.  H.  58tli  Inf..   I   yr.     Mu.stered  out  .March  h.  M.  9th  Cav.,  35  mos.    Mustered  out  July  8,  1865. 

i8C)6.  Smart,  John,  Onarga,  Nov.  21,   1862,  Co.   F, 

.Smitii.  Madison  .\.,  Dec.  19.  1861.  Co.  1".  54th  25th  Inf..  21  mos.     Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  1864. 

Inf..  4  yrs.  Sindon.  Fredrick.  Onarga.  March  20.  1864,  Co, 

.Sallee,  John  S.,  lleaver,  July  24.  18(12.  Co.  .\,  .\].  9th  Cav..  18  mos.    Mustered  out  Oct.  31.  1865. 

76th  Inf..  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  22.  1865.  cor-  Skeels.  Bellas  H.,  Onarga.  May  29,   1861.  Co. 

poral.  F.  25th  Inf..  15  mos.     Resigned  as  1st  Lieut,  and 

Sear.  Edward.  .Middleport.  July  24.  18O2.  Co.  afterward  joined  9th   lUiniiis  Cavalry. 

.\.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.    Mustered  out  July  22.  1865.  Slusher.  Michael.  .Milford,  June  4.  1861.  Co.  F, 

Sapp.  .\sa.  -Middleport.  July  24.  1862.  Co.  .A.  25th  Inf..  5  mos.     Died  at  Otterville.  Mo..  (  )ct. 

76th  Inf.,   26  mos.      Died   at    Memphis   Sept.   7,  15.  1861. 

1864.  Spain,   Moses,   .\sh   (irovc.   .\ug.    i,    i8(>2,   Co. 

Shultz,  John,  Middleport,  .\ug.  9,  1862,  Co.  1!,  ]•:.  jOth  Inf.,  31    mos.     Died  at   .Memphis,    Tcnn., 

113th  Inf.,  6  mos.  March  7.  1865. 

Stearman.  Marion.  Ik'lmoiu.  Jul\   24.  1862.  Co.  Stifflebcani.   I'rancis.    Milford.     inne    4.    1861. 

.■\,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.   1865.  Co.    1".    25th    Inf..    28    mos.      Killed    at    Cbicka- 

Savoie.  Eli  J..  Jan.  2;^.  1865.  Co.  D.  150th  Inf..  mauga  Sept.   19.   18A3. 

I  \r.  .Sclioolex,  Joseph  P..  A>li  (irovc,  Aug.  5,  18(12, 

Strickler.  Henry,  Concord.  July  24.   i8r)2.  Co.  Co.   .\,  76th    Inf.,  4  yrs.      i'mnidtcd  captain  4th 

.\,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  Julv  22.  1865.  .Miss.  .\rt"ly.  Jul\    13,  iSi>4. 

.Schonberg,   William,    Milfort.    May   24.    i8(')i.  Sweeney.  Jas.    II..    .\lid(lle])ori.  June  4.    iS()i. 

Co.  I,    I3tli    Inf.  Co.    F,    25th    Inf..    3    yrs.        Wounded    .Mission 

Stewart.  David  .\..  lro(|uois,  July  24,  i8()2.  Co.  Ridge.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  5.  i8r.4. 

A,  76th  Inf.,  32  mos.     Discharged  March  7,  i8(')5.  Shottenkirk,   Onarga,   .\ug.    14.    i8(>2.   <j   mo^. 

on  account  of  wounds.  Died  near  \  icksburg  .Mav  i).  i8()3. 

.Stadel,  .\<lam,   Milford.   M;iy  24.    1861,  Co.   I.  Schanahoni,  l-Mward,  Martintou,  June  4.  1861. 

>3tb    Inf.  Co.  F,  25th  Inf.,  6  mos.    Died  at  Holla,  .M<...  Dec. 

Strain,    Thomas     .Me.,    Middlejinrt,    Jul\     24.  7,  ]HC)\. 


IRoorms  COUNTY,  ILLINOIS. 


7-'*» 


SllottCllkirk,  j.nn-.  «  m„iij;.i,     \nK-   /•    l'*^*-.  t"o. 

K.  7J1I  Inf..  15  iiuis.  I)if<l  i)f  \voiiii<l<  rci-<-ivr<l 
al  I'raiikliii,  Tcnn..  Nov.  30,  i8<>4. 

.*^trllll<l.  Nathaniel,  .Middk'port,  Jihr  4.  iSoi. 
Co.  I-'.  25111  Inf..  3  yr<.  Mnstcrod  ><M  Stpt.  5, 
18*14. 

Starkt-y.  Win.  .\.,  vjii^-n,  Aii;^;.  14.  i.'^u.  <  ■>. 
(i.  7J<1   Inf..   17  nil's,     niivl  at  Ko<iknk.   Inn.  j.\. 

Shields,  tiiiir).;i'.  .Miildlii-nn.  Juiu-  4.  i.'vu,  i  ■■. 
V.  J5th   Inf.,  3  yrs.     Diccl  at   Kfuknk.  Jan.  J4. 

Shiitti-nkirk.  Dan'l..  t  )nar).;a,  linu-  H).  i.Sfij, 
Co.  ( ;,  (H;th  Inf.,  3  nios.  .\ln--ti-ri-<l  .mt  Sejit.  j~. 
1862. 

Slijjht.  John.  .\li(l<lli|)(>rt.  Jma-  4.  iN>i.  L".  i  , 
25th  Inf.,  15  nios.     Musti-rcd  ont  Sqt.  27.  i8<)2. 

Saindoii,  Joseph.  I'apinean.  March  4.  i8<)5, 
Co.  II.  5Sth  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  ont  March  3, 
iW/.. 

Shultz.  Henry,  Milford,  Awa.  25.  18^)1,  Co.  Ci, 
42d  Inf..  6  nios.  Dischar(.jed  I'eh.  11,  i8<i2.  for 
disahility. 

Slinn,  Joseph,  Chelianse,  March  4.  1865.  Co.  II, 
58th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mnstered  out  .March  3.  ti^tVi. 

.StnfilelK>ani.  John  ]•'...  Milford.  .\ii};.  25,  i8f)i. 
Co.  (i,  42(1  Inf..  16  nvis.  Discharged  Nov.  21. 
1862. 

Smith,  William,  Chelianse.  I'eh.  2y.  18^)5,  Co. 
II,  38th  Inf.,  5  mos.  Died  at  Montgomery.  .Ma.. 
July  17.  18/15. 

.*^herrill.  Joshua,  IriH|uois.  .\uj;.  27,  1861,  Co. 
II,  42rl  Inf..  ^2  mos.  Killed  at  Resaca.  (ia..  May 
14.  1864. 

Sims,  .\lemuel,  Onarga,  .March  3,  i8<>2,  Co.  C. 
51st   Inf..  3  yrs.     Mnstered  out   .March  0.   1865. 

Sims.  Guilford  D.,  .MiddleiH>rt.  .March  H). 
i8<>2.  Co.  C",  421I  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Woundid  .it  (l\i.  k- 
amauga  and  transferred  to  \'.  R.  ( 

.Sims.  Rmanucl.  Onarga.  March  3.  iS<.2.  to. 
C.  5i.st  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  .March  9,  i8r>5. 

.She|)liard,  Joseph,  .Milford,  June  13,  18^(1.  Co. 
.\.  2!st  Inf.,  16  mos.     .Missing  ( )ct.  i.  18/12. 

.Streeter.  I,ouie.  Chelxinse,  .March  14.  18^15.  C'o. 
II.  38th  Inf.,  I  yr.    Mustered  out  March  13.  i8r/t. 

.Smith,  Is.Tac  F..  .\shkuni.  March  1.  \i^>$.  Co. 
K.  43d  Inf..  5  >"..>.  Oi.d  nt  Little  Rock,  .\rk.. 
July  if).  i8r>5. 

Stratton.  Natlian  <  •..  C  helanse.  .March  14. 
18/15,  Co.  II.  58th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Mustered  out  as 
sergeant  March   13,   i8/Vi. 


.Sevan,  Thomas  .\.,  Chelianse.  .\pril  7.  18/15,  Cn. 
K.  43d  Inf.,  8  mos.     Mustered  ont  .Nov.  30,  18/15. 

Streeter,  .Vdelherl,  Cheh.inse.  .March  2.  18(15. 
i  0.  IL  58th  Inf.,  I  yr.  .Mustered  out  .March  13. 
18//,. 

Sallee.  Philip  N.,  .Middleport,  .Sept.  20.  18/1I. 
»  ■'.  C,  51st  Inf.,  4  yrs.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Sallee.  Wni.  T..  .\lid<lle|Hirl,  l-"eh.  2«).  18/14.  Co. 
C".  51st  Inf..  4  nios.  Died  June  2«>,  18/14, 
woniiiled. 

Smith.  Ldward.  .Middleport.  Dec.  31.  l8/)l,  Co. 
C.  51st  Inf..  42  mos.    .Missing  June  13.  1865. 

Smith,  Theodore  .M.,  .March  3,  18/12.  Co.  C. 
5i<t  Inf.,  43  mos.     .Mustered  out  Sept.  25,  i8/')5. 

Smith.  Win.  Ci..  .Middlqiort.  Sejit.  20.  1861,  Co. 
(  ,  51st  Inf..  44  mos.  Transferred  to  \'et.  Res. 
Coqjs  .May  4.  1865. 

Stewart.  William.  Middle|Kirt.  Dec.  2.  18/11. 
Co.  c",  51st  Inf..  45  mos.  .Mustered  out  Sept.  2^, 
18/15. 

.Smith.  (  )liver  .V.  Onarga.  Sept.  24.  1861.  Co. 
C.  57th  Inf.,  40  mos.     Mustered  out  Feh.  2.  1865. 

."^keels.  ( )rvis,  Onarga,  Sl^)t.  24,  18/11.  Co.  C. 
57th  Inf..  3<>  mos.     Musteretl  out  Dec.  2().  1864. 

.S|)ain.  James,  .\sh  (irove.  .\ug.  1,  i8/>2,  Co.  E. 
7/ith    Inf..   3  yrs.      .Mustered   ont  July    22.    1863. 

Smith.  William.  .\sh  CIro^•c.  .\ug.  11.  1862.  Co. 
v..  7/pth  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Sp.iin.  Hamilton.  .\sh  (irove.  .\ng.  3.  1862,  Co. 
L.  7/ith  Inf..  5  mos.  Died  at  Lagrange.  Tenn.. 
I\c.  17.  i8r.2. 

.Stalon.  Josejih.  Sheldon.  .\ug.  11.  18/12,  Co.  I''. 
76th  Inf..  7  mos.  Discliargvd  March  25.  1863. 
disahility. 

Staton,  Tlvimas.  Sheldon,  .\ug.  1 1,  1862,  Co.  I"-, 
7/itli  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Smith.  .\lva  D.  Milford.  .\ug.  9.  i8ri2.  Co.  K, 
7(itli  Inf.,  y  nios.  Discharged  May  25.  1863.  dis- 
ahility. 

."^lutler.  Kli,  Prairie  dreen,  .\ug.  11.  1862.  Co, 
K,  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

SwojK".  (ieorge  J..  Concord.  .\ug.  1 1.  18/12.  Co. 
K.  7rith  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22,  1865. 

Sallee.  Joseph  W.,  licaver.  .\ug.  11,  1862,  Co. 
K,  7/)th  Inf..  15  mos.  Died  at  I'eaver  .Nov.  22. 
1 8/13. 

.*>tiles.  I'"d\vard.  liraver.  .\ug.  11.  1862.  Co.  I*'. 
jC'th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  ont  July  22.  i8/)5. 

Senx.  William  S..  Cral)ai)]ile.  .\ug.  11,  1862, 
Co.  K.  7fith   Inf..  ^  vrs.     Mnstered  out   Inlv  22, 


730  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

StockwcU.  John.  .\sli  Grove.  July  25.  1862,  Co.  Scooii.  W  illiam  W"..  Martinton.  .\ug.  9.   1862, 

k.  76111  Inf..  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865.  Co.  B.   113111  Int.    .Mustered  nut  June  20.   1865. 

Syiiies,   Edwin.    I.oda.   Aug.   5,    1862.   Co.    K.  Sliowbar.  l-raiik.  Clicbause.  Aug.  9.  1862,  Co. 

76tli  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1865.  I!.  113th  Inf..  30  nins.     Di.-^charged  Feb.  7.  1865. 

South,  Benj.  R..  Ash  Grove.  July  25.  1862.  Co.  disability. 

K.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Transferred  to  X'eteran  Re-  .^cmccy.   Irank.   .Martinton.  .\ug.  9.   1862.  Co. 

serve  Corps.  B.    U3th    Inf..   S  nios.      Discharged    :\Iarch   31. 

Schofield.  \\m.  K..  Loda.  July  31,  x'^Uz.  Co.  K.  1863.  disability. 

76th   Inf..   ID  nios.     Died  at   .Meinjiliis.   .May    18.  Statler.  Francis  W.,  Onarga.  July  30.  1862,  Co. 

1863.  D.  ii3tli  inf..  6  uiDS.     Discharged  Jan.  15.  1863, 

Schooley,  Josej)h  P..  .Ash  Grove.  .\ug.  3.  i8C)2.  disability. 

Co.    K,    76th    Inf..    3    yrs.       I'romoted    sergeant  Sylvester.   Jeremiah.   Onarga.  .\ug.    13,    1862, 

major.  Co.    D.    113111   Inf..   4   mos.     Deserted    Dec.   31. 

Stamp.  Edward.  Buckley.  .Aug.  i.  1862.  Co.  C,  1862. 

88th  Inf..  34  mos.     :\lustered  out  June  9.   1865.  Shaw.  Hiram.  Onarga.  July  30.   1862,  Co.  D, 

corporal.  1 13th  Inf..  3  mos.    Died  in  Chicago  Oct.  17.  1862. 

Sheldon.  Chauncy  H..  I'.uckley.  Aug.  10.  1862.  Skeels,  W'm.  L..  Onarga.  .Aug.  n.  1862.  Co.  D. 

Co.  C.  88th  Inf..  8  nios.     Discharged  .March  2,  113th  Inf..  33  mos.     Clustered  out  July  i.  1863. 

1863.  disability.  prisoner  of  war. 

Slyvester.  .Alonzo.  Clifton.  .\ug.    11.   1862.  Co.  Sanders,  Samuel.  Loda.  Sept.  13.  1861.  Co.  C, 

C.  88th  Inf..  I  yr.     Discharged  .Aug.  i.  1863.  di.s-  loth   (  av.      Kilkd   in  battle,   time  and  place  not 

ability.  stated. 

Santo.  Theodore.   AIiddle])ort.   .\ug.    13.    i8(>2.  Sperry.  (iilbert.  I.oda.  Sept.   13.   1861.  Co.  C. 

Co.  C,  88th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mu.stered  out  as  cor-  (otli  Cav.     Died,  no  data, 

poral  June  9.  1863.  ."^eaniau.  Sylvanus.  Loda.  Sept.  13.  iS'u.  Co.  C. 

Shaflfer,  John  \'.  T..  .Ashkum,  Aug.   14.   i.S(>2.  lotli  Cav..  23  mos.    Discharged  Oct.  28.  1863. 

Co.  K.  88th  Inf.,  4  mos.    Died  at  (kdlatin.  Tenn..  Scott,  Madison  M..  Loda,  Sept.  13.  1861.  Co.  C. 

Dec.  26,  1862.  sergeant.  loth  Cav.,  31  mos.     .Mustered  out  Xov.  22,  1865. 

Simmons.  Henry  H..  Ashkum.  Aug.   14,   iX(i_',  .Sliarlzer.   John.  Loda.   Sept.    13.    1861.   Co.   C, 

Co.  K,  88th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  9.  lotli  Cav.     Discharged,  no  date  given. 

1863.  Smith.   Robert.   Loda,   Sept.    13.    1861,   Co.   C. 

Shure,  Hans.  .Ashkum,  .Aug.   14.   i8()2.  Co.   K.  loih  Cav.     Di.scharged,  no  date  given. 

88th  Inf.,  34  nios.    Mustered  out  Jur.e  9.  1863.  as  Smith.  Francis  C,  Loda.  Sept.  13,  1861.  Co.  C. 

corjioral.  loth  Cav.     Discharged,  no  date  given. 

Storms.  Hezekiidi.  Onarga.  .\ug.    14.    iSfu.  S.  Syrus,  John,  Loda,  Dec.  12.  1863.  Co.  C.  loth 

,M.   113th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Alustered  out  Jmie  20.  Cav.,  23  mos.     ATustered  out  .Nov.  22.  1863. 

1863,  as  sergeant  majrir.  Smith,  Lewis,  Loda,  Jan.  T2.  1864.  Co.  C.  10th 

Scoon,  James,  Martinton.  Aug.  g.  i8()j.  C<>.  B.  t'.'iv..  22  mos.     Mustered  out  Xov.  22.  1863. 

113th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20.  1863.  Sprague.   I-'lijah.    Middleixut.    Sei)t.    10.    i8'it. 

as  .sergeant.  Co.  D.  ist  .Vrt'ly..  3  \rs.     Mustered  out  Sept.  16. 

Shultz.  John,  Middleport,  Aug.  <».  iSf.j.  Cm.  I',.  1864. 

113th  Inf.     Clustered  out  June  13.  iS()3  Scluenipf.  John.  Ashkum.  Feb.  i.  1863.  Co.  D, 

Shultz,    .\braham.    Middle|>ort,    Aug.  t;,    i8()2,  130th  Inf..  1  \  r.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  1866. 

Co.  B.  113th  Inf.     Mustered  out.  Shannon.   Henry.  I'apineau.   l"eb.  6.    1863.  Co. 

Smith,  Joseph  C,  Chebanse.  .\ng.  <j.  1862.  Co.  D.  130111  Inf..  1   \  r.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

B.  113th  Inf..  17  mos.     Discharged  Jan.  18.  iSr^.  .'^mitli.  .\lonzo.  .\shkum.  I'eb.  Ti.   1863.  Co.  D. 

disabilitv.  130th  Inf..  1   \r.     .Mustered  out  Jan.   16,  1866. 

Scoon,  John  \\"..  Maitinton.   Aug.  9,   1862,  Co.  Shankland.  IKnr\   11..  .\sh  ( Iruve.  I'eb.  7.  18^)3. 

B.    113th    Inf..  34  mos.      .Musleri'd   out   June  20.  Co.   D.   130111    Inf..   1    yr.      Mustered  out  Jan.    16. 

1863.  corporal.  N^r/i, 


iRoorms  cor\TY.  ir.i.ixois. 


ni 


Sn.i|>|>.  «io>.  W ..  A>ii  <ir<,>vc.  I  ill.  7.  iN'5.  t  ■ 
I).  i5otli  Inf..  I  vr.     MuMirctl  out  Jan.  id,  iS<<>. 

Spain.  I'-lijah  K..  .\sli  drove.  I"cl>.  7,  18^15.  Co. 
n.  i-;oth  Inf..  I  \r.     MM>tirriI  out   Ian.  Kt.  iWrfi. 

.'^piiN,  tk-orRC.  L'lilton,  i\l>.  (».  i84>5.  lo.  I). 
150111  Inf..  I  _\T.     Muslcrrtl  out  Jan.  i<».  i8fi6. 

Sli<:ir.  I;i.-.Ji  C  .  <  Inari^.i.  Sipl.  H).  iS^H.  t"o.  M. 
■  ;i!i  I  .i\  .  ;;  •  -  l\i --.^lu-il  jiini-  JO.  iS<i.4.  :i<  :i 
IM  Lie- 
s' ^cpt.  10.  1,S<>I.  ».  .'. 
M  -.i-d  (  ii-t.  iS.  iS/).'. 
.1-  .'"1  Lieut. 

■^I'.ii  klf\.  I  lark.  <  Miar^a.  ."^rpl.  10.  i.S/.i.  v,i". 
M.  Mill  Cav..  51  tnov.  .Mii«tiTi<l  nut  <  K-t.  ^1. 
i8^<5.  veteran 

Sit'i  r».  .\n«lri\v  j..  <  "iiarj^a.  .^ipl.  10.  iNn.  (,  o. 
.\|,  v'li  Cav..  ;i  mii>.  .\ln«itr..|  nut  <  >ot.  ^1, 
iWi.S.  vctenii 

Simlou.  l-ri-ilcrKk.  <  iiuir^.i.  ."^ipi.  10.  iNii.  I  <■. 
.N|.  <;tl>  Cav.,  12  nios.  ni>cliarur«-il  .'-^cpt.  >).  i.*^!-'. 
on  account  of  wounds. 

Sclvi'v.  William.  <  Inarj^a.  Sipt.  10.  iS/ii.  (  <i. 
-M.  Mill  Cav..  X  iii.x.  Dicil  at  l.itiU*  I'.la.k  Rivir. 
.May  2.  i8r.2. 

SIi.ipli-v.  C"iiarli-».  <  tnarj^a.  <  >cl.  iw.  iNii.  Co, 
.M.  >)tli  Cav.  4  \rs.  .Mustiroil  out  (  Vt.  ^i  iS'i; 
veteran. 

Sutton.  .Maniii.  (  >iiar;.;a.  <  kt.  H).  i.Sfu.  Cm.  .\l. 
<;tll  Cav..  .^4  iiios.  Died  in  .XiiiliTsonviUi  Pri^c.n. 
.\up.  i.V  i»l4. 

Smith.  .Manson.  (  Miar;;:!.  .Nov.  1.  iWii.  (.  o.  .\l. 
i/li  Cav..  ,\H  nios.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  ,v  1^(5. 

Sims.  Lemuel,  Onarya.  N'ov.  x>,  i86t.  Co.  .M. 
•)tli  Cav..  4  yrs.  Mustered  out  Oct.  ji.  i*>5. 
vetcrati. 

Sims.  F.manuel.  <  )narj;a.  Nov.  20.  1861.  Co.  M. 
<;th  C""av..  4  yrs.  Mustered  out  Oct.  ,^I,  l8^>5. 
veteran. 

Shackley.  Cliarles.  <  hiar^a.  Jan.    1.    iS^ij 
.M.  «>tli  (av..  iR  mos.     Mustered  out  July  1 1.  iN>5. 
prismcr  of  war. 

Slierman.  RoU-rt  H..  Onarga.  .\un-  1.  i^*^'^. 
Co.  M.  ifih  Cav..  39  mos.  Mustered  mil  Oct.  .v. 
i».5. 

Sutton.  Roht.  M..  Onarga,  .Vur.  i.  iW)2.  Co, 
.M.  <;th  Cav..  3:  Musiereil  out   June    !<». 

1865. 

Sketls.  \Vm.  X..  Onarj-a,  Jan.  i.  1*..^  Co.  M. 
<)th  Ca\  Died  at  N'ashville.  Tenn..  Dec. 

24.   iJV-, 


.^Mn-i.  <ie"rj:i-.  {.(mLi.  .-^ipi.  13.  l^<'n.  L".  ». . 
loth  Cav.,  51  mos.     .Mustered  out  .Nov.  22.  iW>5. 

.Savoie.  Mli.  Clifton.  Jan.  .}3.  iWjs.  Co.  I).  1501I1 
Cav..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  lO.  iW/). 

.Smith.  David.  .Milford.  .May  14.  iS<i4,  Co.  15. 
134th  Inf..  5  mos.    .Mustere<l  out « )cl.  25.  18^14. 

.^^napp.  (iii>.  \V..  .\sh  (irove.  .May  14.  1W14,  ( 'o. 
I'l.  i.?4tli  Inf..  5  mos.    .Mustercil  out  (  )i-t.  25.  iS<.4. 

Spain.  Robt.  T..  .\sh  (irove,  .May  14.  iHTq.  Co. 
I!.  i.U'li  '"f-  5  ""JS-    .Mustered  <iut  (  >ct.  25.  1XI14. 

.Spain.  John.  .\sh  (irove.  .May  14,  i8''i4.  Co.  11. 
i34tli  Inf..  5  mos.     .Mustered  out  Oct.  23,  1864. 

."^lieer.  r.cnj.  II..  .\sh  (irove,  .\la\  14.  18/14.  Co. 
I'..  i.^4th  Inf..  5  nios.     .Mustered  out  (  )ct.  25.  |8<>4. 

.Smith,  (jeo.  C,  .\sh  (irove.  May  14.  18^14,  Co. 
I'l.  i.U'li  I'>f-  5  '"'"*•     Mustt  r»d  out  ( )ct.  2-i.  iS<i4. 

.Stc-eley.  James  M..  .Middieport,  .May  14,  18(14. 
to.  I'l,  i34tli  Inf..  5  mos.  .Xliistered  out  Oct.  2-,. 
1W.4. 

Sinitli.  Richard.  .MiddIe|)ort.  .May  14.  18(14.  Co. 
!'..  i.^4th  Inf.,  5  mos.    Mu.stercd  out  ( )ct..23.  18(14. 

Snyder.    Michael.    Middieport.    May    14,    i8<i4. 
("o.  I'..   I34tli  Inf.  ^  iiin-      Miislcnil  mil  (  )rl.  _•; 
|K*)4. 

.*steadmaii.  Milir.iiiid  1)..  .\>Il  (irovc.  I'd).  7. 
l8(>5.  Co.  1).  l.?4lll  Inf..  I  \  r.  Mii>lered  •■lit  Ian. 
16.  "1866. 

Streaii.  John  (i..  IJehiionl.  1-eli.  o.  i8()5.  Co.  D. 
150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  id.  i8rir>. 

Sweeney.  Owen.  Chclianse.  Jan.  24.  i8(>5.  (  >.. 
D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.   iCi.  |8(')(>. 

.Snyder.  .Michael.  .Middieport.  Jan.  14.  18(15.  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  18C/). 

Smith.  Saml.  I'...  Cliehan.se.  IVh.  1.  18(15.  Co. 
D,  I50tli  Inf.,  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  id.  i8(/i. 

.ShieUls.  Charles.  .Mitldleport.  Jan.  1 1.  1865.  Co. 
n.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  i<>.  i8dd. 

.^hook.  Jeroiiu'.  .\liddle|)iirt.  Jan.  13.  1865.  Co. 
n,  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.    Musterc<l  out  Jan.  16.  iSTi/i. 

Solomon.  John.  .Miildle|>ort.  l-Vh.  8.  1865.  Co. 
D.  150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  18C/1. 

.■^trickier.  Isa.ic  .N..  .Milfonl,  }nn.  13.  18/15.  ^"■ 
n.  150th  Inf..  I  \r.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  id.  i8(y>. 

.Sims.  Itliiel.  Onarjja.  .\up.  h.  i8C>2.  C'o.  1). 
113th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  .'o.  18(15. 

Skeels.  Trnmaji  H..  .Ash  Cirove,  .\ui;.  13,  l8r'>2. 
Co.  D.  113th  Inf..  2  >rs.  Discharned  Aup.  28. 
i8('i4.  dislionorahly. 

Smith.  \\\<'.  Fdw  in.  (~>narLTi     \iiu.  1.1.  i8d2.  Co. 


71^ 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


D.   ii3tli  Inf..   I  yr.     Discharged  Aug;.  18.  i8<)3. 
disability. 

Search.  Laiulrum,  Onarga.  Aug.  20.  1862,  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Died  on  hospital  boat. 
March  29,  1863. 

Strain,  Harvey,  ^lilford.  .Kiig.  13.  1862,  Co.  D. 
113th  Inf..  4  nios.  Died  at  Meniphis.  Dtc.  17. 
1862. 

Stufiflebeani.  Henry.  Spring  Creek.  Aug.  15. 
1862,  Co.  D,  113th  Inf.,  3  nios.  Deserted  Nov. 
13.  1862. 

Swank,  David,  Ash  Grove,  Aug.  7.  1862.  Co. 
D,  113th  Inf.,  2  mos.  Died  at  Onarga.  Oct.  2. 
1862. 

Smith,  Charles  D..  Midtllci)ort.  Feb.  1.  18^4. 
Co.  D.  M3th  Inf..  18  mos.  Transferred  to  i2olh 
111. 

Sherrcll,  W'm..  .Middlcpcirt.  Dec.  30,  1863.  Co. 
D.  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.    Transferred  to  120th  111. 

Shook,  Simeon  T..  Middleport,  Dec.  9,  1863, 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf..  10  mos.  Died  in  Andersonville 
Prison.  Sept.  15.  1864. 

Smith,  llenj.  R..  Iroquois.  Jan.  14.  1864.  Co. 
D.   113th   Inf..  18  mos.     Transferred  to   120  111. 

Stufflebcam.  John.  Onarga,  Jan.  4,  1864,  Co.  D, 
ii3tli  Inf.,  I  mo.  Died  in  Camp  lU'.tler.  I'eb.  13. 
1864. 

Sweeney,  Joseph.  Middlcport,  Aug.  12,  1862. 
Co.  F.  113th  Inf.,  33  mop.  Mustered  dut  June 
2,   1865. 

Shultz,  Henry,  Belmont,  .\ug.  12.  i8r)2,  Co.  ]■". 
113th  Inf.,  33  mos.     Mustered  out  June  i,  1865. 

Stewart.  James.  Iroquois.  Aug.  12,  1862.  Co.  I", 
113th  Inf.,  34  nios.     Mustered  out  June  20.  1865. 

Sturdevant.  Win.  N.,  Iroquois.  Aug.  12.  1862. 
Co.  F,  ii3tli  Inf..  8  nios.  Died  in  Iowa,  .March. 
1863. 

Shejiard.  .\bijali,  Iro(|uois,  Aug.  12,  1862,  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Died  at  Young's  Point. 
La.,  Feb.  10,  1863. 

Spencer,  .Monzf).  Uelmont.  .\ug.  12,  1862,  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.  Discharged  for  disability,  dntc  not 
given. 

Stmud.  Silas,  .Middlepurl,  .\ug.  12.  i8()2.  C'n. 
I'".  113th  Inf.,  0  mos.  Discharged  May  12.  i8r)3. 
disability. 

I^milh,  kolierl.  Middlei)orl,  .\ug.  12,  18(12,  C'n. 
F.  113111  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20, 
1865.  Corpciral. 


Smith,  Wni.  L..  Middleport,  Aug.  12.  1862.  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.    Rejected. 

Smith,  Benjamin,  Middleport,  Aug.  12.  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf.    No  data. 

Stroud.  Fayette,  Middleport,  Aug.  12,  1862, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf.     Rejected. 

Shepherd,  Moses,  ^liddleport,  Aug.  12.  1862. 
Co.  F.  11 3th  Inf.     Xo  data. 

Shepherd.  Thomas.  Middleport,  Aug.  12,  1862. 
Co.  V .  1 13th  Inf.    Xo  data. 

.Spaulding,  George,  Chcbanse.  Aug.  14.  1862. 
Co.  H,  1 13th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865. 

Stiftles.  George.  Chebanse,  Aug.  14.  1862.  Co. 
H,  113th  Inf.,  6  mos.  Died  at  Young's  Point, 
La..  Feb.  18.  1863. 

Stuni]),  George.  Chebanse.  Aug.  22.  1862.  Co. 
H,  113th  Inf..  6  mos.  Discharged  Feb.  9.  1863. 
disability. 

Simmonds,  Richard,  Chebanse.  Aug.  12.  1862. 
Co.  H,  113th  Inf.,  2  mos.    Deserted  Oct.  4.  1862. 

Shortridgc,  \\'m.  E.,  Sheldon,  .Aug.  7,  1862, 
Co.  I,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  as  2d 
Lieut.  June  20.  1865. 

Sullivan.  Thomas.  Middleport.  Aug.  13,  1862. 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June 
20,  1865. 

i^hrum.  Elias.  Concord,  Aug.   13,   1862.  Co.  I. 

I  i3tli  Inf..  34  mos.    Mustered  out  June  20.  18(15. 

Sheets.  Henry,  Concord,  Aug.  i).   1862.  Co.  I. 

113th  Inf..  },},  nuis.     Mustered  out  June  5,  1865. 

Sypert,  .Arnold  M..  Concord,  Aug.  9,  1862.  Co. 

I.  113th   Inf.,  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20. 
i8r)5,  as  Corporal. 

i^liruui,  John,   Ccncurd,   Aug.   7.    1862,  Co.   I. 

I  i3tli  Inf.,  34  niiis.     Mustered  out  Jiuu-  20.  1865. 

.'-^wini.  Ilenry.  .Midillepurl.  .\ug.   14.   1864.  Co. 

II,  i.Utli  Inf..  5  nios.     Mustered  out  Oct.  25.  1864. 
Simiison,  John  R..  Del  Rey.  May  14.  1864,  Co. 

1'.,  i34tli  Inf.,  5  mos.    Mustered  out  Oct.  25.  1864. 

Taxlor,  Samuel  C,  Middleport,  .\ug.  8,  1862. 
(11.  I.  1 13th  Inf..  3  yrs.  Mustered  out  as  sergeant 
June  20.  18(15,  died  July  2'i^.  i8()4. 

Tiionias,  John  M.,  Milfonl,  Ma\  14.  18(14.  Co. 
1'.,  1341I1  Inf..  5  mos.     Mustered  out  Oct.  25,  1864. 

Tourney.  Charles.  .\sh  (m-ovc.  Dec.  3.  18(14. 
lotli  Itif. 

Tlionias.  George  \V.,   Milford,    M:u    14.    i8(')4, 


/J 


IROQL'OIS  COUN'TV.  IIJ.IN'DIS. 


7ii 


I  I.    I.,  i.s^ii  n:i  .  -,  ut<<-.     Alu^uiiil  out  (let.  J5.  loth  Cav.     .Mii.-tircil  i.iu   NOv.  jj.   i}«j5.  as  _'<1 

Tobias,  J»iliM  C.   .Mithllqxirt.  April  2.',    i8<ii.  TmttiT.  James  W..  Middlqwirt.  Aiij;.  9,  i8(>2. 

Co.  I.  jiitli   Inl.  to.  n,  51th  Int..  1.^  iiids.     Killed  at  ihickamafja. 

TriinmiT.  Charli-s.  Mi.ldlqH>rt.  Mav    14.   iS*.4.  Sept.  ^J.  iS<>.V 

Co.  I'l.  i.uili  li'i.  5  "los.     .Miistentl  out  ( >i-t.  ^3,  Taylor  RoIkti   .M..  I,(xla,  Sept.    15,   i8^»i.  Co. 

iJVi^.  as  ehaplain.  <- •    '"'''  Cav..  yj  inos.      .Mustereil  «nit    Dec.    lo. 

Taylor. ».  Iiarles.  .\lid(llq)ort.  .\pril  2-'.  iS^u.  Co.  i8<.4,  o.r|}oral. 

I.  .ioth  Inf.     Died  July  i(».  1865.  of  wounds.  Thayer,  .\llx-rt.  Middlcport.  Oct.   1.   iW)l.  Co. 

Thompson.  Jasper  \"..  (lihuan,  .May   14.  i8r»4.  C.  51st  Inf..  38  mo.s.    .Mustered  out  IX'c.  j8,  1864. 

Co.  I'.,  i^itli  inf..  ^  inos.     Mustered  nut  <  Vt    -'5  Trickel.  Francis  .M..  I.oda.  Sept.  15.  18*11.  Co. 


I».4 

Tlioir.a.-..  iant.  I...  IriK|uois.  .\pril  jj.  iNi|.  Lo. 
I.  joth   Inf. 

Thoinp.son.  William.  .Miildleport.  Jan.  7.  18^15. 
Co.  D.  I5<)th  Inf.  Resii;ned  a--  1st  Lieut.  Co.  D. 
I  >(>lh    Illinois.   Dec.    18.    i8'i^. 


C.    loth   Cav..   51    mos.      .Mustered   out    \ov.   22, 

Tenjjley.  Daniel  D.,  .\>hkum.  Nov.  7,  i8<^)i, 
Co.  C,  58th  Inf..  42  mos.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran. 

Thom|)son.  .Sylvester,  Lnda.  IXc.  12.  18^)3.  Co. 
C  .    loth  Cav..  23  mos.     .Mustered  out   Nov.   22, 


Thompson,  James  II..  (lilman.  Jan.  7.  18*15.  Co.       18^15. 


I.  20th  Inf. 


Tutlie.  Keukn.  Chehaiise.  Nov.  5,   iNji.  L  u.  C. 


Test.  William.  (  hiar^a.  Jan.  2<>.   18(15.  Co.   D.      S^^th  I r.f..  47  mos.    Discharj^ed  ( )ct.  3.  18/S5.  ( di>- 


150th  Inf.,  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16.  18*/!. 

Thompson.  William,  .Middleixirt.  Jan.  13. 
i8<ii.    Co.    I.    20th    Inf. 

Tuttle.  William  C.  Chehause.  Jan.  21.  18(15. 
C'o.  I),   150th   Inf..    1   yr.      .Mustered  out  Jan.    i<i. 

Temple.  Clautle.  .Middli|)ort.  Jan.  4.  i8<>i.  Co. 


ability),  from  Co.  H.  58th  Re(,n. 

Tarbet,  Daniel.  .Mi(ldle|>ort.  .Nov.  12.  1.^13.  Co. 
D.  1st  .Xrt'Iv..  21  mos.  .Mustered  out  lulv  28. 
18^15. 

Tiickwood.  John,  (  )nari;a.  June  (>.  l8<i2.  Cn.  li. 
CK;th  Inf..  3  mos.     .Mustered  out  .^ept.  27.  1862. 

Thayer.  DanT.  Lotla,  Feb.  8.  1862.  Co.  I„  2d 


1".  25th  Inf.,  30  mos.     Di.sch;ir).;ed  (  let.   15,   18(13.  Art'Iy..   42    mos.      .Mustered    out    .\uj.r.   <).    1865; 

Townsley.  James  L..  .MidilKi)ort.  Jan.  30.  18(15.  transferred  to  \'.  R.  C. 

(  o.  D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   i(t.  Troup,  Fdwanl.  Middleport,  July  24,  1862.  Co. 

i8(i().  .\.  7Cith  Inf..  I  yr.     Died  at  Jacksoii.  .Miss..  July 

Tarlxix,  Wm.  I'...  Onarya.  Jan.  4.  i8(ii.  Co.  1-.  11.  18(13. 

25th  Inf..  14  mos.     Discharged  .\i\n.  i).  liVu  Talbert.  Wm.  II..  IriKpiois.  July  24.  1862.  Co. 

Tomlitison.  John.  (  inartpi.  Jan.  30.    18C15.  I  o.  .\.  76th  Inf..  3  yrs.     Discharged  July  22.  1865. 

I).  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  i8<)6.  Taylor.  David.  Irof|uois,  July  24,  i8r)2.  Co.  A, 

Taylor,  Amos  W.,  C >nars:a,  June  4.  1861.  Co,  V.  7^1,  |„f..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  l8()5. 

2^th   Inf.,   I    vr.     I)ischarere<l    |une  28,   18(12.  t     1         1            1.      \  1    <•             »                  n^ 

^       •  Tavlor.    fames  I'...  .\sh  drove.  Auix.   11.   i8(>2, 

rallx-rt,  deoree  W ..  ( Inarira,  Sept.   10.   i8(ii,  ,•      .-    _/-,,    i  ./     ,              m       .      •  1 

„     ,,        ,     ,     '^                 ...              -      .  *-*'■  '-  "''•"  '"'••  3  ^i^*-     Absent,  sick  on  nuister 

Co.  M.,  9th  Cav..  7  mos.     Died  at  Reeves  Mation.  ^,„  ^f  regiment. 

March  31.   18C12. 


Thomas.  William,  .Milford,  .Nu^.  2-,.  i8(ii.  Co. 


Trickey,    (Icorpe    M.,    .\sh    drove.    .\u}j.    11, 


,^        ..I  I   f    /-               rv-    I     .  -I-  .         M        I  18*^12.  Co.  F.  7fith  Int..  3  vrs.     Mustered  out  lulv 

d,    42<I  Inf.,  n  mos.     Died  at    I  ipton.  .Mo.,     aii.  o^ 

o^  ^2.  1865. 
24.   18*^2. 

Thaxer.  Li-ster,  « )narKa.  .Xug.  i.  i8(.2.  Co.  .M.  'l"^^*^'''-  '<"''^'"'-  •^'•''  ^'rovc,  .\»n.  1.  18(^.2,  Co. 

0th  Cav..  2  mos.     Died  at  .Memphis.  Tenn..  Oct.  ^-  "'"''  '"f-  ^  '"'"^      Hischarne.l  .\pril  11.  1863. 

I,  i8r>2.  Thomas.  Samuel.  .\sh  drove.  Awa.  I    i8*>2.  Co. 

Townsley.  .Saml.   IJ..   Milford.  Mm.  25.   i8(.i.  K.  7''th  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 

Co.  G,  42d  Inf.,  3  mos.     Died   (at  home  on  sick  Thomas,  Cico.  W.,  .\sh  (rrovc.  .Xup.   5.   1862, 

furlouph^  Xov.  26,  \fV>\.  Co.    K.   7C)th    Inf..   4   mos.      Died    at    Lapranpc. 

Taylor,  dcorpc  IS..  I.oda.  .'^ept.  15.  i8(ii.  (       •  Tenn..  Dec,  3.  1862. 


734 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Thrasher,  Geo.  W.,  Behnoiit,  Jan.  4,  1864,  Co. 
F,  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.  Mustered  out  July  12, 
1865.' 

Tuttle,  Reuben,  Chebanse,  Aug.  14,  1862,  Co. 
H,  1 13th  Inf.,  6  mos.  Discharged  Feb.  9,  1863, 
disability. 

Tykr,  Andrew,  Sheldon,  Aug.  7,  1862.  Co.  I. 
113th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Mustered  out  as   ist  Lieut. 


Thomas,  Asa  B,  .\sh  (.Jrove,  Dec.  9,  1863.  Co. 
K.  76th  Inf..  18  mos.  Transferred  to  37th 
Illinois. 

Thompson,  Harlan  C,   Middleport,  Aug.    10. 

1862,  Co.  C,  88th  Inf.     Discliarged  for  disability, 
date  not  given. 

Trow.  William,  Middleport.  Aug.  10,  1862,  Co. 
C,  88th  Inf.,  I  yr.    .Missing  .\ug.  i,  1863. 

Tanner.  Frank  G.,   Middleport,  Aug.  6,   1.S62.      Jan.  20,  1865. 
Co.   C,   88th  Inf.,   9  mos.      Discharged    May   6,  Thomas,  Win.,  Concord,  Aug.  7.  1862,  Co.  I, 

1863.  disability.  113th  I"f-.  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20,  1865, 
Taylor,  Robert,  Middleport.  .\ug.  14,  i&j2.  Co.      as  corporal. 

C,  88th  Inf.,  15  mos.     Missing  Dec.  2.  1863.  Torbet.  Wm..  Concord,  Aug.   7,    1862,  Co.   I, 

Tibault,  Jno.  B.,  Clifton,  Aug.  16.  1862,  Co.  D.      113th  Inf.,  7  mos.    Discharged  :\larch  7,  1863. 

89th  Inf.,  18  mos.     Died  at  Louisville,  Ky..  Feb.  Torbit,  Wm.  S..  Concord,  Aug.  7,  1862,  Co.  I. 

_j,  1864.  ii3''i    J^'if--   34  'i-os-     Clustered  out  as   corporal 

Taylor,  \\"m.  IL,  Middleport,  Aug.   14,   1862,      June  20,  1865. 

O.  M.   113th  Inf.,  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June         Torbit,  .\dolphus.  Concord,  Aug.  13.  1862.  Co. 


20,   1865,  as  quarter  master. 

Tunks.  George   E.,   Martinton,   .\ug.  9,    1862. 
Co.  15,   113th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865,  corporal. 
1865,  corporal. 

Thomas,  Samuel  L.,  Onarga.  Aug.  12,  1862. 
Co.  D,  113th  Inf..  7  mos.  Died  at  St.  Louis 
March   11,  1863. 

Thomas,  Lewis,  Onarga,  .\ug.  12,  1862,  Co.  D, 
113th  Inf.,  I  yr.  Died,  prisoner  at  Richmond, 
Aug.  19.  1863. 

Thomas.  James.  Onarga.  .Vug.  11.  iiShj.  Co.  1). 
113th  Inf..  10  mos.  Discharged  June  7.  1863. 
disability. 

Tarbett.  Thaddeus.  Concord.  -A.u.g.  12.  i8r)2, 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865. 

Tullis.  Jonah,  Belmont,  -Vug.  12,  1862,  Co.  I'', 
i  13th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20.  1865. 
ser.geant. 

Tyler.  Selden,  .Middleport,  .\ug.  12.  1862,  Co. 
F.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  lune  20. 
1865. 

Tyler.  William.  .Middleport.  .\ug.  12.  iSf)2,  Co. 
I'",  113th  Inf..  5  mos.  Died  Die,  31.  i8f)2.  al 
Chickasaw  Bayou. 

Tullis.  Geo.  \\'.,  lnM|uois.  Jan.  12.  18(14.  Co.  1-". 
113th  Inf..  15  mos.  Discharged  .\pril  13,  i8c'>5. 
disability. 

Tullis.  Isaac,  Inninois.  Jan.  4.  1864.  L'u.  b", 
113th  Inf..  2  mos.  Died  at  Camp  I'ntler.  .March 
18.  1864. 


1.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20, 
1865." 

Taylor.  Wm.  H..  Concord,  Aug.  11.  1862.  Co. 
I.  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Clustered  out  as  quarter 
master  June  20,   1865. 

Thompson,  James,  ^ililford.  Dec.  9,  1863.  Co. 
1.  113th  Inf..  18  mos.  Transferred  to  120th 
Ills. 

Treadway,  Daniel  C,  Middleport.  Jan.  i.  1864, 
Co.  I.  113th  Inf.,  18  mos.  Transferred  to  120th 
Illinois. 

Treadway.  Arom  M.,  Concord,  Jan.  15.  1864. 
Cm.   1,  n3th  Inf.,  18  mos.     Transferred  to  120th 

Ills. 

Taylor,  Robert,  Milford,  May  14.  1864.  Co.  B, 
i34lh  Inf.,  3  mos.    r^Iustered  out  Ot.  25.  1864. 

Taylor,  Wni.  M..  Milford.  May  14.  1864.  Co. 
ii.  I34t!i  Inf..  5  Hios.  Mustered  out  Oct.  25. 
1864. 

Tullis.  Amos  K..  Loda.  May  14,  1864,  Co.  1'.. 
1,54th  Inf..  5  mos.     Mustered  out  (X't.  2^.  i8C)4. 

Crmston,  Stc])h.  I...  Middleport,  March  31. 
1863.  Co.  1.  ii.itli  Inf..  13  mos.  Transferred  to 
120th  Ills. 

N'eyette.  llerlK-rt.  .Middleport.  Aug.  22.  1862, 
Co.  F,  II31I1  Inf..  3  yrs. 

\'an  \\'ess.  Geo.  J..  (Onarga.  ."^ept.  10.  iSiii. 
Co.  .\l.  ()th  Cav..  13  mo-.  Died  at  Keokuk.  I>iwa. 
Oct.  8.  1862. 

\liet.  .\ndrew  }..  Helnmnt.  July  7.  i8()2.  Co. 
K.  77lh  Inf..  3  yrs.  Died  at  Woodland  Jidy  21. 
1899. 


IKOOLOIS  COUNT V.  ILLINOIS.  7.^3 

\  .iiij^lin,    |(k1.  t'l.ii.i;.!.   A'H.    I.'.   i}«ii.  Ci).   .\L  \  fil.kr.   IIitIkti  A.,  I.oda.  Ma>    14.  liV,^.  (.... 

<)tli  tav..  h  iii.x      IVniiiHil   I'nim  rolls  April  30.  I'>.  i34<li  l"f--  5  ""•^-  Mnsti-rcd  mu  (  )ct.  25.  i8r»4. 

i}<^,j  \  an  \  lilt,  i-.dwanl.  MicUlkport.  May  14.  iW>4, 

\c\ctti-.   I'.iiijamm.  Mi.i.llii...it.  Doc.   Kj.  iWi^.  Co.  I!,  i.^t''  l"l'.  3  """*•     -Miistcn-d  out  (  kt.  .'3. 

Co.  I-",  113th  Inf..  Ji  mos.     |nl\.  iS'>3.  i**'M- 

\aufrhn.  Joseph.  Onargn.   Nov.    12.   iX^.i.  t V.  \crnink-.  Cornelius.  (  hiarjia.  Dec.  1 1.  iW>i.  Co. 

.M.  -ith  Cav..  (>  mos.     nrojipcd  from  mils  Ai>ril  -M.  '^th   Cav..  4^  mos.      Musti-rcd   .nit   <  kn.   31. 

30.  18/.J.  '^•3-  viliran. 

Ncnnum.    Hiram     I'...     .\liddlci>ort.    Jinu-     13.  Waldo.  Janus  \\..  .Milford.  Jan.  _'i.  1W.5.  Co. 

|8<>I.  Co.    I.  jolh    Irf..    \  vrs.      .\lustircd  out   as  I'.  130th  Inf..  1   \  r.     .Miistin-d  out  Jan.  16.  iJV/). 

captain  l"o.   I).   130111   Illinois.  Jan.    i(>.    iSfif>.  Wray.  ICdward  S..   .Middk-port.  Jan.  31.   iS(>3. 

\innum.  John  I'..  .Milford.  Jan.  13.   iS'.3.  Co.  Co.  I).   130th   Inf..   1    \r.     .Mustered  ont  Jan.   16. 

I).   130th   Inf..    r    yr.      Mnsten-d  out  as  scrjjeant  18^16. 

Ian.    \<i.  iW/).  WashinfTton.  ISnshrod  I)..  .MiiUlleport.  <  kt.  22. 

\enmmi.  John  S..  Miiklk'iH.rt.  Jmie   13.   iS(m.  18^.1.  Co.   D.   i.st   .\rt'ly..  45  mos.     Woundid  at 

Co.  I.  20lh  Inf..  4  yrs.     Rc-inlisted  as  vitinin.  Xickslmri,'.    Kenesaw   and    .\tlanta. 

\alkncniirt.  Jasper.  Clifton.  Jan.   iS.   1W.3.  Co.  Wood.    W  illiam.   Coniord.    .\n.ir.   .;.    iS<i2.    Co. 

I).    I50tli    Inf..    I    yr.      .Mustered    out    Jan.    i(..  I'--  7''tli  I'lf  .  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  1W15. 

iSfrC).  West.  ( ieoru^e.    .\liddIe)>ort.   .Xui;.   7.    1W12.  Co. 

X'cnnuin.  1'.  H..  .Middlcport.  Jrne  4.   il^hi.  C'<.  1.    n^th    Inf..    10  mos.      Kesijrned  on  account  of 

I'.    25th    Inf..   23   mos.      Transferred    to   veteran  sickness,  died  .Nov.  24.  i Sip. 

reserve  cor])s   julv   1.  18^13.  \\  aldraj).  Wni.  T..  Cral)a|)ple.  Ava.   11.   i8C>2. 

\eyttte.  Louis.  .\liddIe])ort.  Jai'.    18.   i8(.3.  Lo.  Co.    |-:.   7f>tli    Inf..  S   mo>.      |)iscliart;ed    .\pril   8. 

0.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  i(>.  i8ri(>.  iS^M-  <lisnl)ility. 

\'an  Wirt.  Wm..  Cluhanse.  Ncv.  3.   iS/n.  C  Wilkin-^on,  Win.  M..  Cheljanse.  June  13.  iST)!. 

C.  ;Stli  Inf.     No  data.  Cl  (I.  20tli   Inf..  ^)  n:os.     Ditd  a'   .M   iind  Cii>. 

\es.ser.  William.  I.oda.  .May    14.   1.S/.4.  Co.   I'..  Hcc.  <>.    1861. 

134th   Inf..  3  mos.     Mustered  out  (  kt.  23.   i8<.4.  Williantson.  Allen  I-..  C  raliapple.  .\nii.  <;.  i8'.2. 

\an  Kuren.  Jair.es.  Chel;anse.  .March  14.  18*13.  Co.   \'..  7()th    Inf..  3  yrs.      .Mustere.l  out  July   22. 

Co.  H.  58th  inf.     Di.*charge<l  for  disal.ility  Oct.  iW>3. 

3.  18^.3.  Walser.  ( ieo.   IL.   .Middleport.   .\pril   22.   iS<ii. 

\an     Kuren.     J.     (...     CliehansL-.     .March     14.  Co.  I.  20th  Inf..  7  mos.     Kcsiy^iud  Nov.  3.   iSfu. 

Co.  H.  58th   Inf.     .Mustered  out  March  3.  i8^»'.  captain. 

Xankiiriii.  Roliert.  Cluhante.   .March    14.   iHli;^.  Williamsoii.  Ja-.  K.  I'..  .Milford.  l)e.-.  17,  iS<)3. 

I.S/)5.  Co.  M.  58tli  Inf.     nischart;e<l   for  fli-ahiliiv  Co.    ]■'..  7<'.tli    Inf  .    iS   ni..-.      Traii-tVrred   to  37th 

(k-t.  3.   1W15.  Ills.    Inf. 

\'ansicle.  Johnson.  L(«la.  .\un.  3.   i8<i2.  Co.  K.  Waslijnyton.  S.  .\..  .Middle|iort.  June  13.  |8<>|. 

7«>tli   Inf..   10  mos.     Missing  June  fi.   18(13.  Co.    1.   2(ith    Inf..   7   mos       Hiscliaryed    for   di>a- 

\  auphn.  Joel.  .\sh  ( imve.  .w^.  10.  18' .2,  Co  l)ilit\. 

K.  7(>th  Inf..  8  mos.     Died  at  St.  Louis  .V-iril   ..  W  ey;;.indt.    H.    I'...    .Middkpnrt.    .\u},'.   8.    i8f>2. 

18/13.  I  o.   1.   113th   Inf..  34  mos.      Mustered  out  .-i-;    i>;t 

X'eyette.   Herbert.   Middleport.   .Xiij,'.    12.    i8(i2.  sirj;eanl  June  20.   1863. 

Co.   F'.   113th  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  White.  Charles  W..  Middle|)ort.  June  13,  18(11. 

2f».  18(15.  Co.    I.   20th    Inf..   3   mos.      Died  at    liird's    I'oiiit. 

W-Nelte.      Menjamin.      .Mi(klle]Mirt.      Dec.      n;.  Nov.  1;.   i8C>i. 

18(^)3.  Co.  I".  ii3tli  Inf..  18  mos.     Transferred  to  Wajjiier.  ( leorue.   .Midilleport.   .\uj;.    13.    18(12. 

120th  Ills.  Co.  I.  ii3tli  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustereil  out  June  20, 

\'ennum.  ( iillxrt.  .Milford.  May    14.   i8(>4,  to  18(13. 

1;.    134th    Inf..    3   mos.      Mu.stered  out   Oct.   23.  Williams.   Thos.    D..  Chelanse.  .\u>;.  7.    1861. 

i8C>4.  C'o.  ( i.  23th    Inf..    17  mos.      Served   in   war   with 
43 


736  PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 

.Mexico,   Capt.   Co.   G,   killed    Dec.   31,    1862,  at  \\'ads\vorth,     Henry     S..     .Milford,      Aug.  25, 

Stone  River,  Colonel.  i86i,  Co.  G,  42(1  Inf.    Discharged  for  promotion 

W'il.'ion,    John,     Middleport,    Aug.     11,    1862,  in  the  V.  S.  colored  troops. 

ii3tli  Inf..  34  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20.  1865.  Willis,  George  C,  Milford,  Feb.  8,  1865.  Co. 

Wolf.  Jacob,  .Middleport,  June  4.  1861,  Co.  F,  D.  150th  Inf..  i  yr.     Mustered  uut  Jan.  16,  1866. 

25th  Inf.,  II  nios.     Discharged  May  20,  1862.  Woods.  Roland.   Iroquois,   Aug.   7,    1861,   Co. 

Wines.    Henry  C,    .Middleport.  Jan.    14,   1864,  H.  42d  Inf.     Missing  Dec.  5,  1861. 

Co.  I.  ii^tli  Inf..  18  nios.     Transferred  to  120th  Watson,  Frank  P>.,  Chebanse,  Feb.  6,  1865,  Co. 

Ills,  D.  150th  Inf..  I  yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Waldcn.  AiitlKiny  B..  (Jnarga,  June  4,  1861,  Co.  Wivel.   Levi.   Iroquois,   .April   7,   1865.   Co.   K, 

F,  25th    Inf.    .Missing,   last   heard    from   in   hos-  4^d  Inf..  8  mos.    ^Mustered  out  Nov.  30,  1865. 
pital  at  .Xashville.  Williams.  Harry  F.,  Middleport,  Jan.  21,  1865. 

Winston,    Stejdien    L..    .Middlep'irt.    Ajiril    5,  (_'o.   D,   150th  Inf.,   i   yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   16. 

1865.   I  131I1  Inf.,  2  mos.     Mustered  out  June  20,  1866. 

1865.  \\'ade,  Oscar,  Middleport.  Nov.  2.  1861,  Co.  C, 

Wilson,  Thomas,  Onarga,  .\pril  5,  1865.  Co.  F,  :;ist  Inf.,  34  mos.     Died  near  Atlanta  Sept.  20, 

25th   Inf.,  3  yrs.   Wounded,  mustered  out   Sept.  1864. 

5-    1864.  \\'illoughby.  \\'.  S..  Ash  Grove,  Feb.  7,  i8(>5, 

\\'ilson.  l-'rank  .\1..  .Vsli  (inive,  .May   14,   i8()5.  Co.  D,   150th  Inf.,   i   yr.     Mustered  out  Jan.   16, 

Co.  I'l,  I34tii  Inf..  5  mos.     Mustered  out  Oct.  25,  1866. 

1864.  as  sergeant.  \\'illard,  Henry  C,  Middleport,  Sept.  20,  1861, 

\\'We\.  Levi,  Onarga,  .\pril  5,  1862,  Co.  F,  25th  Co.  C,  51st  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mu.stered  out  with  regi- 

Inf.,  30  mos.     Mustered  out  as  corporal  Sept.  5,  nient  Sept.  25,  1864. 

1864.  Whitaker.  Geo.  W.,  Middleport.  .\ug.  10,  1862, 

Washington,   James    P..    .Middleport,    .May    14.  (Jq   c.  88th  Inf.     .Missing  .\ug.  3,  1863,  supposed 

1864,   Co.   P).    134th   Inf.,  5  m<is.      .Mustered  out  deserter. 

Oct.  25.  1864.  Wilson,   George   C   Ashkum,    May    10.    1862, 

Williams.  Eugene  E..  Onarga,  June  5,  1861,  Co.  Qq_  q   28th  Inf.,  2t,  mos.     Resigned  as  2d  Lieut. 

I".  25th  Inf.,  5  mos.    Deserted  Xov.  6,  1861.  .\pril  20,  1864. 

Wilson,  James,  Middleport,  May  14,  1864,  Co.  Weaver.   XClnev.  Loda,  .-\ug.    i,   1862.  Co.   C, 

i;,    134th    Inf.,   5    mos.      Mustered   out   Oct.    25,  ggtli   Inf.,   7  mos.      Discharged   Alarch   3,    1863, 

'8''>4.  disability. 

Walcutt,  (korge,  A.shkum,  Aug,  26,  1861,  Co.  Warner,  Charles.  Chebanse,  -Nov.  7,  1861,  Co. 

G,  25th  Inf.,  21  mos.     Discharged  June  i,  1863,  (•    .^j],  j„f     _^2  „.,qs.     Re-enlisted  as  veteran, 
disabilitv . 


I 


Web.<;ter.  .\bel,  Middleport,  .\ug.  4,  1862,  Co. 

Williams,  Harry  P.,  Middleport,  May  14,  1864.  (^  gg^,^  j„f     ,  ^,     Discharged  Aug.  i,  1863.  dis- 

Co.  I'.,  I  ■?4th  Inf..  5  mos.     Mustered  out  Oct.  25,  ,  •,•. 

'"                ^                                                    ■■  abdity. 

,',,'  ,,,.,.,,,            ,                   o^      ,  ■  Webster,  Timothv.  Onarga,  )une  10,  1862.  Co. 

1                                        Walsh,   Robert.  .A.shkum.   .\ug.    17,    1861,  Co.  _    ^    ,    ^    '               -     ,        •       ■       ,,     ^            „^ 

'                                   /  ■         ,    T   r                 ..              11                  1  f^.  6()th  Inf.,  T.  mos.    Mustered  out  Sept.  27,  1862. 

1                                      (r.  25th  Inf.,  ^  vrs.     I  romoted  corporal,  nnistered  .         .    ,,             .          ,-,      n,-      r- 

'                                           •.  ,         .■  •      ,.               „,        '  Wolcott,  Charles,  Ashkum.  Aug.  8.  1862,  Co. 

nut  With  reirnnent  Suit.  5,  1804.  ,,             ,             . 

,,..„          r..-,,.           M-;,,          .     ,,                    o,-  P..    88th      nf.,    U    nios.       .Mu^trred    out    lunc    Q, 

]                                          W  illciii.    William,    .Middleport.    May    14,    i8()4,  ■                         .i-t 

Co.    11,    I  ylli    Inf..    5   iiKis.      Mustered   <iut   ( ")ct.  '    '■"" 

25,   1864.  Wright.   Peter,  Clifton,  .\ug.   12.   1862,  Co.  G, 

I                                        Wilks,  l-.dwin.  Aslikum.  Aug.  17,  1861,  Co.  Ci,  /^'l  T"*-  3  .vrs.     Mn.stered  out  .\ug.  7.  1865. 

25th   Inf.,  3   vrs.      .Mustered   mit   Sept.    5.    18^,4.  Wright,    Robert,    Middleport,    Julx    24.    18O2, 

with  rcgimenl.  *■""•  -^^  /'''^'^  ''i'-  -7  '"o*-    ^^^^^  ^^  ^lemphis  Oct. 

1                                         Worthington,  Chas..  Loila.  .May   14,   1864.  C>\  6.  1864. 

P.    134th    Inf..    5    mos.      .Mustered    out    (  )ct.    2~,.  Watters.    Dan'!.,    lnK|uois,  July   24,    1862,   Co. 

1864.  .\,  76th  Inf.,  3  yrs.     Mustered  out  July  22.  1865. 


[ 


IROQUOIS  COUNTY.  ILLINOIS. 


7i7 


\\ri(;ht.  Lie.  IrtKjuois.  July  -'4.  i8<>.'.  Co.  .\, 
76tli  Inf.  31  mos.  Discharncd  .March  7,  18^)5. 
as  coriKiral,  wiHiiulcd. 

WriRht.  Jonatlian.  (lilnian.  |iil>  -'4.  it^'iJ.  Co. 
.\.  jdili  Inf..  3  >Ts.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  i8<)5. 

Wilson.  William  T..  IVImont.  July  .'4.  iWo. 
Co.  .\.  Tfith  Int..  2J  mos.  Died  at  \  icksburK 
May   2»,    i8<>4. 

\\csUy.  John.  I'.elmont.  July  24.  iWij.  Co.  A. 
7^ith  Inf..  3  yrs.     .Mustered  out  July  22.  ii<tt$. 

Watkins.  William  .\..  .\sh  ( irove.  .Vu^-  1. 
i8<>2.  Co.  K.  T^rth  Inf..  3  yrs.  .Mustered  out  as 
captain  July  22.  iSii-,. 

Watkins.  John.  L<Mla.  .\up.  10.  1862,  Co.  K. 
7f>th  Inf..  3  >rs.  Aliscni.  sick  on  muster  out  July 
22.  iJV>5. 

White.  Silas  I'...  Loda.  Jan.  14.  i.S/,4.  Co.  K. 
^^ith  Inf..  18  nios.     Transferred  to  37th  Ills. 

Weaver,  .\hram.  Loda.  .Xur.  10.  i8'>2.  Co.  C, 
88th  Inf..  5  mos.  KilU"<l.  battle  Stone  River. 
Tenn..  Dec.  31.  18^)2. 

Wixnly.  Knos  IL.  .MidilleiMirt.  Au>;.  18.  iW>_'. 
Co.  n,  113th  Inf..  35  mos.     Transferred  to  \'.  R. 

C.  mustere<l  out  July  13.  1865. 

Wise.  Samuel.  Martinton.  \vii.  w.  i8<i2.  Co.  1'.. 

1131!)  Inf..  34  mos.     .Mustered  out  June  20.  1865. 

Webster.  Timothy.  Onarpa.  July  30.  1862,  Co. 

D.  113th  Inf..  2  \rs.     Died  of  wounds  at  Mobile. 
Ala.,  July  4.   i8r>4. 

Webb.  Wells  (i..  Onarga,  .Vug.  f\  i8<')2,  Co.  D. 
113th  Inf..  35  mos.  Mustered  out  Jiuie  20. 
1W.5. 

WockI.  Jolin.  Onar>;a.  .\ufr.  7.  iW>2,  Co.  I). 
113th  Inf..  30  mos.  DisclBrged  I'eb.  1.  18^15. 
ilisability. 

Wray.  Merriman.  Sprinp  Creek.  .\\.\^.  15.  18*12. 
Co.  D.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .Mustered  out  June 
20.  1865. 

Warren,  Henry.  .Middleport.  .\up.  12,  iW>2. 
Co.  F,  113th  Inf..  n  mos.  Died  at  C"am|)  llutler 
May  21.  1863. 

Wookey,  William.  Middlefxirt.  .Vu^.  12.  1862. 
Co.  F.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .\Iusteri"<l  out  June 
20.  18^)5. 

WriRht.  William.  Middlci>ort,  .Xiig.  12,  i8fi2, 
Co.  F.  113th  Inf..  14  mos.  Discharged  Oct.  3. 
l8^>3.  <lisability. 

Wa.shinfjton,  Spotswooil.  Middle|)ort.  .XiiR.  12. 
i8r>2.  Co.  I".  113th  Inf..  5  mos.  Discharged  Jan. 
12.    i8^»3.  disability. 

Whitcman,  Joshua.   C<»nconl.    .\up     12.    18^12. 


Co.    !•.    113th    Inf..    II    nios.     Died  at   Si.   Louis 
July  7.  i»)3. 

Warren.  Wesley,  .\lid.lle|Hjrt.  .Xug  12.  i8<j2. 
Co.  I'".  113th  Inf.,  34  nids.  Miisiered  out  a>  ser- 
geant June  20,  1865. 

Warren.  Joseph,  Melmoiu.  IXc.  11.  1.^13.  Co. 
1".  113th  Inf..  14  mos  Diiil  .It  Mtinplti-  .M;irili 
22.  1865. 

West.  (Jeorge.  .Middle|K.i  i.  .\iig.  7.  i8<>2.  Co. 
1.  113th  Inf..  M>  mil-  Kcsii;iii-i!  M.i\  .•;  18/13. 
as  captain. 

Weston.  Daniel,  .\liddle|)<irt.  .\ug.  w.  iS<>2.  Co. 
1.  113th  Inf..  34  mos.  .Mustereil  out  June  20. 
1865. 

Weygandt,  llymenius,  .Mi<ldIeport.  .\ug.  *j, 
i8<>2.  Co.  I.  113th  Inf.,  7  mos.  Dischargeil  March 
18.  1863. 

Wagner.  ( ieorge.  .MiddlqMirt,  .\ng.  13,  1862. 
to.  I.  ii3tb  Inf..  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20. 
18^,5. 

Wilson.  John.  .Middleport.  .\ug.  11.  iS('>2.  Co. 
I  113th  Inf.,  34  mos.  Mustered  out  June  20. 
18^.5. 

Worlhington.  R.  M..  Onarga,  Sept.  10.  1861. 
Co.  .M.  <>tb  Cav..  4<>  mos.  .Mu.stered  out  ()ct.  31. 
18^,5. 

Wilson,  Asa  W.,  Onarga.  Sept.  10.  i8^>i.  Co. 
M.  <)th  Cav.,  10  mos.  Died  near  Jackson])ort. 
.\rk..  June  26.  1862. 

Worthington.  SamT  S..  Loda.  Oct.  25.  iS/u. 
Co.  M.  <)th  Cav..  37  mos.  Mustered  out  Ww  _'. 
18/ .4. 

Wilson,  Edward,  Onarga.  .\ug.  1.  iW>2.  Co. 
M.  <;th  Cav..  3^1  mos.  .Mustered  out  June  \f>. 
i8r>5. 

Wyman.  (iilbert.  Onarga.  Sept.  \C>.  18^)2.  ijtb 
Cav..  13  mos.     .Mustere«l  out  ( )ct.  31.  i8^>3. 

Wood.  Levi  S.,  I^Kla.  .^epl.  15.  i8^>i.  Co.  C. 
loth  Cav..  19  mos.  Di.scharged  .\pril  15.  1863. 
as  (luarter  nuister  sergeant. 

Webster.  John  H..  Loda.  Sept.  15.  i8<.i.  C<>. 
C.  10th  Cav.,  31J  mos.  Mustered  out  Dec.  30. 
i8r.4. 

Wizard.  Jacob.  I^.da.  Se|)t.  15.  iS<ii.  Co.  C. 
loth  Cav.     Discharged,  no  data. 

Winner.  Phillip.  Loda.  Sept.  15.  iW)i.  C"  t. 
lotli  Cav.     Discharged,  no  data. 

Webster.  Kdward.  Loda.  Sept.  15.  1861,  Co. 
C.  loth  Cav.     Died.  <late  not  given. 

Webster.  Theodore.  I^xti.  I'eb.  2<>.  i8<»4.  lo.  (.  . 
loth  Cav.,  9  mos.     Discharged  Oct.  21.   18^)4. 


738 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  OF 


Washington,  rJushrod   1)..  .\li<lillc]K)rt.  Dec.  8, 

1863.  Co.  D.   i-L  Art'ly..   K^  iiios.     .Mustered  out 
July  28,  1865. 

Whiteman,  j.  \V..  Omconl,  Sep.  2S.  18O1, 
Co.  E,  39tli  Inf..  3  yrs.  Discharged  Sept.  5. 
1864. 

Young.  Paul.  Crescent.  l"eh.  6.  1865,  Co.  D. 
150th  Inf..  I  yr.    .Mustered  out  Jan.  16,  1866. 

Young,  Joseph,  L'Erahle.  Dec.  19,  1861,  Co.  E, 
1 2th  Cav.  Discharged  for  disabihty,  date  not 
given. 

Young,  Hi)sea  W..  Phito,  Feb.  10.  1864.  Co.  C 
37th  Inf.,  28  mos.     Mustered  nut  May  15,  1866. 

Yates,  Jame.s.  ^lilford,  Aug.  zj.  1861,  Co.  (I. 
42d  Inf.,  5  mos.  Discharged  Jan.  24,  1862,  for 
disabihty. 

Yates,  Geo.  AN'.,  A.shkuni,  .\ug.  15,  1861,  Co.  D. 
loth  Inf.  Discharged  July  5.  1863.  and  re- 
enlisted  in  .Miss.  Marine  llrigade. 

Yeakev,  Edward,  .\shkuni.  Xov.  7.  1861,  Co. 
C.  58th  inf. 

Yeakey,  Win..  .Xshkuni.  Xov.  7.  1861.  Co.  C, 
58th  Inf.  Re-enlisted  in  I'.atty.  H,  ist  .Mo.  Light 
Art'ly. 

Young,  jdhn.  I'apineau,  .March  C).  1865,  Co. 
H.  58th  Inf..  I  yr.     .Mu.stered  out  .March  5,  1866. 

Young,    William.    .Middleport,   .\ug.    11,    i8(')2, 
Co.   I,    I  13th   Inf.,  34  mos. 
20,   1865. 

'S'ates.  James  T.,  .Milford,  .May  14,  1864.  C". 
B,    134th    Inf.,   5   mos.      Mustered   out   (  )ct.    25, 

1864,  as  sergeant. 
Young.  John  1).,  Clifton.  j;ni.  31,   iS'15.  Co,  I). 

130th   Inf.,   I   yr.     .\lustt-red  onl  Jan.    15.    iXdfi. 

Zunnvalt,  William  II..  .Middlejiort.  June  4, 
]86l,  Co.  b",  25th  Inf.,  3  yrs.  Mustered  out 
Sept.  5.    1864. 

Zumwalt,  Ahs.-ilom.  .\l  iddle|iort.  Aui;.  13,  iSiiJ. 
Co.  E,  7()th  Inf.,  7,  \  rs.  .\lustere<l  out  lid\  jj. 
1865. 

Dll'.l)  l.\  I'KI.SO.X. 

'llie  ff)llowing  dird  in  Andersonxilk'  I'rison 
which  was  in  direct  ch:irge  of  the  infamous  Capt. 
W  irz,  who  after  the  close  of  the  war  was 
arrested,  tried,  rondemned  and  executed  for  his 
brutality  : 

Tile  names  of  thosi>  who  ilii'd  in  \arion>  other 
southern  prisons  will  never  he  known — no  record 
seems  to  li;ive  heen  kept.     Let  ns  re\erentl\    rt'ad 


the  list  of  those  whose  names  we  are  fortunate 
enough  to  have  and  tenderly  place  upon  the  hal- 
lowed gromid  which  embraces  their  mortal  re- 
mains a  wreath  of  immortelles. 

Corporal  i'j.  Cravel,  Co.  C.  51st  Ills.  Died 
( )ct.  15.  1864. 

Private  Leon  J.  Lourant,  Co.  D,  8yth  Ills.  Died 
Sept.   I,  1864. 

Private  Wm.  R.  Cavitt,  Co.  ]•".  1  13th  Ills.  Died 
.\ug.  24,  1864. 

Private  Levi  Gearhart.  Co.  F,  113111  Ills.  Died 
()ct.    I,    1864. 

Private  .Mdeii  Lindsay.  Co.  D.  113th  Ills.  Died 
.\ug.  23,  1864. 

Private  A.  .McCrea.  Co.  D,  113th  Ills.  Died 
.\ug.  6,  1864. 

Private  James  Miller,  Co.  F,  113th  Ills.  Died 
Oct.  — ,   1864. 

Private  Simeon  T,  Shook.  Co.  D,  113th  Ills. 
Died  Sept.  15,  1864. 

Private  Greenbury  Davis,  Co.  D,  113th  Ills. 
Diedi  .\ug.  22,  1864. 

Private  Lyman  Ijender,  Co.  F.  113th  Ills.  Died 
( )ct.  lo,  1864. 

Private  Josejjh  Miller.  Co.  F.  113th  Ills.  Died 
()ct.  18.  i8<'h. 

Private  James   .\.  Leighdy.  Co.   1.    113th    Ills. 
Mustered  imt  June      Died  .Sept.  18,  1864. 

It  would  indeed  be  something  remarkable  if  in 
the  above  roster  somebody  did  not  discover  va- 
rious inaccuracies — errors  in  names  or  dates  or 
facts.  It  would  be  .still  more  remarkable  if 
there  were  not  something  even  more  to  be  de- 
plored than  a  misspelled  name,  or  here  and 
tliere  an  incorrect  date.  1  ret'er  to  the 
possiliility,  aye  the  great  probability,  of  the 
omission  of  man\-  an  honored  name.  1  am 
fnlK  convinced  that  there  are  a  miniher  of 
the  case,  lint  that  1  have  with  most  scruinilous 
care  comjiiled  the  above  list  from  such  authora- 
tive  material  and  data  as  I  was  able  to  command 
1  will  assert,  for  it  was  my  earnest  desire  to  make 
the  record  of  lr(X|Uois  county's  part  in  the  Great 
Kehellion  as  comprehensive,  com].)lete  and  cor- 
rect as  critical  researcli  would  enable  me  vo  do. 
It  was  for  me  a  lahor  of  love  due  to  the  memory 
of  lur  heroes;  f\\K-  to  their  children  and  the  gen- 
erations who  in  the  future  shall  occupy  the  soil 
which  their  feet  have  trodden  and  where  reposes 
all  that  is  mortal  of  her  heroic  sons. 

.M.    11.    Pktkks. 


1  N  L)i:>^ 


l;l(K.UAl'ill(.  A].. 


Albrecht.    Fred...  I!t2 

All.rldit.    W.    E 653 

AlfxantUT.    G.    W 370 

Allin.    Dr.    Kthan 513 

Allhiinds.    Jacoli 575 

Alllncor.    Jacob 49u 

Allison.    John 4<;2 

Amos.   John   K 644 

Amos,   W.   A 4S4 

AniliTson,  Charles   \V 17i 

Anderson.    Class 208 

Anderson,    F.    W 173 

Anderson,    John    H 46S 

Anderson,    Milton Ifi2 

AppleKel.    Oscar 432 

Ash,    John    0 534 

Ashknni   Jonrnal    349 

Ashley,    A.    J 473 

Askew,    O,    K 658 

Askew,    R.    G 658 

Askew,    Thomas 652 

Austin,    J.    II  H23 

Balthls,    John    M 300 

Itarber,    C.    K 59S 

Hard,    John 514 

Uaron,    William 343 

Harrltt.   John    H 577 

l«each,    F.    H 220 

llL-elK>.    K.    R 265 

Ileeson,    David 344 

llenjamln.   U   A 355 

Itenson.   Ixmla 281 

Herns,   Arnold   G 567 

Herns,    Henry    C 617 

Helz.r.    1.    S 178 

Hlsho|i|i.    Harton 34 

HIanken,   (SeorRe 312 

Hln,    James 269 

HoKwirt.  Dr.   H.   S 121 

Holhwell.  George  0 606 

Ihiiidrean,    J.    S 606 

Houdreau.   X.  C 608 

Hoiif,    Dr.   T.    N 24 

UoMKhton,    S.    \V 370 

Hovl.-,   SO 62 

Hralnard.   Georjfe   W 662 

Hrenner,   J.    H 313 

Hr<-.vmeyer.    Friedrlch 357 

Hr<K-k,   Charles   C 639 

Hn>ck.   Silas    637 

Hrockmann,  E.  H 485 

Hrockniann,  Henry   609 

Hrockway,    A.    V 284 

HrouKher,    A.    L 515 

Hi-own,   Or.   I.,.   H 631 

Hriibaker,    \V     V          570 


Hriiinbark,    David '.Mi 

Huckley,    Alonzo ls<i 

Hnckley.    Samuel 156 

Hiirnison.  S.  C 346 

Hnry,    Georne 27ti 

Hush,   Dr.   Orlando 4o 

Hiitzow,    Frank    F 549 

Caldwfll.    Robert 122 

Calkin.    Charles    A 332 

Carey,   J.    H 562 

Carman.    Alonzo 647 

Carman.   \V.   A 373 

CarrinKton.   W.   0 2.')" 

Cnrnm,  Alphonse 323 

Carter,    A.  J 376 

Case,    H.    C 413 

Cassell,    Charles 61". 

Cast.  A.  C 290 

Caveney,    Frank   A    69 

Chapman.    AS 67 

Child.    Henjamiu 171 

Christenson.  C.    P 686 

Cissna.   Stephen 197 

Clark.    Evian 74 

Clark.  G.  H 264 

Clarke.    Franklin 27o 

Cleaver,    Charles    0 6oo 

Clements,   O.   A 233 

Clifton,     Roliert 260 

Clifton,  Thomas  L 82 

Cobb,    E.    J 318 

Compton.  H.  S 402 

Cx)nard.    J.    W 106 

Cowan.   H.   P 206 

Cox.  M.   H 251 

Crandall.   F.   A 352 

Crani;le.    Frank    M 6o3 

Crawford.    W.    H 448 

Creps.   David 576 

Crink.    James 282 

Crouch,    John 640 

Curby.   G.    C 548 

DarlinK.    Frank 257 

Darling,    Lyman 63.') 

DarrouKh,    Josiali 42u 

Davis,   F.   \V 633 

Davis,    Sanford    S 560 

Dawson,    Jeremiah 21s 

Daw  son,    \V.    M 394 

Dean,    David 193 

IK-aner,   John 622 

Decker,    Henry    C 217 

IH'W iiiK.    William 664 

Dial.    Robert    H 232 

Dietr,   C.   C 17H 


DilUm,    Henry 456 

Disosway,  CD 84 

Disoswav,  M.  R 616 

DIx.    O.    E 429 

D«Killttle.    Elkanah 249 

Downey.  T.  J 319 

Duls.    Harbert 614 

Duzenlierry.  Frank 643 

Eastbiirn.    Charles 591 

Eastbiirn.    J.    H 540 

East  burn.    J.    R 374 

Eastbiirn.    P.    \V 613 

Eastbiirn.    W.    L 136 

Echard.    E.   G 283 

Eckei,    Albeit 112 

Edwards.  S.   H 226 

Eliiiiim.    Edward 94 

Eshelman,    \V.   C 626 

Fldler.   George 289 

FIdler,    William 646 

Finch,    Robert 491 

Finch,    Theodore 361 

KlaniKan,     William 625 

Fleaner,    W.     B 188 

FleminK.    John 287 

Fleming.    John    A 605 

Foster.    R.    W 436 

Freeman.  .1.   0 56 

Frobish.   John 83 

Fronville,    F 654 

(iaffleld.    W.    H 399 

Oannim.   T.    .M 59 

Gardner.    1.   J 486 

Garner.    Peter 234 

Gasaway     Hrothers 401 

(;eiard.    Victor 313 

Gerber.    Theopbile 119 

Gibson,     Dr.     Horace 131 

Gilchrist.    Theodore 393 

Giles.  John  C 388 

Gillum.    Dr.    I.    H 338 

Gleason  &  .Morel 563 

(ioodell.   .\ddlson 5 

Goodfll.    .Nathan   P 686 

Goodell.   Warren   S 680 

(;iM)dyear.   A.   F 296 

Goosiy.    William 206 

Gordon.  James  I .'lUO 

Graham.  J.   A 224 

OreenburK.    F.    W 407 

Hall.   Alonzo  J 159 

Hall.  James   A 302 

Hamilton.  G.   11 33 


-40 


PAST  AND  PRESENT  (3F 


Hamilton,   J.    L 73 

Hanson,   \V.   B 554 

Hargieaves,  P.  H 537 

Harper,   Ed 43S 

Harrington,   G.   C 52 

Harvey,  H.  B 263 

Harwood,  James  F 246 

Hawk,  J.  D 510 

Hecker,  Dr.   William 350 

Heller.   .John 467 

Henderson,  Dr.  H.  C 174 

Henke.   Martin 509 

Herron,   Edwin   S 630 

Hickey,   W.    M 70 

Hills,  Isaac   442 

Hilscher,  Robert  \V 30 

Hislop,   W.   S 214 

Hitchings,  Dr.  R.  C 646 

Hoagland,    James 453 

Hogle,  A.  W 231 

Hollingsworth,    H.    W 461 

Holmes,  John 277 

Holz.  William  A 471 

Hooper.   F.   L 271 

Hotaling.    H.    H 245 

Hougardy    Brothers 586 

Hougland,    Samuel 579 

Hougland.  Silas 651 

Hudson.  \V.   H 632 

Hull,  Elwin 382 

Hummer.    G.    S 500 

Hutchins.    L.    T 105 

Irelan,    W.    T 1.52 

Jewett,  Dr.  D.  L 542 

Jiniison.  W.   H 506 

John,  Thomas 90 

Johnson,    Joseph 431 

Johnson,    Otto 643 

Jones,   A.   M 9 

Kaufmann.   August 530 

Kay.    James    W 194 

Kay.    W.    S 240 

Kennedy,   J.   W 61S 

Kern,  J.   W 660 

Kern,    Owen 320 

Kidd,  J.  T 295 

Kietzmann,    Julius 380 

King,    Michael 621 

Knibloe,  W.  E 438 

Knocke.    Henry 626 

Koester.   Frederick 618 

K(H)n.    H.    E 395 

Kussell,    Peter 659 

La  Bounty,  A.  R 140 

Lake,   F.   C 597 

Leggott,  Thomas 207 

Lemenager,    L.    .r 339 

Leonard.    Michael 437 

Levie,   John 299 

L'Hote,   Eugene 265 

Lindgren,   John    H 532 

Lindsoy.    E.    J 160 

Lindsey,    Ira    M 453 

lyockwood,  Frederick 408 

Loveless,    Thomas 364 

Luebchow,    F.    H 405 

Luhrsen.   August 281 

Lubrsen,    Frederick 547 

Luniley,    Dr.    Robert 580 

Lyon.    E.    M 654 


Lyon,    Howard 305 

Lyon,  James  A 306 

-vlcCloud.   W.    L 419 

McCuen,    Samuel    J 555 

McCurtain,   John   A 166 

McDermott,    Peter 152 

McDougall,    W.    J 237 

Mclntyre,   George    K 553 

Mclntyre,  John 363 

Mc.Mahon.   J.   E 45 

McMahou.   T.   J 89 

-vlcSorley.    Thomas 192 

Main,    George    S 307 

Major,   S.   M 477 

Mallory,   Charles,   Jr 177 

Marquis,    D.    M 244 

Marsh,  L.   C 314 

Martin,  Clark   H 375 

Martin,  William  H 50 

Maurits,  Gust 61 

Meents,    M.    R 411 

Meier,   J.  W 126 

Meyer,  H.  L 12i) 

Miller,    Frederick 609 

Miller,   G.   F 578 

Miller,    John    A 349 

Miller,  M.   L 345 

Miller,  O.  M 130 

Miller,    William 142 

Miller,  Dr.  W.  R 289 

Miner,  Charles  H 590 

Monk,   Dirk   H 514 

Montgomery,   W.    A 456 

Moore  Brothers 465 

Morgan.   C.   S 306 

Morgan,  O.  F 16 

Morris.  F.  P 213 

Muchlenpfordt.   Dr.   August 1II4 

Muller.  J.   L 35J 

Murphy,    Patrick 6I11 

Murphy,   William 51ii 

Myers,    Solomon 276 

Nation.    William lOii 

Nelson.   .lohn 529 

Nightingale,   \V.   R 233 

Nolin.   W.   T 211 

Nosker,  Orren  G 516 

Nourie,    Arthur 345 

Oathout,    C.    F 173 

O'Brien.    Peter 13u 

Ortman.   W.   F 657 

Overacker,   John !<  1 

Owen,  J.   E 27 

Pacey,   H.   E 73 

Pallissard.  J.    P 212 

Palmer.   Dr.   1.   F 520 

Parcel.    \V.    S 425 

Parker.   David   L 95 

Parrish,  T.    L 447 

Patmor,   F.   D 466 

Patrick,   Dr.   Z.   E 599 

Pearoe,  A.  L 78 

Peltier,    J.    H 185 

Perry.    E.    H 405 

Perry.    R.    H 49 

Peters,    M.    H 10 

Petit.    Octave i;t;ii 

Pierson,    \V.    P 20 

Porch,   .lames 161 

Powell,    .\lmet 99 

Prultt,   C.    L 497 


Pruitt,  Joseph,  Jr 238 

Pruitt,  J.  A 29 

Prutsman.    Alford I9s 

Ranton.    W.    L 278 

Ranz,    F.    W 149 

Riggs,  J.  D 132 

Ripley,  Frank  J 325 

Rivard,    George 499 

Roberts,    Robert 414 

Roberts,  Dr.  W.  R 213 

Rosenberger,   William 567 

Rosenberger,   W.    A 325 

Rosenberger.  W.  W 546 

Rundle,    Abraham 141 

Rush,   M.   J 288 

Rush,   W.   H 460 

Sammons,  G.  M 115 

Saum,    C.    X 337 

Saum.  G.  W 629 

Sayler,   J.   B 259 

Schafer,    Joseph 636 

Schaf er.  L.  E 561 

Schaumburg.    Harm 367 

Schnurr.     Leander 539 

Schuringa,    Jacob 389 

Shaffer.   G.   R 613 

Shankland,  B.   F 569 

Shannon,  W.  H 589 

Shaw.  C.  0 646 

Shedd.    W.     H 46 

Sbonenian.    Benjamin 579 

Shrimplin,  C.  C 636 

Shrimplin,  R.  S 519 

Sibbitt.  J.  M 38 

Siedentoi).  F.   W 639 

Simpkins,  S.  S 498 

Singleton,  A.  P 192 

Slite,   C.   M 562 

Sloan,   S.   J 239 

Smith,    Elias    B 308 

Smith.    John 69 

Smith.   O.   G 648 

Snow.   H.  W •. 186 

Snow,    L.    D 145 

Spies.    George 417 

Steiner,   G.   C 311 

Stephens.   G.    P 326 

Stewart.   William 423 

Stichnoth.  C.  R 331 

Stoutem.ver.    L.   T 258 

Stricklei-.    P.    B 272 

Swartz,    George 51 

Sykes,   H.    P 219 

Talbert,    A.    H 369 

Talbert.    H.    N 505 

Tegge     nrotb(>rs 135 

Temple.  Thomas 103 

Theesteld.    Carl 638 

Theesfeld.    H.    N 418 

Thomas.    A.    H 40(1 

Thomas.    Isaac 602 

Thrasher.   C.   A 624 

Todd,   R.   C 565 

Totheroh,    Martin 43ii 

Townsend,    Frederick 631 

Tyler,  J.   F 472 

Vanderpoorten.  E.  C.  and  S.  I.     19 

Van    Hoveln,    Jacob 424 

Venuum.    F.    1) 172 

V'eunum.    Thomas 150 

Vogel.    Charles 396 


IKOOUDlS  COL  XTV.  ILLINOIS. 


74' 


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lly.   (".   N                H'i 

alty.    Kraiik 149 

alker.   Dr.   S.   R SL'SI 

arab;i,  Adam 450 

and,    Thonuis 26t> 

ard.   \V.  T -'5-' 

ashbiirne.    Samuel 47y 

iuison.   Jamos 317 

atseUa   First    Natioual   Hank.  55 

eblHM.    H.'nrv    P 40B 

eber.    Kred 60 

ebsttr,  Kdward  E 601 

ebstt-r.   John   D !•:! 

ebster.    \V.    A 45!i 

eeks.  Mrs.  A.  E 597 

«-f  ks.    (J.    A  . .  .                             .  ?Ai< 


Weeks,  R   U 4.sii 

Weeks,   W.  A 59:; 

WesEels,   T.    T 379 

West    Brothers Sii.s 

West,  Georfie 116 

We.si.   James  0 3:i4 

We.sl,   John 16.", 

Westover.    E.    A 449 

While,    David 474 

While.    John    D 635 

Wliili-inan.    A.    1^ 546 

Whilenian.  H.  .\1 556 

WIenrank,  Jacob  J 1,=>9 

Welnrank,   John 362 

Wilkening,  J.  C 497 

Williams.   G.    .M 200 


Williams.  J.  G 637 

Wlills,    Thomas 330 

Wills.    John    E 362 

Wilson.    I.    W 390 

Wilson,    T.    F 251 

Wlnslow,    Alfred 644 

WIntorroth,  J.  L 468 

Wise,  J.  J 35S 

Withers,    J.    G 426 

WriKht.   G.   R 423 

WiillTe,  H.  W 531 

Young,    Joseph 486 

Zachgo,    Hugo 599 

Zea,   J.    W 37 

yCiiniwalt.     F.     P 3S1 


IllSK  )RICAI. 


I  iitn  KJuctory fi'^'S 

Oiaptcr       L     (Jurilmi    S.    I  hil)l):ir(l f^t^ 

Chapter     II.     (  )rganization  of  ilit-  Comity (^72 

Chapter  111.     Karly  Trails f>8o 

Giapter  1  \'.     Topography 683 

Oiapter     \'.     lr<K|iiois 68'> 

Chapter  \  I.     .Military    History <)8X 


»l 


